Penn East FCU $125 Checking Bonus: Easy Steps to Claim

Penn East Federal Credit Union is dangling a $125 bonus for new checking account holders. The catch? Set up direct deposit and make a handful of debit transactions within the first 90 days.

Members need a direct deposit of at least $500 each month for two consecutive months. Pair that with 10 signature-based debit purchases during the same window, and the $125 lands in the account within 30 days after the requirements are met.

The credit union serves residents of Pennsylvania's Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Columbia counties, along with select employee groups. Anyone outside those boundaries can still join by donating $5 to the Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation, a common workaround for credit union membership.

There is no monthly fee on the checking account, and the minimum opening deposit is just $5. The bonus counts as interest and will appear on a 1099-INT at tax time. Penn East said the offer runs through Dec. 31, with funds posted by late January for those who qualify before the deadline.