What is Early Pay?
Early Pay1 is a free service that gives you access to qualifying direct deposits from participating employers or federal and state government payments up to two days early. Early availability timing is based on when United Community Bank receives the payment instructions.
 
There is no need to enroll and there's no additional cost—it’s automatic when you have qualifying direct deposits to your United Community Bank account.
 
What is direct deposit?
A direct deposit is an electronic transfer of funds from an organization such as your employer, a retirement plan or the Social Security Administration, directly to your checking account, savings or money market account. Direct deposit is a fast, convenient and safe alternative to paper checks.
 
How do I enroll for Direct Deposit?
Setting up Direct Deposit is easy! Simply fill out a Direct Deposit Change form along with a voided check and submit it to your employer’s HR department.
 
Do I have to enroll for or activate Early Pay?
If you’ve already set up direct deposit to your United Community Bank account, you don’t have to do anything. Early Pay is automatically enabled.
 
Will I receive a notification when I’m paid early?
You can set up alerts and notifications through online and mobile banking so that you’re notified when funds are deposited to your United Community Bank account.
 
When will Early Pay be available?
Early Pay is available beginning October 27.
 
Is Early Pay available for business accounts?
Yes, business accounts also receive the benefits of Early Pay.
 
Is there a fee for Early Pay?
Early Pay is free for United Community Bank customers.
 
Will all of my direct deposits be eligible for Early Pay?
Direct deposits that may be received early must be recurring.  Salary, social security, pension, military payments, and VA benefits are typically included.3
 
Will I always receive payments up to two days early?
Businesses and employers don’t always submit their direct deposit information at the same time each pay period. For example, one pay period, an employer may submit it one day early, and the next, they may submit it two days early. Unfortunately, United Community Bank doesn’t have control over the timing. However, you can enroll for alerts within online and mobile banking so you’re notified when you receive your direct deposits early.
 
Why did I receive my direct deposit early last payday, but not this payday?
Employers don’t always submit their direct deposit information at the same time each pay period. For example, one pay period, they may submit it one day early, and the next they may submit it two days early. Unfortunately, United Community Bank doesn’t have control over the timing; that’s why it’s important for you to monitor your accounts to make sure your direct deposit is funded to your account before spending funds. However, you can enroll in text2 alerts so you are notified when you receive your direct deposits early.
 
If my business originates payroll or other ACH payments at United Community Bank, how will the Early Pay service impact my business?
Your business will not be impacted by this change; however, if your employee banks with United Community Bank, they may receive their deposit up to 2 days early.

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1Early Pay is a courtesy service provided by United Community Bank.  At our sole discretion, we may make funds available for certain direct deposits as soon as the payor notifies us of the payment. This means we can make your money available to you up to 2 days before we receive the funds from the payor.  Early availability of direct deposits is dependent on the timing of your payor’s payment instructions, fraud prevention overlays, and other restrictions. United Community Bank does not guarantee early availability of any direct deposits, and eligibility of a direct deposit for early availability may vary from deposit to deposit – including those from the same payor. Any direct deposit that is not posted early will otherwise be made available according to our funds availability schedule. We reserve the right to discontinue the early availability of direct deposit at our sole discretion and without any further notice to you.

2Message and data rates may apply.

3Eligible direct deposits are limited to electronic direct deposits of your payroll, pension, and government benefit payments. Other deposits or credits to your account, such as deposits of funds from person-to-person payment services (e.g. Zelle®, Venmo, or PayPal transfers), check or mobile deposits, and other online transfers are not eligible for Early Pay Day.