ok, I’m on my way…
Be certain you do NOT try to set up an Alliant link before you have at least $1 in your NWFCU checking. You could overdraw the account if there is not $1 in there. There is a $30 charge for an overdraw which they probably would forgive but, believe me, you do not need the hassle. Just have a buck in there and you’ll be good . . no worries.
The account is open now & I can see it listed with zero balance. I have 1.15 in the savings but only .15 is available. She said I shouldn’t have any problems. I’m thinking if I ACH $5. into the savings, then call & have it moved to the checking. Not much time left before the 15th. What do you think?
I think you’re in good shape, assuming you used the promo code when you opened your checking. If so, you have time. This special promo offer ends on the fifteenth. But you have more time than that to do your linking and do your first $500 deposit. What ends on the fifteenth is ability to open using the promo code, which needs to be attached to your new account. Once that is done, the time pressure is relieved.
I would ACH a buck into savings, transfer it over to checking, and then go from there.
And do not neglect to sign up for online statements!
Thanks shinobi. I used the promo code & the checking acct is open. Monday I can ACH the $1.00 from Alliant CU. I think I mentioned online statements. I’ll be sure of that when I call to move the funds from savings to checking.
Wow, $300 bucks. I can go McDonalds & get a Big Mac. Thanks again!! 
No. Sorry. My best understanding is that is something you must do for yourself. The reps cannot do it for you, at least that is what my rep told me. You can log into your account online, though, and sign up. Let us know if you have trouble.
The thing that frosts my grits is that the money is taxable. I’m spoiled. My side hustle provides me with TAX FREE income, and that is what I very much prefer. The $300 would be a whole lot sweeter without imposition of tax. However, I’m still not willing to turn it down!
Why are liquid funds at Ally illiquid in your opinion?
Today’s drops:
National Cooperative Impact Money Market was 1.52% now 1.11%(sure am glad I dragged my feet on this one and didn’t open)
Vio Bank High Yield Online Savings was 1.21% now 1.11%
Colorado Federal Savings Bank Premier Savings was 1.20% now 1.00%
Purepoint Financial Online Savings was 1.00% now 0.80%
Web Bank Savings was 0.95% now 0.85%
Effective July 21 All America Bank and Redneck Bank Money Market accounts drop from 1.10% to 0.85%
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From what I’m seeing online this is for VA and MD only?
Actually the deal will work regardless where in the USA you live. Trust me.
Are you not aware, for example, that pattyb53 lives west of the Mississippi?
OK, they are not of course technically illiquid. But I am spoiled because of both Alliant and PurePoint.
When I order a funds transfer using ACH I expect at least overnight service without having to know rules or jump through hoops. Ally has never met my expectations in that regard. Both Alliant and PurePoint do so regularly and without exception.
I’m not willing to wait a couple of days for my funds to move/become available.
Today there are situations where same day ACH exists. I do not demand that. But overnight and hassle free has been my standard since 2008. Ally does not meet that standard, and for that reason my accounts there are nearly dormant.
Anyone have any info on what qualifies for the NWFCU offer requirement of “make a minimum of three direct deposits into the checking account with a minimum of $500 each deposit”
meaning, in particular , would ach transfers in qualify? maybe from paypal if from a different bank would not work?
Only two DPs on DoC are TreasuryDirect and kickfurther. All other DPs confirmed to have worked were real DD, which is what I did for P1 and intend to do for P2.
For those of you who avoid reward checking accounts because of the debit card transaction requirements, Ken posted today about a new nationally available reward checking account available at Presidential Bank that does not require debit card transactions. It does require one direct deposit each month of $500 or more and also requires seven electronic withdrawals per month(ACH withdrawals count). Assuming an ACH push counts as direct deposit, one could automate the $500 ACH push and seven ACH pulls using a hub account like Alliant. The payoff is 2.25% on balances up to 25k and then 1.25% on money above 25k. Of course no rate guarantee but these RCA’s seem to fair better in low rate environments than other liquid accounts. The 1.25% on money above the 25k is a nice feature most of these accounts do not have. One strange quirk is that they charge $3 for any checks you write over 3 each month although the first check order is complimentary. Link to Ken’s post: https://www.depositaccounts.com/banks/presidential-bank-md/offers/
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The one problem with this account is the Direct Deposit requirement…while (according to hustler money blog) ach pushes into Presidential count as direct deposits, in the requirement info on Presidential they are VERY SPECIFIC as to what would qualify and the examples they give are pension direct deposits, social security direct deposits and payroll direct deposits…
So unless one is definitely willing to move one of their REAL direct deposits over to them, you take the risk of bothering to set everything up and ending up not getting the good rates…
The OTHER requirements are easy to fullfill…
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What concerns me far more than savings rates is the fact that Rewards Checking rates are also cratering. Redneck/All American rewards is down to 1.09%, which I believe is a record low for them, with more adjustments the last 3 months than I think we’ve seen in the last 5+ years combined.
Rewards account rates tend to be much more static, and more durable due to the dollar cap the rate applies to. If they start pushing the 1% barrier (plenty are still currently at 2%+), it changes my whole outlook on things.
Yes the big “IF” is will an ACH push count for the DD requirement. Now I will say that from my experience doing bank bonuses and reward checking accounts that many banks have similar or identical language and for the vast majority ACH pushes from all or certain banks meet the requirement but until we get some data points, no way to know for sure.
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Thx to kck for doc datapt…shinobi, I could not find anywhere in nwfcu 300 offer defining dd requirementd… guess ach will work?
I think so. ACH is direct deposit.
My plan is to do three $500 deposits from Alliant first. Then I call and ask if requirement has been met.
If not and they did not like Alliant, next will come three from PurePoint. Then call again. Same thing.
Finally, if both Alliant and PurePoint fail, I have a relationship with a local bank which happens nevertheless to be an ACH originator. It is a smaller bank, not at all a national operator like Alliant and PurePoint. All else failing first, should that happen which I do not anticipate, I will try my third option.
If all three options fall short, I lose the $300. While I expect Alliant to work first shot out of the gate, ya gotta have “plan B” (and “plan C”) just in case. 
I can confirm that ACH from Alliant triggered the bonus for NWFCU when I did a bonus with them in the past.
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