Citadel Credit Union
Citadel Credit Union Ultimate Growth Checking $300 – $500 Bonus
Citadel pays up to $500 on Ultimate Growth Checking. You get $300 for $2,000 or more in direct deposits within 90 days, plus another $200 if you keep a $5,000 balance for the rest of the 90 days. No monthly fee. Membership is open to anyone in PA, DE, NJ, NY, OH, MD, or WV for a $1 deposit.
- Bonus range
- $300 – $500
- Expires
- Sep 30, 2026
- Time to complete
- ~90 days
- Bonus deposited in
- ~104 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Requirements
Last verified: Aug 21, 2026
$300 Tier
Open an account
Open a new Citadel Ultimate Growth Checking account through the offer link so the promotional code is applied at account opening. Joining takes a $1 deposit.
Receive qualifying direct deposits
Receive qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more within 90 days of account opening. A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring ACH deposit of payroll, pension, Social Security, government benefits, or other eligible regular monthly income.
$500 Tier
Open an account
Open a new Citadel Ultimate Growth Checking account through the offer link so the promotional code is applied at account opening. Joining takes a $1 deposit.
Receive qualifying direct deposits
Receive qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more within 90 days of account opening. A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring ACH deposit of payroll, pension, Social Security, government benefits, or other eligible regular monthly income.
Hold $5,000 through days 61 to 90
After meeting the direct deposit requirement, maintain a daily balance of $5,000 or more in the new checking account during days 61 to 90 after account opening to earn the additional $200.
Citadel pays within 10 business days once you have met the requirements and the account has been open 90 days, so expect the money about three and a half months after opening.
Account Details
The account has to be open 90 days before Citadel pays either bonus, and it must be in good standing when the bonus is processed.
Eligibility
New checking customers only. Anyone who closed a Citadel checking account within the last 12 months, or who previously received a Citadel checking new-account bonus, is excluded.
- Membership is open to anyone who lives in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maryland, or West Virginia. There is no employer or association requirement.
- Joining takes a $1 deposit.
- Limit one offer per member.
- Business accounts are not eligible.
- The promotional code has to be applied at account opening, so start from the offer link rather than the general site.
Tips & Gotchas
- →The promotional code rides on the application link, so start from the offer page. Opening from the general Citadel site will not attach it.
- →Deposits have to be recurring ACH income. A one-time push from another bank does not count as a qualifying direct deposit.
- →The $2,000 can add up across several deposits inside the 90 days. It does not need to arrive at once.
- →The account has to stay open and in good standing for the full 90 days before either bonus is paid.
- →One bonus per member, and anyone who has had a Citadel checking bonus before is excluded.
Direct Deposit Data Points 4
4 community reports across 2 transfer sources, showing what triggers a qualifying direct deposit at Citadel Credit Union.
Can You Earn This Bonus Again?
Fine Print
Open a new checking account and earn up to $500 in cash bonuses. Earn a $300 cash bonus for qualifying direct deposit(s) totaling $2,000 or more posting to the new checking account within 90 days of account opening. A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring electronic deposit of payroll, pension, Social Security, government benefits, or other eligible regular monthly income made through the ACH network. After meeting the direct deposit requirement, earn an additional $200 cash bonus by maintaining a daily balance of $5,000 or more during days 61 to 90 after account opening. The promotional code must be applied at the time of account opening. Once you meet the offer requirements and the checking account has been open for 90 days, bonuses are paid within 10 business days, provided the account is in good standing. Available to qualified new checking customers only; customer must not have closed a Citadel checking account within the last 12 months and/or previously received a checking new account bonus. Limit one offer per member. Not available for business accounts. Offer expires September 30, 2026.
Taxable income · Reported on 1099-INT
Related Articles
What is a direct deposit?
An electronic payment sent directly into your bank account, usually from an employer or government.
Does Zelle Count as Direct Deposit for Bank Bonuses?
Usually no. At most banks a Zelle payment arrives coded as peer-to-peer and will not trigger the bonus. Citi is the clear exception. Its Enhanced Direct Deposit terms name Zelle as a qualifying deposit, and every Zelle report we have from Citi got paid.
What is a hold period?
The minimum time you must keep your balance in an account before the bonus is paid out.
Also see: this month's best bank bonuses and community DD data points.
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