I got a postcard from M&T Bank offering a $200 cash bonus if I opened an online checking account (and fulfilled a few other requirements). Eager to try this (and wanting to try out a new bank anyway), I entered all the required personal info online (including those questions that confirm you know your prior addresses and phone numbers), got a confirmation screen, and printed out and mailed in the "signature card" as instructed.
Then nothing, not even the promised welcome e-mail within 24 hours. After I few days I was nervous that I had unwittingly given all my info to a scam website. Called and emailed M&T's customer service line and they couldn't confirm me. After about 10 days I got an envelope in the mail from "M&T Enterprise Security." The letter is on thin paper and has some grammatical mistakes, so my red flag meter was registering again. The letter says "in reference to your online account request, please fax copies of a social security card and a recent utility bill."
Is this common practice for online checking accounts?