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 the Alliant Credit Union Foundation and be eligible for Alliant membership. The Foundation’s mission is to provide reliable digital access resources to underserved communities including rural and digitally-challenged populations. The Foundation awards grants for educational and digital inclusion efforts nationwide. Alliant Credit Union will make a one-time $5 contribution to the Foundation on your behalf.
(note the last bullet, which means everyone qualifies because Alliant will pay the $5 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 August 2024 with the addition of a $200 promotional offer through Rakuten.
Alliant Certificates of Deposit Promotion – $200
Through Rakuten, you can get $200 when you open a certificate of deposit at Alliant Credit Union and keep it open for a minimum of 60 days. Since their shortest certificate of deposit is 3-months, you can easily meet this requirement. (in the list of CDs, they show 12 months first and the 3- and 6- month CDs are at the end … I missed this myself and went with a 12-month CD when I only needed a 3-month)
The minimum deposit for their CD is $1,000 so the $200 bonus represents a 20% bonus on the deposited amount – a huge percentage. Their 12-month CD rate is not a market leader in rates but does offer a respectable 4.75% APY, so it’s a great deal.
If you don’t have a Rakuten account, sign up for one here for free.
Then, click on the promotional link below to open your account:
👉 Learn more about about this offer
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 Kids Savings and Teen Checking – $100 [EXPIRED]
Alliant has an offer on their Kids Savings and Teen Checking where you can get a $100 bonus if you deposit $100 a month for 12 consecutive months. The account does earn interest (though it’s a bit low) but it can be a great way to teach them about saving money.
This is similar to the offer above but it’s for kids and teens.
(Offer expires 7/31/2024)
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:
U.S. Bank – up to $450
Earn up to $450 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and a Standard Savings account and complete qualifying activities. Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through June 27, 2024. Member FDIC.
Offer may not be available if you live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint or are not an existing client of U.S. Bank or State Farm.
BMO Relationship Checking – $500 Cash
BMO Bank is offering a $500 Cash 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 new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer. 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!
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Valley Bank and their online division, Valleydirect, has a nice promotion offer for new customers that requires a direct deposit. They are FDIC insured and the online bank offers a very competitive interest rate too!
Seacoast Bank – up to $600 for Checking & Money Market
If you live in Florida, you could get up to $600 for opening an account with Seacoast Bank and moving a modest direct deposit.
Raisin Referral Bonus Program: Get up to $2,000 Referring Friends
Raisin has increased their referral program – now customers can refer other customers and make up to $2,000 (up from $1,000). Referees can also make up to $200 depending on how much they deposit and keep in the account for the first 90 days.
Evergreen Money Review: High Yield Checking & T-Bills Sweep
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About Jim Wang
Jim Wang is a forty-something father of four who is a frequent contributor to Forbes and Vanguard’s Blog. He has also been fortunate to have appeared in the New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Entrepreneur, and Marketplace Money.
Jim has a B.S. in Computer Science and Economics from Carnegie Mellon University, an M.S. in Information Technology – Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. His approach to personal finance is that of an engineer, breaking down complex subjects into bite-sized easily understood concepts that you can use in your daily life.
One of his favorite tools (here’s my treasure chest of tools, everything I use) is Empower Personal Dashboard, which enables him to manage his finances in just 15-minutes each month. They also offer financial planning, such as a Retirement Planning Tool that can tell you if you’re on track to retire when you want. It’s free.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
