[UT, ID] Goldenwest Credit Union $250 Checking Bonus (Ages 13-25, No Direct Deposit Required)

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: $250
• Availability: Salt lake or Weber county, aged 13-25. Can join via financial fitness association, but that isn’t an option during sign up so probably won’t work
• Direct deposit required: No
• Additional requirements: See below
• Hard/soft pull: Unknown
• ChexSystems: Unknown
• Credit card funding: Unknown
• Monthly fees: None 
• Early account termination fee: Account needs to be open for 12 months for full bonus
• Household limit: None listed
• Expiration date: 12/31/25

The Offer

Direct link to offer

• Goldenwest Credit Union is offering a $250 bonus for members aged 13-25. Bonus broken down as follows:

• • Earn $50 when you open a new SMARTStart or SMARTPay checking account with debit card & e-statements
  • Earn $50 after performing 6 debit card transactions within the first 90 days of opening your account
  • Earn $100 when you complete the required Goldenwest Smart Money courses within one year of promotion activation3
  • Earn $50 after one year with an active account that remains in good standing(24 transactions (debit, credit, ACH, or check) per year for ages 13-17, or 60 transactions (debit, credit, ACH, or check) per year for ages 18-25.) 

The Fine Print

• The Goldenwest Credit Union Smart Money Offer is available for ages 13-25.
• Membership and eligibility required.
• Members under age 18 will need a parent and/or qualified joint owner on the SMARTStart or SMARTPay account.
• Member must have both a debit card and e-statements to be eligible. $50 deposit will be made the Saturday after conditions are met.
• Six debit card transactions must be outgoing (no return transactions).
• Six transactions must be within 90 days of opening the account and/or activating the promotion.
• $50 deposit will be made the Saturday conditions are met.
• Members ages 13-17 must complete any 10 courses of their choosing with an 80% pass rate to be eligible.
• Members ages 18-25 must complete any five courses of their choosing with an 80% pass rate to be eligible.
• Must register with email tied to GWCU account.
• $100 deposit will be made the Monday after completing the required courses.
• Active account criteria is 24 transactions (debit, credit, ACH, or check) per year for ages 13-17, or 60 transactions (debit, credit, ACH, or check) per year for ages 18-25.
• If the member turns 18 or 26 after activating the promotion, the original transaction and course requirements will not change.
• Good standing criteria means you are not delinquent on any loan payments over 30 days, not negative over 30 days, have no charged off accounts, and have updated your address.
• $50 deposit will be made on the Saturday following the one year anniversary.
• Member NCUA. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers.
• Offer valid through 12/31/2025.
• All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

This account has no monthly fees

Early Account Termination Fee

Account needs to be kept open for full year for full bonus. 

Our Verdict

Rare to see youth checking bonuses, especially this generous. Not sure how easy/hard the courses are or how long they take but this does seem to be worth doing if you’re eligible. We will add this to our best bank account bonuses. 

Hat tip to reader snailrock

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