United Bank Review: Low Fees and High Balance Rewards
Written by
Rudri Patel
Edited by
Melanie Grafil
Commitment to Our Readers
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Open a United Free Checking account with a minimum deposit of $25 and never pay a single monthly maintenance fee.
United Bank offers several choices in checking accounts from those that have no monthly maintenance fees to perks like travel and leisure discounts. Also, United Bank has competitive rates on CDs compared to other brick-and-mortar banks.
United Bank mainly serves the East Coast and has 211 locations in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North and South Carolina, and Washington. D.C. The bank has a free checking account option and good rates on CDs.
United Bank Checking AccountsÂ
United Rewards, United Platinum, United Free, United Essential and Veterans Checking are the five checking accounts offered at United Bank. All accounts require a $50 minimum deposit except for United Essential Checking — this account requires a $25 minimum deposit. United Free Checking and Veterans Checking have no monthly maintenance fees. All accounts come with a debit card, e-statements, free mobile banking with check deposit and free online banking with bill pay.Â
- United Platinum Checking earns interest based on balance tiers. There is a minimum daily balance of $2,500. If the balance falls below $2,500 the monthly service charge is $10.Â
- United Essential Checking requires no minimum balance and no monthly fees for those who are 25 and under. There are no overdraft fees with this account.
- United Rewards Checking offers identity and credit file monitoring as well as travel and leisure discounts.
- United Rewards Checking has a monthly maintenance fee of $10, but is waived with 15 debit card purchases or $500 in direct deposits per statement cycle.
- Veterans Checking has no minimum balance or monthly maintenance fees and comes with free cashier checkers and 50% discount on any safe deposit box.
Best For
Mobile App
Low Monthly Fees
Banking in West Virginia
Loan Options
Low Minimum Deposit
Versatile Checking Account Options
United Bank offers a range of versatile checking accounts, including options with no monthly fees, fee waivers, and unique benefits tailored for veterans, young adults, and those seeking interest-earning accounts.
Fees
$10
APY
Up to
Min Opening
$25 to $50
Pros
- Good and diverse checking account options
- United Free checking has a low minimum deposit and no monthly maintenance fee
- Fee waivers are easy to meet
Cons
- Branches are primarily located in the East coast
- Interest rates are checking accounts are lowÂ
- Monthly fees if requirements are not met
Quick Take
United Bank has something for everyone’s financial needs with their checking account. United Free Checking is a good account if you’re looking for a low minimum deposit and no monthly maintenance fees and you have access to standard checking privileges.
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United Bank Savings Accounts
United Bank has one primary savings account — United Platinum Savings. The minimum deposit is $50 and there is no minimum daily balance requirement or monthly maintenance fee.
- Minimum of deposit of $50
- No minimum daily balance requirementÂ
- No monthly maintenance fee
- FDIC insuredÂ
- Access to online and mobile bankingÂ
Best For
Mobile App
Low Monthly Fees
Banking in West Virginia
Loan Options
Low Minimum Deposit
$0 Monthly Fees
United Platinum Savings offers an accessible savings option with no monthly fees, a low $50 minimum deposit and higher APYs with larger balances.
Fees
$0
APY
Up to
Min Opening
$50
Pros
- Low minimum deposit
- No monthly maintenance fee
- Higher balance earns a higher APY
Cons
- Limited geographic presence
- Competitors will have a higher APY
Quick Take
United Platinum Savings has a low bar for entry with its $50 minimum deposit. Savers can maximize their savings with no monthly maintenance requirement.
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United Bank CD Accounts
United Bank has digital and standard CDs. The minimum deposit for a CD is $500. Digital CDs are available for a term of five months to 50 months. Standard CDs are available for a term of one month to five years. Digital CDs have APYs of to and standard CDs have APY ranging between to .Â
- All CDs require a minimum deposit of $500
- United Bank has digital and standard CDs
- Terms are from one month to five years
- Digital CDs have a higher APY than standard CDs
- FDIC-insuredÂ
Best For
Mobile App
Low Monthly Fees
Banking in West Virginia
Loan Options
Low Minimum Deposit
Up to APY
United Bank’s CDs provide flexibility with terms from one month to five years, competitive APYs on digital CDs, and a low $500 minimum deposit.
Fees
No monthly service fee
APY
Up to
Min Opening
$500
Pros
- Varying length terms
- Competitive APYs for digital CDs
- Low minimum deposit
Cons
- Early withdrawal penalties
- Automatic renewal
- If you prefer in person banking, geographic options are limited
Quick Take
United Bank offers competitive APYs for its CDs and the $500 opening deposit makes it accessible for most. Digital APYs are higher than standard CDs.
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United Bank Money Market Accounts
The United Bank Super Money Market account has a high minimum opening deposit of $15,000. If the balance falls below $15,000, the monthly maintenance fee is $10. The APY is currently . The APY is subject to change.Â
- Minimum deposit is $15,000
- Monthly maintenance fee is $10 (unless you keep balance above $15,000)
- FDIC insured
- APY is for all balances
Best For
Mobile App
Low Monthly Fees
Banking in West Virginia
Loan Options
Low Minimum Deposit
Unlimited Transactions
United Bank’s Super Money Market account is tailored for those with substantial balances, offering unlimited transactions and a consistent APY, though the $15,000 minimum deposit may deter some savers.
Fees
$10 monthly
APY
Min Opening
$15,000
Pros
- Unlimited transactions and check writing privileges
- Interest rate can potentially increase with higher balancesÂ
- FDIC-insured
Cons
- High minimum deposit
- Limited geographic branches
- You are likely to find more competitive money market accountsÂ
Quick Take
Ally is an online-only bank that features low fees and high interest rates on its deposit accounts. Because of its low overhead, it can afford the interest on CDs, checking, savings and money market accounts to compound daily, which is a higher yield than other standard accounts that compound monthly. It is a convenient option with solid customer service for those who do not need to do their banking in person and has 43,000 ATMs nationwide.
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Banking Experience
United Bank has branches in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington D.C. With nearly 250 branches, it offers a comprehensive range of financial services, including personal and business banking, loans, mortgages, and wealth management. United Bank has 440 fee-free ATMs.Â
The Better Business Bureau gives it a rating of A+. In terms of digital and mobile services, it has received positive reviews. The United Bank app is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Play and a 4.8 in the Apple Store.
Customer Service
You can reach customer service at 1-800-327-9862 from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also receive personal online banking support at the same number Telephone banking is open 24/7 at 1-877-334-4646.Â
How Does United Bank Compare?
Here’s a look at how United Bank stacks up against its competitors:
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$10
$0
$0 or $12, with options to waive
APY
APY
APY
Up to
N/A
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$25 to $50
$0
$0
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$0
$0
$5 monthly, waivable
APY
APY
APY
Up to
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$50
$0
$0
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
No monthly service fee
No monthly service fee
No monthly service fee
APY
APY
APY
Up to
Up to
Up to
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$500
$0
$1,000
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$10 monthly
$0
No monthly service fee
APY
APY
APY
to
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$15,000
$0
$25
United Bank vs. Ally BankÂ
Ally Bank is a fully online bank known for its high-yield savings accounts, competitive CD rates, and low-cost checking accounts. These products are all accessible through Ally’s online platform. Ally excels in offering nationwide accessibility without the need for physical branches. Ally offers an APY of on its savings account, while United Bank offers a substantially lower APY.
For those who want the convenience of online banking, Ally is GOBankingRates’ 2025 Best Banks winner in Online Banks, Money Market Accounts and CDs; thus, it will likely have the edge over United Bank.Â
United Bank vs. ChaseÂ
Chase Bank is one of the largest national banks in the U.S., with a vast network of over 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs. Chase offers similar products to United Bank, but its national presence is much larger than a regional bank.Â
The choice between Chase Bank and United Bank will depend on your financial personality. Do you want a personal connection with your bank? United Bank will fit that need especially if you live in the East Coast states. Chase offers the option of either banking online or visiting one of their branches.
United Bank vs. Varo BankÂ
If you carry a balance of $5,000 on a savings account, you will earn up to at Varo Bank. There are also checking accounts with no hidden fees. Varo Bank is fully online and doesn’t offer CDs.Â
If you want in person services and would like CDs, United Bank is likely a better fit.
Final TakeÂ
For those living in East Coast states, United Bank offers competitive financial products in personal and business banking, loans, and investments. United Bank offers free checking and saving account options and competitive interest rates on CDs. However, the bank has limited branches and lower interest rates on savings and money market accounts.Â
United Bank FAQ
- Does United Bank work with Zelle?
- Yes, United Bank has partnered with Zelle for its digital platform.
- Is United Bank a trusted bank?
- Yes, United Bank is a member of the FDIC. Account holders' funds are insured up to $250,000 per category per depositor.
- Does United Bank charge a monthly fee?
- Yes, United Bank charges a monthly fee on its checking, savings and money market accounts. These monthly fees can be waived by meeting specific requirements. However, United Bank offers United Free - a basic checking account with no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirements.
- What is the transaction limit for United Bank?
- Transaction limits are not published on the website. Call customer service or visit a local branch for more information.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 19, 2024.Â
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
To discover the Best Banks by state, GOBankingRates analyzed the top institutions (excluding online banks and neobanks) by state branch locations. To determine rankings, GOBankingRates looked at the following factors: (1) total assets as sourced from the FDIC; (2) checking product minimum deposit; (3) monthly checking fee ratio (percentage of the minimum to avoid fees compared to the monthly fee itself); (4) savings product minimum deposit; (5) savings product APY; (6) Bauer rating (out of 5 stars); (7) products/services offered (auto loans, mortgage loans, credit cards, investment services and insurance); and (8) the average mobile app rating between the Google Play (Android) and Apple stores. All factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factors (1), (2) and (4) were weighed 0.5 times, factor (5) was weighed 2.5 times and factor (7) was weighed 1.5 times. All products and offerings had to be available as of Nov. 8, 2024, to be considered. Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 19, 2024. To qualify as one of the Best Banks in the state, the institution needed at least five branch locations in the respective state, with some exceptions for larger and/or smaller states.
