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Fresh off the heels of the launch of the rewards-earning Southwest Airlines debit card, United Airlines launched a debit card of its own. And if you like to earn United MileagePlus miles, you might actually find this new product pretty exciting.
Here's what to know about the new United debit card, including its earning rates, benefits, and welcome offer.
United Airlines Launches Rewards-Earning Debit Card
We previously reported on leaked information suggesting that a United Airlines rewards-earning debit card could be on the way. Twitter/X user “SoFi_Insider” stumbled upon details of the United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card in October. And many of these details came to fruition; United Airlines officially launched its miles-earning debit card in early November 2025.
This card is now open for applications!
Now that we have official details of the debit card, we'll introduce you to the new product. First and foremost, it's issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A. Galileo Financial Technologies, the tech arm of SoFi Bank, powers rewards-earning debit cards like this one.
On the debit card's application page, you'll see in big, bold print that the card offers a sign-up bonus. New sign-ups can earn a 10,000 United Mile sign-up bonus when you spend $500 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.
On top of the new cardholder bonus, you'll earn United miles on your debit purchases. Here are the earning rates:
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on United.
- Earn 1 mile per $2 spent on all other qualifying transactions.
- Earn 2,500 bonus miles when you spend $10,000 each calendar year.
While not as lucrative as earning with a United credit card, it's the card's “Balance Rewards” feature that might be more enticing. For those holding a balance in their debit account, here's the scoop:
- Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles each year on your average account balance. You'll earn miles every month on this balance.
- No monthly fee if your average account balance is at least $2,000. Otherwise, the monthly fee is $4. That's $48 over the course of a year.
So, you'll be able to earn United miles as a dividend of sorts on your account balance. Rewards are earned in tiers based on your average account balance. You'll earn 1/12 of the annualized rewards each month. The tiers are:
| Average Daily Balance | Miles Earned Each Month | Miles Earned Over the Course of a Year | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0-$2,000 | N/A | N/A | $4 |
| $2,000-$2,499 | N/A | N/A | Waived |
| $2,500-$4,999 | 208 | 2,500 | Waived |
| $5,000-$9,999 | 416 | 5,000 | Waived |
| $10,000-$24,999 | 1,250 | 15,000 | Waived |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 2,500 | 30,000 | Waived |
| $50,000+ | 5,833 | 70,000 | Waived |
If maximized, you can earn up to 1.4 United miles per dollar saved per year. That's solid for a checking account, but you can earn a higher rate via the Bask Mileage Savings Account — which currently earns 1.75 miles per dollar saved per year.
No credit check is required to sign up, and balances are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
To apply for the United debit card, click here.
Why It Makes Sense for United to Launch a Debit Card
Debit cards are used for more than 30% of payments in America each month. While credit cards outpace that by a few percentage points, that's still a large untapped market for travel brands to reward debit card holders and keep them loyal to the brand's loyalty ecosystem. So, this card launch makes a lot of sense.
While many reading this post are probably perfectly comfortable using a United credit card — which rewards users with at least one United mile per dollar on all spending — some may not be. A debit card can be helpful for those with bad credit or for those who don't want to carry a credit card.
If you can treat your United credit card as if it's a debit card, by paying off the balance in full each month, you'll come out ahead. You'll also have more perks when you travel on the airline, just for holding the card — such as a free checked bag, priority boarding, and more.
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Priority boarding on United® flights
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 2X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
The most interesting feature is the up-to-70,000-mile bonus on your account balance each year. For those with big balances, that could mean a free flight or two every year for with no effort. But members will have to weigh the rewards earned versus the opportunity cost of keeping such a large balance outside of a high-yield savings account.
Bottom Line
The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card should be exciting news for those who wish to earn United miles for their debit card purchases. While a United credit card will still be more rewarding, earning something is still better than nothing. Plus, the ability to earn a welcome offer, bonus miles on spending, and the potential to earn United miles as a form of interest on your account balance may make this card enticing.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees)
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