Alliant Credit Union is an 100% digital credit union that’s been in business for over 85 years and has several hundred thousand members across the United States. They are NCUA-insured Charter Number 67955 so your funds are protected, just as they would be if it were a bank and FDIC insured.
What’s most appealing about them is that their a credit union and not a commercial bank. This means they’re not driven by a profit motive, which results in high rates on savings and lower rates on loans.
The next question you might have, and this is something you must ask of all credit unions, is how do you gain membership? Credit unions, by rule, must have membership restrictions and Alliant’s eligibility requirements are quite broad – you are eligible if:
- Are a current or retired employee from one of the many businesses and organizations Alliant partners with in the U.S.
- Are a domestic partner or immediate family member of a current Alliant member
- Live or work in one of the communities near our Corporate Headquarters in Chicago. Check our website’s list of eligible communities to see if you qualify.
- If you are not eligible through another option you can become a member of Foster Care to Success (FC2S) and become eligible for Alliant membership. FC2S serves thousands of foster teens across the United States, focusing on those who are aging out of the foster care system. FC2S awards grants and scholarships for higher education and provides care packages, mentoring and internships. (Alliant will pay the one-time $5 membership fee to FC2S on the member’s behalf.)
(note the last bullet, which means everyone qualifies because Alliant will pay the membership fee)
If you want to learn more about Alliant itself, our review of Alliant Credit Union and their services explains it all.
Now, onto the good stuff.
There are two offers from Alliant:
Table of Contents
🔃 Updated January 2024 with the updated details of the Alliant Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account bonus.
Alliant Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account – $100
This is Alliant’s longest standing offer and it does not require a direct deposit, but it does require you to make transfers into the account.
Open an Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account by 12/31/2024 and make deposits of $100 a month for 12 months.
These aren’t direct deposits, they’re simple transfers. Once you’ve transferred $100 a month for 12 months, they deposit the $100 bonus. No maintenance fees if you opt for eStatements, so you’ll want to make sure you opt in.
👉 Learn more about about this offer
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
Alliant “FastPass” Promotion – up to $400 [EXPIRED]
Alliant has a four step “fast-pass” promotion that will net you up to $400 if you meet each of the conditions by March 31st, 2023.
Make sure to use the promo code FASTPASS:
- Open a savings account by March 31, 2023 plus have a minimum $1000 savings average daily balance on April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus
- Open a checking account by March 31, 2023 plus have a minimum $100 checking average daily balance on April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus
- Open a certificate by March 31, 2023 plus maintain a minimum $1000 certificate balance on April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus
- Deposit a minimum of $10,000 total across any of these three accounts by March 31, 2023 and maintain this minimum balance until April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus.
If you are an existing Alliant member, you can still earn up to $400 by doing steps 2 – 3.
This offer has expired.
Learn more about about this offer
(Offer expired 3/31/2023)
Alliant High Rate Savings Account – $100 [EXPIRED]
Alliant Credit Union will give you $100 to new members of Alliant Credit Union when you open a new High-Rate Savings Account and deposit and maintain a minimum balance of $10,000.
You can open an account online using the link below (https://myalliant.com/earn100) or you can open an account on the phone by calling 800-328-1935 and mentioning “Big Saver Savings Account promotion.”
When you open the account, you have until 8/31/2022 to get the balance up to $10,000 and then you have to keep the balance above $10,000 until 11/30/2022. That’s when they will review the account and issue the bonus if you’ve met the conditions.
You must keep the account open for at least 180 days or the bonus is revoked.
Learn more about about this offer
(Offer expires 7/31/2022)
How Does This Offer Compare?
The first offer is not so good – $100 to keep $10,000 in the account for several months isn’t a great deal. If you can find $15,000 to leave into an account, Citi will give you three times that ($300) in a shorter period of time.
The Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account offer is far more attractive because you can get $100 by only locking up ~$1200 in cash for a year. It’s also not a direct deposit, which can make it logistically easier. Also, the account pays a pretty competitive interest rate so you’re not losing out on that.
Here are some other top offers to give you a sense of how this compares:
Barclays – $200
Barclays Bank will give you a $200 if you open a new savings account and deposit $25,000 or more within 30 days and maintain at least $25,000 for the next 120 days. The savings account also pays a competitive interest rate of 4.35% APY while you wait.
BMO Relationship Checking – $400
BMO Bank is offering a $400 bonus* when you open a BMO Relationship Checking and when you have at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days. It is a very straightforward offer that is available nationwide.
*Conditions apply
Bank of America – $200 Bonus Offer
Bank of America offers a $200 Bonus Offer cash bonus if you open a new account and Set up and receive qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more into that account within 90 days of account opening. It has a monthly fee that is easy to have waived.
Chase Total Checking® – $300
Chase Bank will give you $300 when you open a Total Checking account and set up and receive direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days. There is a $12 monthly fee that is waivable with a monthly direct deposit of just $500, so no gotchas on this deal!
HSBC Premier Checking – up to $4,000
HSBC has an offer where you can get up to $4,000 for eligible new customers who open an HSBC Premier checking account, make a sizable deposit, and make recurring monthly qualifying direct deposits of at least $5,000 for 3 consecutive months.
