Blog/Best Checking Bonuses/Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union $300 Checking Account Bonus (2026) - Review & Requirements

Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union $300 Checking Account Bonus (2026) - Review & Requirements

✓ Verified Aug 12, 2026; published end date 2026-08-31
By Nathaniel Booth2026-04-10Last updated 2026-08-12Bank Bonuses
CheckingBank BonusDirect DepositRegional
Offer Details
Bonus Amount$300
Account TypeChecking
Direct Deposit Required$1,000/mo × 3
Min Per Month$1,000
Deposit Window90 days
Bonus Posts In~30 days
Open account →

Affiliate disclosure: Fat Stacks Academy may earn a commission if you open an account through this link, at no additional cost to you.

Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.

What Counts as Direct Deposit

Based on community data points and bank terms. Employer payroll is always the safest method. "Mixed" means some users report success but it is not guaranteed.

YES
Employer payroll
The safest method — always codes as a direct deposit.
YES
Government benefits (SSA, pension, unemployment)
MAYBE
Fidelity ACH push
The most reliable workaround — Fidelity sends properly DD-coded ACH that triggers at most banks. Worth trying first.
MAYBE
Ally / Alliant ACH push
DD-coded ACH that works at many banks; confirm for this one.
MAYBE
Schwab ACH push
Inconsistent across banks — use payroll or Fidelity if you can.
NO
PayPal / Venmo / Cash App ACH
Usually code as P2P, not direct deposit. A few very lenient banks (Citi, Capital One) are exceptions.
NO
Zelle
Codes as P2P at nearly every bank.
NO
Wire transfer
NO
Mobile check / cash deposit
NO
Transfer from your own account at the same bank
Internal transfers never count.
Source: our guide to what counts as direct deposit, verified per-bank against official terms and community data points (originally compiled with help from Doctor of Credit). Data points may change — always verify with the bank.

Overview

Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union is currently offering a $300 checking bonus. The core requirement is $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits each month for 3 consecutive months. The account has a $5.95 monthly fee; review the waiver terms before applying.

Who This Checking Bonus Is Best For

Applicants who can safely route $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits each month for 3 consecutive months without disrupting higher-value offers, and who meet every geographic and prior-customer restriction.

How to Maximize This Bonus

Receive $1,000+ in direct deposits EACH month for 3 consecutive months. Each period must stand on its own; front-loading one large deposit does not qualify. Allow approximately 30 days for the bonus to post after qualification.

Pros

+$300 cash bonus
+No documented hard credit pull
+90-day qualification window

Cons

-Geographic restrictions apply
-Lifetime or one-bonus-per-customer language applies
-$5.95 monthly fee unless waived

How This Compares to Other Bonuses

Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union's $300 offer is closest in headline value to PSECU's $300 checking bonus. Compare the direct-deposit requirement, geographic eligibility, fees, approval sensitivity, and payout timing, not only the advertised amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union checking bonus?

Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union currently advertises $300. The principal requirement is $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits each month for 3 consecutive months.

Does the Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union bonus require direct deposit?

Yes. The catalog currently records $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits each month for 3 consecutive months. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.

When should the Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union bonus post?

The tracked estimate is about 30 days after you satisfy the requirements.

Full Requirements

Open a new Rewards+ consumer checking account. Then, for each calendar month of the 90 day qualification period, stay enrolled in e-statements, log into digital banking once per cycle, and meet two of these three: receive at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits that month, complete at least 12 debit card purchases that month, or hold a Carolina Trust personal loan with a balance of $10,000 or more or a Carolina Trust mortgage. Offer expires August 31, 2026. Apply online.

Fees

Monthly Fee$5.95/mo

A $5.95 monthly maintenance fee applies in any month the account qualifications are not met. It is waived for the first two statement cycles after opening and for members aged 18 to 24.

ChexSystems & Credit Pull

Chex SensitivityUnknown
Hard PullNo

ChexSystems / credit-pull policy not officially stated.

Eligibility

AvailabilitySC
Lifetime LimitYes

Membership: Carolina Trust Credit Union (Myrtle Beach and Horry County, South Carolina area). Consumer accounts only, and you must be at least 18. You are not eligible if you already have a Rewards+ checking account. One bonus per person, per account and per Social Security Number. Qualifying direct deposits are recurring payroll, pension or government benefit deposits; person to person payments, transfers from other Carolina Trust accounts, and non-payroll ACH transfers do not count, and micro-deposits and prenotes do not count either. Debit card transactions must post, not just authorize, by the last calendar day of each month. The $300 is credited within 30 days after the 90 day qualification period ends, and the account must stay open and in good standing until it is paid. Cannot be combined with another consumer deposit promotion. Offer runs through August 31, 2026.

Apply

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Affiliate disclosure: Fat Stacks Academy may earn a commission if you open an account through this link, at no additional cost to you.

Sources (2)

We last checked this against the bank's page on August 12, 2026.

Historical Promotions

tracked since 2025-10-05
$300$500 DD / 60dall-time highcurrent
~2026-06-14current
$300per DoCall-time high
~2025-10-052025-10-06

The current $300 is the highest we've tracked since October 2025.

Track This Bonus in Stacks OS

Add this offer directly to your dashboard so you can track its requirements, deadline, and payout.

Stacks OS also tells you which bonus to do next for YOUR paycheck.

Bonus tracking is included in the free plan.
🔒
The Direct Deposit Cheat Sheet

What actually counts as a direct deposit at 53 banks. Fidelity, Schwab, ACH pushes, all in one printable table, verified.

Free. Unlocks instantly here and arrives by email.
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Affiliate Disclosure

Fat Stacks Academy may earn a commission when you open an account through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Commissions do not influence our reviews — we verify offer terms directly with each bank before publishing and do not accept paid placement in our rankings. Bonus offers, requirements, and fees are determined by each financial institution and may change at any time. Always verify the current terms directly with the bank before applying. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

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