SPIRE CU (MN/WI) Offers $100 Free Checking Account Bonus

Availability

Headquartered in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, SPIRE Credit Union’s field of membership (FOM) is primarily residency based, with all Minnesota and Wisconsin residents eligible for membership.

Membership is also extended to employees of several SEGs, as well as to the immediate family members of current SPIRE members.

At the top of the Membership Application, is what I consider to be a unique eligibility requirement. Of the four ways listed to qualify, one is being a “Member or employee of another credit union or cooperative.”

CSR confirmed that membership in any credit union or cooperative qualifies for SPIRE membership. On its face, this opens up the FOM to a large number of individuals, but the lack of an online application and the necessity of an in-person visit to open an account, limits the value of that qualification.

Joining SPIRE and applying for the $100 checking bonus can be done in person at any of 18 Minnesota branches located in Coon Rapids (2), Egan, Eden Prairie, Elk River, Falcon Heights, Isle, Maple Grove, Milaca, Minneapolis (2), Mora, Ogilvie, Pine City, Princeton, Roseville, Saint Paul, and Woodbury.

The Membership Application is available as a download and can be returned by snail-mail. According to the Membership page, “A SPIRE representative will contact you once your application has been approved.”

Credit Union Overview

SPIRE Credit Union (NCUA Charter # 68651) has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas ratio of 3.25% (excellent) based on June 30, 2016 data. In the past year, SPIRE has increased its total deposits by $45.89 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 6.39%. Please refer to our financial overview of SPIRE Credit Union for more details.

In 1934 during the height of the Great Depression, SPIRE Credit Union was established as the Twin Cities Co-Ops Credit Union. The Credit Union’s backstory is yet another example of a resourceful individual finding a way to help himself and others.

The idea of a credit union started with Edgar Archer. Archer was an employee of what was then called Midland Cooperative Oil Association. Before starting at Midland, Archer had been out of work for some time, resulting in a number of unpaid bills. Now that Edgar was employed, he applied for loans all over…one by one he was turned down. He wanted to “do the right thing” and pay his debts. Edgar did not give up. He had been hearing about an employee credit union, so he thought, why not start one at the Midland?

By February 1934, enough of his fellow workers agreed, and seven of them applied for a certificate of organization. Through the foresight of the original founders, the credit union escaped the narrow confines of an employee credit union and has grown significantly because of the doors that were opened back in 1934.

SPIRE Credit Union is currently Minnesota’s 7th largest credit union, with more than 87,500 members and assets in excess of $844 million.

How the SPIRE Free Checking $100 Bonus Compares

As the account name suggests, the SPIRE Free Checking account has no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirement. With relatively simple qualifications and a limited investment to earn the $100 bonus, the SPIRE $100 Bonus is basically found money.

Looking at it in a different way, earning $100 in six months in a savings account earning 1% APY requires a deposit of $17,300.

Other Promotions and Bonuses

Not eligible for Spire Credit Union’s $100 bonus? Check out my latest bank and credit union bonus blog posts to find other promotions. In addition, DepositAccounts.com readers and I also post often on bonuses in the Bank Promotions Forum.