Second Chance Banking in Arizona

U.S. Bank is the fifth largest bank in the country with the majority of its 2,000+ branches located in 26 states mostly located in the west and midwest.

You can earn up to $450 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and a Standard Savings account online and complete qualifying activities. The offer is subject to certain terms and limitations and is valid through November 30, 2023. Member FDIC.

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking at a Glance

• A U.S. Bank Visa debit card
• Online banking and bill pay
• Mobile banking with mobile check deposit
• Send money with Zelle®
• Access to U.S. Bank Smart Rewards® to reap additional benefits
• No NSF charges for overdraft balances under $50
• No fees at U.S. Bank ATMs
• No surcharge fees at 40,000 MoneyPass ATMs
• Member FDIC

States Where U.S. Bank is Available

If you live in one of the following 26 states where this account is available, you can apply online: AR, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY.

Account Details and Costs

To get an account, you’ll need to make an opening deposit of $25. The monthly service fee is $6.95 but can be waived if you maintain a minimum balance of $1,500 or by having a combined monthly direct deposit totaling $1,000. You can also avoid the monthly fee if you are 24 and under, 65 and over, or a member of the military (must self-disclose) or qualify for one of the four Smart Rewards® tiers (Primary, Plus, Premium, or Pinnacle).

Banking Made Easy

The U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account comes with one of the best mobile apps on the market. Over one million customers have given the app an overall rating of five stars. You can manage your entire account from a computer or your smartphone.

U.S. Bank repeatedly makes the list of one of the best banks in the country.

Get a U.S. Bank Account Today!

Most people know Chase and with over 15,000 ATMs and 4,700 branches across the country, the Chase Secure Banking account might be a good fit for a second chance bank account.

Chase Secure Banking at a Glance

• NO credit check
• NO ChexSystems
• NO minimum deposit to open
• NO overdraft fees
• FREE access to over 15,000 Chase ATMs
• FREE Chase Online Bill Pay
• FREE money orders and cashier’s checks

What to Know About the Approval Process

Opening the Chase Secure Banking account has some important qualifiers. First, Chase verifies your name, address, and social security through Experian, but doesn’t pull a credit report or credit score. Chase doesn’t use ChexSystems for this account, but the bank does use Early Warning Services (EWS). Additionally, if you’ve had an account closed by Chase in the past, your application will not be approved. Past account closures can include missteps such as non-payment of fees, excessive overdrafts, or suspected fraud.

Finally, Chase gives you the opportunity to open your new account online or by taking a printable coupon to a branch location. We strongly recommend you apply online as branch locations have been known to use ChexSystems during the approval process.

Fees

Chase doesn’t offer overdraft services with this account as you can only spend the money you have available and the account does not include paper checks. You should also know that using non-Chase ATMs can cost from $3.00 to $5.00 per transaction.

Chase Secure Banking carries a $4.95 monthly service fee that cannot be waived. But combined with all the free services and the $100 cash bonus when you use the card for 10 purchases within 60 days, the monthly fee doesn’t pose a problem for most customers.

If you’ve wanted to bank with Chase and wondered if you’d qualify, we think you’re going to be really happy with the Chase Secure Banking account.

Get a Chase Account Now!

Current offers an innovative account to consumers who want it all without the costs and hassles.

The Current Build account works just like a checking account but also helps you build credit every time you use the card. Sign-up takes about 2 minutes and Current has extremely high acceptance rates.

Current at a Glance

• NO credit check
• NO minimum balance
• NO deposit required to open an account
• NO fees at over 40,000 ATMs in the U.S.
• Get your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit
• Earn 4.0% APY on your balance up to $6,000 with direct deposit; earn 0.25% APY without
• Earn points for unlimited cashback at participating retailers
• Send money instantly for free
• An elegant but simple smartphone app
• 24/7 member support
• FDIC insured account up to $250,000

Swipe The Card and Build Credit

Using your Current Build account to BUILD your credit is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. You add money to your account
2. Swipe your card to make purchases, pay bills, or get money from an ATM machine
3. The funds in your account pay for these transactions
4. Current reports your payment to build your credit history

Current Works Hard for You

Current offers a really unique service it calls Gas Hold Removals. What’s a gas hold? Some gas stations may apply a hold from $50 to $100 when you use your card to pump gas. If you only pumped $10 of gas, but the gas station places a $100 hold on your funds, you won’t have access to the $90 difference for up to 3 business days! The Current Build card will immediately refund the hold so you have access to all your funds. We haven’t found that benefit anywhere in the marketplace.

We love the features, we love the smartphone app, and we love Current. That makes us think you’ll love them too.

Get a Current Account Now!

Fast-growing Chime® is one of our favorite checking accounts. The account has some amazing features and Chime accepts almost all customers who apply… even if you have bad or poor credit or have been blacklisted by ChexSystems or the credit bureaus.

Chime at a Glance

• NO credit check or ChexSystems
• NO initial deposit required
• NO minimum balance required
• NO monthly or annual fees
• NO NSF/overdraft fees¹
• NO foreign transaction fees
• NO fees at over 60,000 ATMs²
• NO fees for mobile and online bill pay
• FREE cash deposits at 8,500+ Walgreens
• Get your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit³
• FDIC insured account up to $250,000

Deposit Cash for FREE at Over 8,500 Walgreens

Chime has made depositing cash easy. All you have to do is go into a Walgreens store, hand the cashier the cash you want to deposit along with your Chime card, and the deposit will show up in your account immediately. This offers Chime members more walk-in locations than any other bank in the U.S.⁴

Instantly Transfer Funds

You can transfer funds to friends and family, Chime members or not… and they can claim their money instantly⁵ without any additional apps.

The Chime app also has a series of notifications that you can turn on or turn off so you stay in complete control. Misplaced or lost your card? You can instantaneously turn off your card using the app. No wonder over 400,000 customers have given the app a 5-star review.

Savings Made Easy

Chime was one of the first to offer a “round up” option. If you use your Chime card on a purchase of $10.65, Chime gives you the option of automatically rounding up to $11.00 and putting the remaining $.35 in your free Chime savings account. And that adds up over time! Plus, Chime pays 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)⁶ in interest on that savings account.

Customers First

If you use direct deposit with your Chime account, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days early⁷. And Chime is just saying no to big bank NSF charges with a fee-free overdraft program up to $200.

We don’t think there is another company innovating for their customers like Chime.

Get a Chime Account Today!

The SoFi Checking & Savings account is offered by SoFi Bank. It’s a checking AND savings account and we love that. Plus, they don’t use ChexSystems or your credit report to approve accounts.

You get a debit MasterCard and a very slick smartphone app. You can make deposits, write checks, utilize electronic bill pay, and transfer money. You don’t need to make an opening deposit to get an account and SoFi never charges monthly maintenance fees. You’ll have access to a large and fee-free ATM network along with a generous cashback program.

Using the SoFi direct deposit option unlocks additional benefits. First, if you overspend a bit, SoFi will cover up to $50 with no overdraft fees. Second, you’ll receive a much higher interest amount of 4.60% APY on savings account balances and .50% APY on checking account balances.

If you decide not to utilize direct deposit, you’ll receive 1.20% APY on savings balances. And finally, when you set up direct deposit from an employer, SoFi will credit your account up to $275 (depending on the amount of your direct deposit).

The sign-up process can take less than 60 seconds. With over 6 million members, SoFi is a bank you can count on!

SoFi has been great! The account was easy to open and I got my debit card a few days later. The smartphone app is easy to use and I can check everything from my computer, too. I’ve had some issues with ChexSystems in the past and SoFi seems to be the perfect bank.

Claire M., SoFi Customer

Get a SoFi Account Now!

NorthOne is a fast-growing company built specifically around business banking solutions for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. In addition to streamlining the application process, NorthOne doesn’t check your credit and doesn’t use ChexSystems. Here’s a recap:

• FREE business Mastercard debit card
• FREE access at over 40,000 ATMs nationwide
• FREE online and mobile app
• FREE live chat (not a chatbot), telephone, or email support
• FREE in-app invoice creator
• NO minimum monthly balance requirement
• NO NSF fees
• NO ACH transfer fees
• NO credit check or ChexSystems

Banking Services

NorthOne doesn’t require a minimum account balance and charges a $10 monthly fee that includes unlimited transactions in your account. These include ACH payments, bill pay, debit card usage, mobile deposits, and transfers. The only other fee is $15 for wire transfers.

You can also grant read-only access to employees or your accountant or bookkeeper. This keeps your account safe while also giving access to those who need it.

Application Process

NorthOne targets account approvals within one to two business days. Information required to open an account includes name, address, and social security number or tax identification number. If applicable, NorthOne may ask for a copy of your business license and business formation documents. After you’re approved, you’ll need to make a $50 minimum opening deposit.

Open a NorthOne Account Today!

Putting customers first since 1901, 1st Convenience Bank offers a flexible eAccount for the consumer on-the-go. This account is designed for those that seek a more digital-friendly account while still maintaining 1st Convenience Bank’s customer service.

By opening an eAccount in person, no minimum deposit is required. Opening purely online requires a simple $20.00 minimum deposit. In addition, 1st Convenience Bank offers a plethora of features to their eAccount owners including:

• A debit Mastercard for purchases and payments
• Free Gold Key ATM withdrawals
• A monthly maintenance fee of only $5.00 with eStatement enrollment
• Bill pay and money order services

You can find 1st Convenience Bank locations in multiple cities across Arizona, including Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and several others.

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Acorns offers some strong benefits.

We love the heavy metal tungsten Visa debit card and the world-class smartphone app that allows you to manage every aspect of your new checking account such as budgeting, spending, and security.

Another nice option is the ability to round up on every purchase and Acorns will take that money and automatically put it in a savings account. This really helps build a nest egg.

It takes about 2-3 minutes to sign up and you get both a checking and savings account. Here’s more:

• FREE Visa® debit card
• FREE bank-to-bank transfers
• FREE physical check sending online or through the mobile app
• FREE mobile check deposits
• FREE access to 55,000+ fee-free ATMs
• NO minimum balance or overdraft fees
• NO credit check
• $3 monthly fee
• FDIC insured

Acorns was built to give everyone the tools to manage their finances which makes it one of our top picks.

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Ally Bank has been one of the most highly rated online banks for the past several years. It’s not because they have the most features, but because they consistently make their customers delighted with the features the bank offers.

For starters, there’s no minimum opening deposit required. Ally doesn’t charge any monthly maintenance fee and there is no overdraft fee (more on that below). You’ll have access to 43,000+ ATMs and Ally will reimburse you up to $10 per statement cycle if you get charged for using another institution’s machine.

You’ll become eligible for Ally’s overdraft program called CoverDraft 30 days after depositing a total of $100. Ally will activate CoverDraft automatically and send you an email when they do. You can turn CoverDraft off at any time, as long as your account balance isn’t negative. Otherwise, Ally will decline the transaction without payment. In either case, you won’t be charged an overdraft fee.

We like that you can use Zelle to send and receive money, get paid up to 2 days sooner with early direct deposit, and deposit checks remotely with Ally eCheck Deposit. We also like that Ally has high approval rates as long as you don’t have a ChexSystems or EWS fraud alert in your past.

To get the bonus, use code GET200 by Nov. 30, 2023. Make sure to fund your account within 30 days of opening it and set up one or more direct deposits totaling $1,500 within 90 days. Ally will send your bonus within 30 days of your account receiving $1,500 in qualified direct deposits.

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With Alhambra Credit Union, obtaining a checking account has never been easier. For those that may have unpaid closures or NSF activity on past checking accounts, Alhambra offers help with a Basic Checking account to assist people in establishing proper money management practices.

In addition to their Basic Checking account, Alhambra Credit Union offers a wide variety of services to their clients including:

• Online banking and bill pay services
• Free withdrawals at all Alhambra CU ATMs
• Four free monthly withdrawals at non-Alhambra CU ATMs
• A 1% check cashing fee for checks over $100.00
• Free notary services for all members

This Arizona-based credit union has one branch in Phoenix and another branch in Litchfield Park for your convenience.

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America First Credit Union is a non-ChexSystems bank that utilizes your Experian credit report to determine if you’re eligible for an account. Their Classic Checking account is designed to be a quick and easy way to manage your money.

We like the Classic Checking account because it has no monthly fees and no low-balance fees. If you find yourself needing to keep a close eye on your finances, America First CU has you covered with their Money Manager tool that will help you track your spending habits as well as access to your FICO Credit Score.

Give them a call or visit one of their branches in Tempe, Mesa, Tolleson, St. Johns, or Page to get started!

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Rather than referring to your ChexSystems record, Armed Forces Bank will refer to a credit report and Certegy check services to determine if you’re eligible for an account. If you only have issues with ChexSystems, there’s a good chance you will be approved.

We like their Access Checking account because it provides all of the banking necessities while remaining affordable. The account comes with digital banking access, free eStatements, a free Visa debit card, and overdraft protection services. To waive the moderate $10 monthly service charge, you just need to enroll in direct deposit.

To get started, all you will need is $25 for an initial deposit. As the name may suggest, Armed Forces Bank offers accounts to anyone who is actively enrolled or retired from the U.S. Army. You can find branches located in El Mirage, Fort Huachuca, Glendale, Luke AFB, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and Yuma.

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Employees of the Banner Health System, Sonora Quest Laboratory, and other small affiliated businesses are eligible for an Opportunity Checking account at Banner Federal Credit Union. Designed for customers looking to reestablish a good banking history, Banner Federal gives you all the benefits of a normal checking account but with the added benefit of financial monitoring.

With Banner Federal’s financial monitoring, the institution will contact and assist any client they feel may be in financial trouble. For those individuals that reach a year of good checking history, those clients will qualify for an upgrade to the Protection Plus Rewards Checking!

You can find Banner Federal in several major cities in Arizona including Mesa, Phoenix, and Glendale.

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For customers with past financial difficulties, BOK Financial offers their Opportunity Checking account. Designed to be a checkless account, this option offers customers easy and convenient access to their money with a minimum deposit of only $50.00 to get started.

For Opportunity Check account holders, BOK Financial also offers access to QuickSave. This tool has been created to help clients automatically save money to better their finances. In addition to this benefit, BOK Financial also offers:

• Free access to MoneyPass ATMs
• A discounted $5.00 monthly service fee with a qualifying direct deposit of at least $300
• Online statements and notices
• Free online statements

Visit one of their five branches in Arizona in Phoenix (3), Mesa (1), or Gilbert (1) to get started with Opportunity Checking!

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Cochise Credit Union may be a good option for you if your credit history is more favorable than your banking history. If you didn’t already guess, they utilize a credit report in lieu of ChexSystems to determine if you’re eligible for an account.

With their Share Draft Checking account, you won’t need to worry about any monthly service charges or minimum balance requirements. We like this account because you’ll be able to earn dividends if your account balance is over $50! They also include a free Visa debit card, unlimited check writing, and free bill pay.

If you’re interested in becoming a member of Cochise CU, visit their website to see a list of eligible zip codes and employers. You can also join if you’re related to a current member. Their only office is located in Willcox.

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Coconino Federal Credit Union is said to be more lenient with ChexSystems and will allow those with a record to get an account as long as there is only one item and has been paid. If this sounds like a possibility for you, we recommend their Adventure Checking account.

This account doesn’t require any minimum opening deposit and includes a few nice perks like bill pay and smartphone banking capabilities. For a modest monthly service charge of $6, this account is a low-cost checking option that can be a great first step in reestablishing positive banking history.

Coconino FCU is Arizona-based and has branch locations in Flagstaff and Page.

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Copper State Credit Union (formerly Canyon State Credit Union) offers their Try Again Checking Account. For clients that may have unpaid closures or NSF activity, this account option is the perfect opportunity for a second chance coming in at only a $10 monthly fee.

Copper State enrolls new account holders in the personal finance education program ‘CheckRight’ to help teach the fundamentals of checking accounts for a stronger financial relationship. Once this course has been completed, Copper State account holders will be eligible for:

• Five free monthly ATM transactions
• 24/7 online banking access
• Potential account upgrades after one year

You can find Copper State locations in and around the Phoenix area, including Anthem, Glendale, Goodyear, Payson, and Surprise.

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Like David slaying Goliath, Dave is taking on big banks and their predatory ways. The Dave checking account is a mobile-centric bank account that doesn’t use ChexSystems or your credit score for account approval.

The only fee Dave charges for the account is a $1 monthly maintenance fee. There are no monthly minimum balance requirements, no overdraft fees, and no fees at over 40,000 MoneyPass® ATMs in 7-Eleven and other spots near you. There’s no opening deposit requirement to get your Dave account either.

If you opt for direct deposit and get paid on a regular basis, Dave will spot you up to $250 if your balance isn’t enough to cover an incoming charge. That feature won’t cost you any fees or interest charges.

Just like a savings account, you can set aside money in “Dave Goals” for any special purpose such as a vacation or car purchase. While you work toward your savings goal, Dave will pay 4.00% APY on your money.

Finally, Dave has partnered with a number of businesses around the country to help accountholders find side gigs. This is a unique feature we’ve not seen with any other checking account. You can find work when you need it, right from the Dave app. Between instant-pay surveys and easy-apply side hustles, there are thousands of ways to get paid.

We like the robust Dave smartphone app. Customers like the app, too. Dave is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple store and 4.4 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store.

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No. Fees. Period. That’s how Discover Bank promotes its Cashback Debit Checking Account. And, after conducting our research, we can say that’s mostly true. In fact, the only fees you’ll ever incur are for outgoing wire transfers and service charge fees if you use a non-Discover ATM if it is not part of the 60,000+ ATMs in their no-fee network.

As long as there are no past incidences of fraud on your ChexSystems report, Discover might be a great account for you. The only negative? There is no way to deposit cash directly into the account.

Discover Bank® Cashback Debit Checking Account at a Glance

• 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month
• Access to 60,000+ fee-free ATMs; $510 cash withdrawal limit per day
• Fee-free opt-in overdraft protection transfer service
• Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit
• Send and receive money with Zelle®
• No monthly fee (no balance or activity requirements)
• No fee for insufficient funds
• Mobile check deposits
• No deposit to open

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First American Community Credit Union (FACCU) offers their Second Chance Checking account to help clients rebuild their credit and start over. Simply provide paid receipts from previously owed accounts to begin sign up for the Second Chance Checking account.

Once paid receipts have been provided, a $50 minimum deposit is required along with a recurring $10.00 monthly service fee to open an account. For its account holders, First American Community Credit Union offers a variety of benefits including:

• A Visa debit card
• Internet banking access and bill pay
• Online statements and notices
• Easy mobile banking
• Telephone banking access

FACCU has two Arizona branches in Casa Grande and Sells. They also have a branch in New Mexico right along the state border in Tse Bonito.

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GO2bank is an offering of pre-paid card giant GoBank and we think it’s a step in the right direction. Like some of the newer “challenger banks” GO2bank will deposit your direct deposit check up to 2 days early and has cashback rewards on several categories of purchases. This account also makes you eligible for the GO2bank secured credit card, which has no annual fee and no credit check.

One significant drawback to many online-only bank accounts is that they have no way to accept cash deposits. But GO2bank accepts cash deposits at over 90,000 Green Dot locations nationwide. However, participating retailers may charge you a fee.

If you direct deposit over $500, your monthly maintenance fee of $5.00 is waived. And, they offer a pretty sweet overdraft protection program, but it has a gotcha charge of $15 if you don’t replace the funds within 24 hours.

Account-holders will appreciate the ability to budget their money with the help of a mobile app, budgeting tools, and a savings vault. In fact, they pay 4.50% on all money in the savings vault up to $5,000.

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Go Further from GTE Financial helps put you on the path to a better checking account. If you don’t qualify for a traditional account, the Go Further account will help you get there in as little as 12 months. We consider this a low-cost second chance checking. As long as you make a total deposit of $500 for the month, opt to receive eStatements and make 15 monthly transactions, the $9.95 maintenance fee is waived.

GTE Financial is one of the largest credit unions in the US. Membership is open to anyone through easy requirements and an online application process. The Go Further account includes:

• Free EMV-equipped debit card with built-in rewards
• Online and mobile banking tools
• Free bill pay service
• Easy money transfers through the Popmoney service

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Lili was custom made for freelancers and independent contractors who are operating as sole proprietors and single member LLCs and we really like their offering. Lili aims to approve most accounts within 2-3 days, but some accounts are approved in 2-3 hours.

Lili offers a checking account and Visa debit card with no initial deposit or minimum balance requirement, no hidden fees, no credit check, and no ChexSystems. Lili makes getting your account easy!

Lili at a Glance

• FREE business VISA debit card
• FREE (and very user-friendly) mobile app
• NO minimum balance
• NO NSF charges or fees
• NO credit check or ChexSystems
• NO fees for incoming wire transfers
• Receive direct deposit funds 2 days earlier than many banks
• Mobile check deposit
• Unlimited fee-free transactions
• Takes 3 minutes to apply

Application Process

You can set up an account online. If you’re a freelancer, you should receive approval and account access almost instantly. All others (Sole Proprietor, Single-Member LLC, Multi-Member LLC, General Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, or S Corp) can take a couple of days to get approved. You can fund your account using a mobile check deposit, direct deposit, ACH transfer, or by linking your Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App account.

Open a Lili account now!

MariSol Federal Credit Union offers their Start Again Checking account for any and all clients that need a helping hand rebuilding themselves to a good financial standing.

With no minimum deposit required to open the account and only a $10 monthly maintenance fee to keep it open, the Start Again Checking account helps to change Arizona for the better. Continuing that change, MariSol Federal Credit Union offers a tremendous amount of account benefits, including:

• Unlimited withdrawals with MariSol Federal Credit Union
• Free Mastercard debit card
• No minimum account balance required
• Free digital banking
• An opportunity to rebuild credit

MariSol FCU is an Arizona-based credit union and has two physical branches in Phoenix. They also have fee-free ATMs located in Phoenix, Mesa, and Surprise.

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It’s a tall order to “Make People Happy” when it comes to banking, but that’s the stated mission behind mph.bank.

Powered by Liberty Savings Bank (established in 1889!), the mph.bank Fresh account does use ChexSystems, but as long as you don’t have more than 3 charge-offs totaling $1,000 or reports of fraud approval rates are very high. Fees for the account include a $9 monthly service fee and a $10 overdraft fee.

mph.bank Fresh Account at a Glance

• $0 initial deposit to open account
• Send and receive money with Zelle®
• Access your account with your phone or computer
• When coupled with a free savings account, earn up to 5.00% APY
• Optional ability to round up charges and stash the cash into savings
• Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit
• Access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs

Apply for a Fresh Account Today!

No matter your banking past, Navy Federal Credit Union offers traditional checking for all members in Alabama and across the US. With no review requirements of your banking history, NFCU is an excellent choice for active duty or retired US military, family members and government contractors. There are two banking choices to choose from: Active Duty Checking and Free eChecking.

Both account options come with a free NFCU debit card. There is no monthly service fee with direct deposit. Your account is protected from overdrafts with free savings transfers, a checking line of credit or an optional overdraft protection service. You also receive:

• Free mobile deposits
• Free bill pay
• Free traditional name-only checks
• Dividends credited monthly

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One of the most important steps to taking your business to the next level is the need to set up a business bank account. And if you get the right business account, it can give your growing business all the tools much larger businesses enjoy… without all the big business costs.

Novo understands small business owners and makes it easy to open and manage an account. As an online-only bank, you’ll find Novo strikes the right balance between technology, human touch, and real-world benefits. Here are some of our favorite features for Novo Business Checking:

• NO monthly fees
• NO minimum balance requirement
• NO ATM fees
• NO credit check or ChexSystems
• FREE Mastercard debit card
• FREE mobile app
• FREE transfers, mailed checks, and incoming wires
• FREE invoicing to create, send, and track invoices
• FREE mobile check deposit

Application Process

It takes about 10 minutes to sign up for a Novo account. You’ll need personal and business information, which may include a social security number, business tax ID, and business formation documents. They do not check your credit or use ChexSystems.

Novo is growing quickly. Their offering is popular with small business owners. The account approval process is currently taking 1-2 business days and once you’re approved, you can get full access to your account with a simple $50 deposit.

We like Novo. We think you’ll like it, too.

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It is said that OneAZ Credit Union will not pull your ChexSystems record if you apply for an account in-person. Instead, they use EWS to verify your identity and previous banking history. If you haven’t been reported to EWS but have been reported to ChexSystems, this credit union may be a great option for you.

We recommend their Free Checking account because it’s actually free! After the low $20 needed as an opening deposit, you won’t have to deal with any maintenance fees or surprise hidden fees. You’ll also get access to over 41,000 surcharge-free ATM’s – which never hurts.

Membership at OneAZ CU is extended to any Arizona resident and only requires a $5 deposit into a savings account. You can find a branch location in most major cities including Chino Valley, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and many others.

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For new members seeking a fresh start with their finances, Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union offers their Mission Checking account. With only a $20 account opening deposit and a steep $20 monthly service charge, the Mission Checking account is suited for those that do not qualify for a traditional checking account.

Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union’s Mission Checking account offers a wide plethora of benefits that entice customers including:

• A Visa debit card
• Internet banking access and bill pay
• Online statements and notices
• Easy mobile banking
• Telephone banking access

As the name of this credit union would imply, both branches are located in Tucson.

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UNIFY Financial Credit Union understands that sometimes life isn’t perfect. Their Right Start Checking account is one of our top picks for second chance checking. UNIFY makes it easy to open a Right Start account with a $25 opening deposit. There is no minimum balance requirement or monthly service charge.

The Right Start Checking account offers:

• A free Visa debit card
• Free online eBanking and eStatements
• Free ePay online bill payment
• No check writing fees
• Fee-free overdraft protection from a connected savings account

Although UNIFY FCU only has one branch in Tempe, you will also gain access to several CO-OP shared branches in Payson, Apache Junction, and Mesa where you can conduct all of your in-person banking needs.

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Varo Bank is another internet-only bank with services based on their mobile apps for Apple and Android devices. Varo doesn’t charge fees at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs and offers strong budgeting tools and automatic savings programs.

Opening an account is easy and Varo doesn’t check your credit or use ChexSystems. Varo doesn’t even require an initial deposit to open an account, either. There are never any monthly maintenance fees, account balance minimums, overdraft fees, foreign transaction fees, transfer fees, or debit card replacement fees.

Varo’s recent bank charter has them innovating more than ever. They have a very strong cashback program, a payroll advance option, and have started to offer their customers a secured credit card called Varo Believe.

Finally, if Varo receives a payroll notification before your payday, it can deposit your money more quickly than many banks.

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Want to earn cash back on Walmart purchases – up to $75 each year? Then you might love the Walmart MoneyCard. It’s a debit card that has some strong features such as cashback on Walmart purchases, overdraft protection, interest on your savings, and a mobile app that lets you track your purchases and deposit funds into your account.

Walmart Moneycard at a Glance

• Easy approval: no ChexSystems or credit check
• No initial deposit is required and there are no monthly minimums
• Deposit cash for free at any Walmart store and it shows up 10 minutes later
• Deposit checks using the Walmart MoneyCard smartphone app
• Easily request multiple cards for family use¹
• Manage your account from your computer or the smartphone app
• 3% cashback on Walmart.com purchases, 2% cashback for Walmart fuel stations, and 1% cash back for use in-store²
• Earn 2.00% APY on money you set aside in a free savings account³
• With qualifying direct deposits⁴, you can opt-in and enjoy overdraft protection of up to $200 on eligible purchases⁵
• No monthly fee when you direct deposit $500+ in the previous monthly period. Otherwise, there’s a $5.94 monthly fee.⁶

The Walmart MoneyCard is available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

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Wells Fargo recently changed the Opportunity Checking account to Clear Access Banking. And we like one change, in particular. Wells Fargo has done away with overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees. Clear Access Banking is a debit card-only account (no paper checks available) and if you attempt to purchase something without sufficient funds, the transaction will be denied. That’s a lot better than having the transaction approved and then discovering you’ve been hit with a $35 overdraft fee.

There is a $5 monthly fee, but that is be waived for account holders 24 years old and younger. This account is available to residents in all 50 states.

• The largest number of branches in the U.S.
• Minimum deposit of $25 to open an account
• Online bill pay and smartphone app
• Mobile check deposit
• Includes a Visa debit card
• Send and receive money through Zelle
• Additional features include account alerts, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and zero liability protection for your debit card

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If you have a ChexSystems record but your credit score is still intact, Western State Bank offers several checking account options. We like the Free Checking account because it doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement and refunds ATM fees up to $20 per month.

Western State Bank encourages those interested in getting an account to meet with a personal banker to discuss their financial goals. They can point you in the right direction and help you get a good head start on rebuilding positive banking history.

Visit one of their branches in Chandler, Casa Grande, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Sun City to get started!

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The Capital One 360 Checking Account uses a proprietary approval process that does not include ChexSystems and might be a solid option for those who have had past financial challenges.

Available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Capital One acts more like an online bank than one with over 400 branches in a few states. Its highly-rated smartphone app gives customers full control of their account and you can access everything from a computer, too.

Capital One 360 Checking at a Glance

• No opening deposit is required
• No monthly or annual fees
• No minimum balance and no overdraft fees
• Add cash to your account at CVS® locations.
• No-fee access to over 70,000 ATMs nationwide
• No foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad
• Deposit checks and pay bills with the smartphone app
• Send and receive money with Zelle®
• Early direct deposit feature
• Monitor your credit score with Capital One’s CreditWise feature
• FDIC insured account up to $250,000

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The Citi® Access Checking account is a solid option if you’ve been blacklisted by ChexSystems or Early Warning Systems. As long as you haven’t been flagged for fraudulent behavior and don’t owe Citibank an outstanding amount, approval rates for this account are good.

There are no monthly service fees for the first 3 months after opening the account. The $5 monthly service fee can easily be waived after that time by depositing at least $250 per month.

We also like that there are no overdraft or returned item fees because if you don’t have enough money in your account, the item will be returned.

Citibank Access Checking at a Glance

• 65,000+ fee-free ATMs
• Send money to almost anyone with a U.S.-based bank account through Zelle®
• No overdraft or NSF fees
• $5 monthly fee can be waived with $250 in qualified direct deposits
• $0 liability for unauthorized charges
• Available in all 50 states and Washington DC
• No minimum opening deposit

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