Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.
Update 9/16/23: Deal is back and valid until 10-31.
Update 7/15/23: Deal is back and valid until July 31, 2023
Update 1/15/23: Extended until March 31, 2023
Update 10/14/22: Extended until December 31, 2022.Â
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $200
- Availability: NC, TN, SC, GA
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, $2,000+
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull:Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Yes, not sensitive
- Credit card funding: Up to $500
- Monthly fees:Â $8 – $25
- Early account termination fee:Â Unknown
- Household limit:Â None listed
- Expiration date: September 30, 2022
Contents
The Offer
- United Community Bank is offering a bonus of up to $200 when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code Checking200
- Receive cumulative direct deposits of at least $2,000 within 90 days of account opening
- Complete 10 or more purchases using your new United Community Bank MastercardTM debit card within 90 days of account opening
The Fine Print
- Customers must qualify for the account, make the required minimum opening deposit, and have met the following criteria by the end of an initial 90-day qualification period, beginning the day the account is opened, in order to receive the $200 welcome offer: 1) Receive cumulative direct deposits of at least $2,000 which includes salary, pension, Social Security, or other regular recurring monthly income. Internal and external account transfers, deposits made at banking locations, by mobile deposits and ATM deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit; AND 2) complete 10 or more debit card purchases. Recurring debit card transactions do not qualify.
- Transactions must post to the account within the 90-day qualification period. ATM withdrawals do not qualify. Monthly service charges and other miscellaneous fees may apply.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
- United checking has a $8 monthly fee that can’t be waived.
- United Checking for 55+ has no monthly fees
- United signature checking has a $25 monthly fee. This is waived with any of the following:
- $15,000 Minimum Daily Balance5 -OR-
- $25,000 Combined Deposit Balance5 -OR-
- $50,000 Combined Outstanding Consumer Loans5 -OR-
- Relationship with United Community Advisory Services or United Community Mortgage Services5
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF.
Our Verdict
It’s annoying that it is so difficult to keep the account fee free, it might be worth just paying the $8 monthly fee if there is no early account termination fee. We will add it to the best bank bonus page yet.
Hat tip to reader Jo
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
The post needs an update,
William Charles.
The bonus is $300 & expires 2/15/24. Promo code SIGNATURE300
https://www.ucbi.com/why-united-signature-300
Looks to me like they have added branches in FL & AL too. I think I have heard FL has a few bonus miners here…
Oh, and they accept AMEX for CC funding, per DP’s. Your CC funding page doesn’t show that.
“At account opening, they must also maintain a loan serviced by United Community Mortgage Services or our mortgage servicing provider on behalf of United and make the required minimum opening deposit of $1,000.”
Awww… that bites. I missed that. I guess it’s good state info if the $200 offer comes back.
I noticed that on the old one this wasn’t a requirement. They added this as soon as this new offer became available a couple months ago. They paused it for a bit and when I saw your comment, I was hoping it didn’t have the loan condition.
Anyway, kind of shitty of them to sell this as a direct deposit promo when you literally have to have a mortgage with them. Which would apply only to a small population of people
Bonus posted. DD from Fidelity.
Is it true that I can close it without ETF after 90 days?
Account Closure Within 90 Days of Opening: $20.00
.
7/27/23 – Opened
8/7/23 – Fidelity Brokerage $2K+ push
8/14/23 – Completed 10 small ~$1 debits
10/26/23 – $200 bonus posted
Opened on 07/18 met the requirements in the same manner as you but still waiting
Did you get the bonus?
7/17/23 Opened
7/27 – 8/3 – various amazon reloads on debit, between 1.09 and 3.29 (trying to ensure not looked at as recurring)
8/4 – real DD $501
8/18 – real DD $501
9/1 – real DD $501
9/15 – real DD $501
10/17 – $200 bonus posed as “Checking200”
Denied due to Chex. 647/900. Stated reasons ASSET OWNERSHIP HISTORY
NO EVIDENCE OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
TIME AT CURRENT ADDRESS
RECENT UNIQUE FI DDA INQUIRY HISTORY
Live with my parents for 25 years. Whatever on to the next.
Called in and rep told me if there’s 5 or more chex pulls in the last 30 days they automatically deny. Told me I’d have to go into the branch. Went in branch and was approved. Missed out on credit card funding but at least I can still get the bonus.
Got approved, wife got denied because they “could not verify her identity”.
I strongly advise staying away from this bank. Definitely the worst bank I ever dealt with. Nothing but hassles and incompetence on their end.
It says monthly $8 waived if direct deposit or estatements. M i missing something?
As a follow-up to my July 17 post, my initial deposit (25 bucks!)had not been returned after a month, so I called the bank and was told it would be another 7 to 15 business days. After that period had passed with no refund, I filed a complaint with the CFPB. Yesterday I received the check in the mail, along with a nice apology letter. With these jokers, it’s caveat emptor.