Checking That Pays You Back
Earn $300 Banking with Bellwether
Act now! Promotion ends June 30.
Open a Live Free or Begin Banking checking account and earn $300* just for doing the everyday banking you already do.
How It Works
$150 bonus
after 90 days
- Open a new eligible checking account
- Set up at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days
$150 bonus
after 12 months
- Complete at least 10 debit card transactions during the 12-month period
- Receive at least six (6) direct deposits of $100 or more over 12 months
- Keep your account in good standing for the full 12 months
| BellwetherLiveFree Checking | TD BankTD Complete Checking | Citizens BankOne Deposit Checking | Santander BankSimply Right Checking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Monthly Fee | ✓ | × Waivable with $500 DD or $500 min. balance |
× Waivable w/ 1 deposit of any amount/mo |
× Waivable w/ any transaction/mo |
| No Minimum Balance | ✓ Just $25 to open |
× $500 balance or $500 in monthly DDs |
× 1 deposit/mo to waive fee |
× 1 transaction/mo to waive fee |
| Get Paid 2 Days Early | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | × |
| Overdraft Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ATM Access | 37,000 Free ATMs | 2,600 ATMs Fee at non-TD ATMs |
3,200 ATMs Fee at non-Citizens ATMs |
2,000 ATMs Fee at non-Santander ATMs |
Table information is accurate as of May 2026 and is used for comparison only. Competitor account capabilities and fees are subject to change without notice.
Banking made for the next generation
The Begin Banking account gives ages 14–26 a free, smart start to their financial journey — no fees, no minimums, no stress.
- No monthly maintenance fee
- No minimum balance
- Free mobile & online banking
- No direct deposit required
- 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs
- Debit round-up savings tool
Ages 14 – 26
Begin Banking account available to members ages 14–26. Converts to a Live Free Checking account following the primary member's 27th birthday. $25 minimum to open. Federally insured by the NCUA.
Benefits of Joining
-
10 Minutes Is All It Takes
It’s your money; switching should be easy! ClickSWITCH is the fast, secure, and FREE way to switch your automatic payments and direct deposits to your new or existing Bellwether account.
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Save While You Spend!
Turn on Saving Makes Cents and we'll round up your debit purchases and automatically deposit the spare change into your savings.
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Earn More with Loyalty Pays
The Loyalty Pays™ Premium Certificate Rate is a special premium rate offered to members when qualifications are met.**
10 Minutes Is All It Takes
It’s your money; switching should be easy! ClickSWITCH is the fast, secure, and FREE way to switch your automatic payments and direct deposits to your new or existing Bellwether account.
Save While You Spend!
Turn on Saving Makes Cents and we'll round up your debit purchases and automatically deposit the spare change into your savings.
Earn More with Loyalty Pays
The Loyalty Pays™ Premium Certificate Rate is a special premium rate offered to members when qualifications are met.**
Higher Returns***
Rates up to 4× the national average.
You benefit, not Wall Street.
Average Savings Per
Household***
Per year over the big banks. It adds
up.
Free ATMs Nationwide
Plus 6,700+ shared branches.
Everywhere you go.
Federally Insured
NCUA-insured up to $250,000. As
safe as anywhere.
Credit Monitoring
Score tracking and guidance.
Included. Always.
We're a real credit union: branches, real people, 100+ years in your community.
Disclosures
Offer valid from March 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026. Promotion can be discontinued at any time and cannot be combined with other checking promotions. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus per account. Offer is good for one-time use. To receive the total bonus: 1) Open a new BCCU checking account, which is subject to approval; 2) Minimum of $1,000.00 in qualifying direct deposits in the first 90 days of account opening. 3) Minimum 10 Visa debit card transactions and at least (6) $100 direct deposits over 12 months from account opening. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®), transfer from a cash management account (such as Fidelity) or bank to bank transfer are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $10, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. The first $150 bonus to be paid after first 90 days of account opening, the second $150 bonus to be paid after 12 months of account opening based on completing the qualifications. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of either the 1st or 2nd $150 payouts. Closing the account early (prior to 12 months from account opening) may trigger bonus reversal. Bonus is considered dividends and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable).
**The Loyalty Pays™ Premium Certificate Rate is a special rate premium determined monthly when an eligible product meets the qualifications. Each new or renewal certificate in standard terms of 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months is eligible as well as current special certificates. The membership of the eligible certificate must have an active consumer checking account and active debit card, with a minimum of one debit card transaction in the current month to qualify for the special rate premium that month. Qualification is determined monthly, prior to the calculation and payment of periodic dividends. Any month during which the eligible certificate does not meet the qualifications, the certificate dividend calculation and posted dividend at the end of the month will not include this special rate premium and will revert to the standard dividend rate. The Loyalty Pays™ Premium Certificate Rate program and special premium rates can be changed at any time. Insured by the NCUA.
***APY = Annual Percentage Yield. As of May 19, 2026, the FDIC National Deposit Rate for savings accounts shows a national average APY of 0.38 %. Results may vary. Our Emergency Savings account’s APY of 1.75 % is 4.6× higher than the national average. $5.00 minimum to open a savings account. Balance earns a premium rate from the first penny deposited, equal to the highest tier on our money market savings accounts on full balance up to $500. Any amount above that limit earns our standard savings rate of 0.01% APY. Fees may reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change. Savings amount of $603 per Bellwether member household is an estimation calculated by America’s Credit Unions for a Member Benefits Report. Assumes 2.1 credit union members per household.