Does the Everwise $250 bonus require an employer direct deposit?

No. Everwise defines a qualifying deposit as recurring funds arriving by payroll direct deposit or by ACH transfer from another financial institution, a financial technology company, or a digital wallet. A repeating transfer you set up yourself from another bank counts.

Does a single transfer count toward the $500?

No, and this is the one catch worth planning around. The deposits have to be recurring. Everwise specifically excludes funding the account during online opening, moving money between Everwise accounts, and other single funding transactions. Set up a repeating transfer rather than pushing $500 across once.

Which Everwise checking account should I open?

Simply Checking is eligible and has no monthly fee and no balance requirement, so it earns the bonus with nothing to pay. Plus Checking and Max Checking also qualify, but they carry $10 and $20 monthly fees unless you keep up $2,000 or $4,000 in electronic deposits or average balance each month.

Who can join Everwise Credit Union?

Anyone who lives or works in the Indiana or Michigan counties and townships Everwise serves. That covers every Indiana county except Marion, which goes by township, plus Berrien and Cass counties in Michigan and five townships in Oakland and Macomb counties. Immediate family of a member can join from anywhere.

Is the Everwise Credit Union Simply Checking bonus available nationwide?

No. This offer is limited to residents of select states: IN, MI.

Is the Everwise Credit Union Simply Checking bonus taxable?

Yes. Bank account bonuses are considered taxable income by the IRS. Everwise Credit Union will send a 1099-INT form if your bonus is $10 or more.

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Everwise Credit Union

Everwise Credit Union Simply Checking $250 Bonus

Everwise Credit Union pays you $250 for opening a checking account with code GET250 and, within 60 days, receiving $500 in recurring qualifying deposits, making 10 debit card purchases, and turning on eStatements. No employer direct deposit is needed. A recurring ACH transfer from another bank, a fintech, or a digital wallet counts, though a one time push does not. Simply Checking has no monthly fee and no balance requirement. Open to people who live or work in Indiana or the Michigan counties Everwise serves.

Bonus amount: $250
Time to complete: ~60 days
Bonus deposited in: ~120 days
Difficulty: Easy

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Requirements

Last verified: Aug 21, 2026

Join and open checking
Open a new Everwise Simply, Plus, or Max Checking account online or at a branch using or mentioning promo code GET250. The code is required. Membership also needs a $5 deposit into a Primary Savings account.
Deposit $500 in recurring funds
Receive qualifying electronic deposits totaling $500 or more within 60 days of opening. Everwise counts recurring funds arriving by payroll direct deposit or by ACH transfer from another financial institution, a financial technology company, or a digital wallet. Funding the account at opening, moving money between Everwise accounts, and other single funding transactions do not count.
Make 10 debit card purchases
Make at least 10 Debit Mastercard purchase transactions within 60 days of account opening.
Enroll in eStatements
Turn on eStatements through Everwise mobile or online banking within 60 days of account opening.

Once all three requirements are met, Everwise credits the $250 on or before the close of the next full statement, so budget up to about two statement cycles after you finish.

Account Details

Monthly feeNo monthly fee

Min. hold periodNo minimum

Early closing fee$0

Credit inquiryThe bank does not publish this. Ask before you apply.

ChexSystemsThe bank does not publish whether it screens banking history. Ask before you apply.

AvailabilitySelect states (IN, MI)

Eligibility

Minimum age18+

Existing customersNot eligible

New checking members only. Members with an existing checking account, members who closed one in the last 12 months, and anyone who has previously received an Everwise new checking bonus are all excluded.

Other restrictions

Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in the Indiana or Michigan counties and townships Everwise serves. That is all Indiana counties except Marion County, which is handled by township, plus Berrien and Cass counties in Michigan and the Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, Commerce, Clinton, and Macomb townships in Oakland and Macomb counties.
Immediate family of an existing member can also join, as can a tax dependent living in the same household.
Joining requires a $5 deposit into a Primary Savings account.
Limited to one bonus per member no matter how many checking accounts you open.

Tips & Gotchas

→The deposits must be recurring. A single $500 push will not qualify, and neither will the money you use to fund the account at opening. Set up a repeating transfer from another bank before the 60 day clock runs out.
→Everwise counts ACH from a fintech app or a digital wallet, not just employer payroll, so you can earn this one without touching your paycheck setup.
→Open Simply Checking if you only want the bonus. It has no monthly fee and no balance requirement, so there is no cost to earn the $250.
→Use promo code GET250 at opening or mention it in the branch. The offer only lives on the code page and the general checking page does not carry it.
→If you have ever received an Everwise new checking bonus, you are permanently ineligible. This is not a rechurn target.

Direct Deposit Data Points 3

3 community reports across 3 transfer sources, showing what triggers a qualifying direct deposit at Everwise Credit Union.

Showing 2 of 3 reports

View all Everwise Credit Union direct deposit data points →

Can You Earn This Bonus Again?

Can rechurnNo

NotesNot repeatable. Anyone who has already received an Everwise new checking bonus is permanently ineligible, and members who closed a checking account within the last 12 months are excluded too.

Fine Print

$250 Checking Bonus offer effective 7/1/2025, updated 3/17/2026. Open an eligible checking account online or at a branch using or mentioning promo code Get250. Then, within 60 days of account opening, complete the following actions: A) Enroll in eStatements using mobile or online banking. B) Make at least ten (10) Debit Mastercard purchase transactions. C) Make qualifying electronic deposit(s) of $500 or more to your new checking account. "Qualifying deposits" are recurring funds received through payroll direct deposit or via ACH transfer from another financial institution, financial technology company, and/or digital wallet. Funding your account during online opening, transferring money between Everwise accounts, or making other single funding transactions do not satisfy the "qualifying deposit" requirement. When all requirements are met, the $250 bonus will be credited to the new checking account on or before the close of the next full statement. Bonus not available to members with an existing checking account, or members that have had a checking account closed within the last 12 months. Limited to one bonus per member, regardless of the number of checking accounts opened. Members who have received a new checking bonus previously are not eligible to receive an additional checking bonus. Eligible Accounts: Simply, Plus, and Max checking accounts. Bonus is considered income. You may receive a 1099-MISC form. Verified on everwisecu.com/get250-se on 2026-07-30.

Taxable income · Reported on 1099-MISC

What is a direct deposit?

An electronic payment sent directly into your bank account, usually from an employer or government.

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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.