Guardian Credit Union
Guardian Credit Union Simplified Checking $300 Bonus
Guardian Credit Union (Alabama) pays you $300 when you open a checking account and set up recurring payroll direct deposits of $2,500 or more per month for two consecutive months. Your first qualifying deposit must be received by September 30, 2026. Membership is limited to 16 counties in central Alabama, including Montgomery.
- Bonus amount
- $300
- Expires
- Sep 30, 2026
- Time to complete
- ~75 days
- Bonus deposited in
- ~95 days
- Difficulty
- Medium
We may earn a commission if you open an account through the link above. This doesn't affect our recommendations. See how we make money
Requirements
Last verified: Aug 16, 2026
Open an account
Open a new Guardian Credit Union checking account online with a $100 minimum deposit, or add/increase direct deposit if you're already a Guardian checking member.
$2,500/month direct deposit for 2 months
Establish or increase recurring payroll direct deposits totaling at least $2,500 per month for two consecutive months. Only electronic payroll deposits from an employer qualify; other electronic deposits and person-to-person transfers do not count. The $2,500 does not need to land in a single deposit. Your first qualifying direct deposit must be received by September 30, 2026.
The $300 bonus is deposited into the qualifying checking account within 15 business days following the end of the second qualifying month. For example, direct deposits received in September and October pay out within the first 15 business days of November.
Account Details
The checking account must be open and in good standing when the bonus is paid.
Eligibility
Existing Guardian checking customers qualify too, by establishing or increasing recurring payroll direct deposits to $2,500+/month for two consecutive months. Existing account holders who already met the requirement before August 1, 2026 are not eligible.
- Limit 1 bonus per primary member.
- Bonus is available for consumer accounts only; business accounts do not qualify.
- Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, or Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
- Guardian Credit Union is headquartered in Montgomery/Prattville, Alabama. Not to be confused with other credit unions of the same name in other states.
Tips & Gotchas
- →Only employer payroll direct deposits qualify. Social Security, pension, P2P transfers, and other electronic deposits do not count toward the $2,500/month requirement.
- →The two qualifying months must be consecutive, and each one needs $2,500+ in qualifying deposits on its own (not a combined $5,000 total).
- →Your first qualifying direct deposit has to land by September 30, 2026, so open the account and update your payroll allocation early.
- →Existing Guardian checking members qualify too, but only if they hadn't already met the requirement before August 1, 2026.
- →Membership is limited to 16 counties in central Alabama (including Montgomery, Prattville, and the surrounding area). Confirm your eligibility during account opening.
Can You Earn This Bonus Again?
Fine Print
This is a limited time offer and may be modified or discontinued without notice. Limit 1 bonus per primary member. Bonus not available to existing account holders who meet requirements prior to August 1, 2026. The checking account must be open and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid. Bonus will be reported as income. Bonus is available for consumer accounts only; business accounts do not qualify. Early ACH timing depends on when Guardian receives the file from the payroll provider.
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.
Do Bank Bonuses Show Up on a 1099-INT?
Yes. Bank bonuses are taxable income. Once you earn $10 or more from a single bank in a calendar year, the bank sends a 1099-INT and you report it as ordinary income on your tax return.
Also see: this month's best bank bonuses and community DD data points.
We may earn a commission if you open an account through the link above. This doesn't affect our recommendations. See how we make money