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United Bank of Iowa Review 2020: Is It the Right Bank for You?

By Vance Cariaga

March 25, 2020

nortonrsx / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Farming is big business in Iowa, and United Bank of Iowa wants to be at the forefront of helping farmers in the state obtain financing and other banking services. The self-proclaimed “No. 1 Ag Bank in Iowa” based on agricultural loan volume doubles as a community bank with 35 offices in rural west-central Iowa.

Headquartered in Ida Grove, Iowa, United Bank of Iowa traces its roots to 1932 and boasted more than $1.7 billion in total assets as of Dec. 31, 2019. It offers a range of banking services to individuals, businesses and farmers, including checking and savings accounts, loans, retirement accounts, trust services and investment planning. The bank touts its personal service, range of products and long history in the region among its key strengths.

Read on for a closer look at what United Bank of Iowa has to offer and why it might (or might not) be the right bank for you:

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Who Is United Bank of Iowa Best For?

Community banks like United Bank of Iowa are geared toward locals who prize personalized service and longstanding banking relationships but don’t necessarily need a lot of bells and whistles in terms of bonuses or very high interest rates.

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Checking Accounts

United Bank of Iowa offers three types of checking accounts: Basic, Smart Choice and Preferred. Each is tailored to individual needs and financial priorities.

Features

Pros

Cons

Take a Look: Best Checking Accounts of 2020

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Savings Accounts

United Bank of Iowa offers several savings accounts designed for customers of different income levels and age groups, including a health savings account (HSA) for those covered under a high deductible health plan that only requires $50 to open and comes with no setup fees and no income requirement.

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Features

Pros

Cons

Find Out: Best Savings Accounts of 2020

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Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

CDs at United Bank of Iowa let you earn higher rates of interest than savings accounts, though they also carry more restrictions in terms of accessing the money.

Features

  • $500 or more to open
  • Tiered interest rates that go higher with larger balances
  • Terms of 90 days to five years
  • Automatic renewal feature that lets you renew at the current APY
  • You’ll get a notice about 10 days prior to the maturity date that lets you make changes to your account.
  • You get a 10-day grace period following the maturity date to make any desired changes. Interest will be paid for the first seven days of the 10-day grace period.

Pros

  • Low deposit to open an account
  • Two ways to receive interest
  • Simple renewal process

Cons

  • United Bank of Iowa website does not include APY information
  • Penalty for early withdrawal

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

United Bank of Iowa offers two types of IRAs: traditional and Roth. Neither requires a minimum initial deposit or minimum balance.

Features

  • Variable and fixed investment options available
  • Traditional: Contributions may be tax deductible
  • Roth: Contributions are not tax deductible

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Pros

Cons

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    Loans

    United Bank of Iowa puts a big emphasis on its commercial lending program, which includes commercial real estate loans, commercial loans and leases, lines of credit, Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans and USDA Business and Industry (B&I) guaranteed loans. The following is a look at available personal loans:

    Features

    • Conventional mortgage loans available to purchase or refinance homes
    • Home equity loans that let you use equity in your home for one-time purchases
    • Home equity line of credit (HELOC) where you use your home as collateral for large expenses such as remodeling, medical bills and education
    • Personal/consumer loans that can be used for a variety of purposes, including vehicle upgrades, family emergencies, debt consolidation and vacation funds

    Pros

    • Fixed and variable rates available

    Cons

    • Little information available on the website about interest rates and terms

    Helpful: Tips To Get Your Mortgage Payments as Low as Possible

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    How To Bank With United Bank of Iowa

    You can open a new account at United Bank of Iowa either online or by visiting one of its branches. Once you’ve opened an account, there are several ways to bank with United Bank of Iowa:

    To contact United Bank of Iowa with questions or comments, the best option is to fill out an online form. The bank’s website is easy to navigate, though it doesn’t offer a whole lot of information on APY for interest-bearing accounts outside of the UBI Kids Savings Club.

    Fees

    You can avoid monthly maintenance fees with nearly all of United Bank of Iowa’s personal checking and savings accounts if you meet certain balance or transaction requirements. The table below tells you all you need to know.

                                                        United Bank of Iowa Account Fees
    Account Monthly Fee
    Basic Checking $8, unless you maintain a $250 minimum balance or make at least 10 debit card purchases a month
    Smart Choice Checking $6
    Preferred Checking $7, unless you maintain a minimum balance of $1,000 or an average balance of $3,000
    United Savings No maintenance fee, but you’ll have to pay $20 if you exceed six limited transactions per calendar month
    United Select Savings $7, unless you maintain a $750 minimum daily balance or $3,000 average daily balance; an extra $20 if you exceed six limited transactions per calendar month
    United Investment Savings No maintenance fee, but you’ll have to pay $20 if you exceed six limited transactions per month
    UBI Kids Savings Club No maintenance fee, but you’ll have to pay $20 if you exceed six limited transactions per calendar month

    Be Careful: Making This Mistake at Your Bank Can Cost You $10,221

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    Availability of Funds

    The United Bank of Iowa website doesn’t provide much information on when funds are available after making a deposit. For mobile deposits, all it says is that money deposited by the bank’s cut-off time is usually available in your account the next business day. Contact your local branch for more information on cut-off times. Transfers between accounts using online banking are available immediately. 

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    In Conclusion: United Bank of Iowa

    If you live in United Bank of Iowa’s immediate service area and can get to one of its branches quickly, it’s a good option for building a long-term relationship that can take you from your first savings account to retirement. You’ll have access to standard banking products and accounts, with fees that can be easily avoided. But if you live outside the service area, you’re probably better off with another bank because United Bank of Iowa doesn’t offer a lot in terms of high savings rates or incentives for new customers.

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    Rates are updated periodically and subject to change. All other information on accounts is accurate as of March 19, 2020.

    This content is not provided by United Bank of Iowa. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by United Bank of Iowa.