Blog/Best Checking Bonuses/Grow Financial FCU $300 Checking Account Bonus (2026) - Review & Requirements

Grow Financial FCU $300 Checking Account Bonus (2026) - Review & Requirements

✓ Verified Aug 13, 2026 (no published end date)
By Nathaniel Booth2026-04-10Last updated 2026-08-04Bank Bonuses
CheckingBank BonusDirect DepositRegionalEasy ApprovalNo Monthly Fee
Offer Details
Bonus Amount$300
Account TypeChecking
Direct Deposit RequiredYes
Min Per Deposit$500
Number of Deposits2
Deposit Window90 days
Cooldown12 months
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
Chase Business (payroll ACH)
Payroll-coded ACH run from Chase Business checking — a sole prop does this legitimately as a Gusto owner's draw (never a fake W-2). 9 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
YES
Current ACH push
2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
YES
Employer payroll
YES
Government benefits (SSA, pension)
MAYBE
Fidelity ACH push
Limited data for Grow Financial.
NO
PayPal ACH
NO
Venmo ACH
NO
Zelle
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

Grow Financial FCU offers a $300 checking bonus in Florida and South Carolina (military also eligible). Direct deposit IS required: you must establish two newly qualified direct deposits of $500 each ($1,000 total) within 90 days, set up online + mobile banking, and open a Basic Savings ($1 min).

Who This Checking Bonus Is Best For

Florida and South Carolina residents, plus military members nationwide, who can route two $500 direct deposits within 90 days.

How to Maximize This Bonus

Open a Grow checking account (FL/SC residency or military affiliation). Route two qualifying direct deposits of $500 each within 90 days — recurring payroll, pension, or government benefits. Set up online and mobile banking and open the $1 Basic Savings as part of membership. The bonus posts within ~90 days of meeting the deposit requirement; one per member per calendar year.

Pros

+$300 bonus with no monthly fee
+Military members eligible regardless of state
+Repeatable once per calendar year

Cons

-Direct deposit required — two $500 DDs ($1,000 total) within 90 days
-Limited to FL and SC for civilians
-Must also open a Basic Savings ($1) and enroll in online/mobile banking

How This Compares to Other Bonuses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is direct deposit required for the Grow Financial bonus?

Yes. You must establish two newly qualified direct deposits of $500 each ($1,000 total) within 90 days — recurring payroll, pension, or government benefits. One-time transfers won't qualify.

Can military members outside FL/SC apply?

Yes. Military members and their families are eligible regardless of state, in addition to FL and SC residents.

Full Requirements

Open either a Basic Savings plus Grow CashBack Checking, or a Basic Savings plus Checkless Checking; membership needs the Basic Savings account with a minimum $1 deposit. Set up Grow Online Banking and mobile banking within 90 days of opening the checking account. Then receive two newly established qualifying direct deposits of $500 each, $1,000 in total, within those same 90 days, and they have to land in the new checking account. A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring electronic deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income. Transfers, ATM deposits, online and mobile banking transfers, person to person payments, cash advances and transfers from another financial institution or brokerage do not count. The $300 is credited within 90 days of you meeting the deposit and online-banking requirements. One bonus per member.

Fees

Monthly Fee$0

ChexSystems & Credit Pull

Chex SensitivityLow
Hard PullNo
Soft PullYes

Eligibility

AvailabilityFL
Lifetime LimitYes

State restricted: FL, SC. Military also eligible. New Grow Financial checking customers only.

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 13, 2026.

Historical Promotions

tracked since 2023-10-09
$300$1,000 DD / 90dall-time highcurrent
~2026-04-17current
$300per DoCall-time high
~2025-11-112026-03-04
$300per DoCall-time high
~2023-10-092023-10-12

The current $300 is the highest we've tracked since October 2023.

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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.

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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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