If you recently applied for a checking account and were denied because of a negative banking history, you’re not alone. Approximately 85% of banks in Arkansas use a company called ChexSystems when you apply for a new checking account. If you have experienced several overdraft checks from another bank or have been unable to pay overdraft fees, ChexSystems will flag that behavior making it next to impossible to find a bank willing to work with you.
Granted, ChexSystems is the safety net for bank institutions to weed out people who have committed fraud or identity theft, but if you get caught in the net it can be crippling. And most of us absolutely require the use of a bank checking account to manage our money, pay bills, and receive direct deposits from an employer or government agency.
Fortunately, some banks and credit unions offer so-called No ChexSystems Checking Accounts and/or Second Chance Checking Accounts to help people rebuild their credit and financial histories. Our job at checkingexpert.com is to find those institutions in Arkansas that can assist you.
Best Second Chance Checking Account: BBVA Online Checking
BBVA’s Online Checking Account is our favorite second chance bank account. They have the strongest offering of any of our recommendations. No hidden fees, no monthly minimums, and no monthly service charge. BBVA doesn’t use ChexSystems or your personal credit score when opening a checking account. Instead, they use EWS to screen applicants. It’s easy to get approved and takes about 3 minutes. Plus, their smartphone app and online tools are the best we’ve reviewed.
Why do we recommend BBVA Online Checking so highly? If you’ve got poor credit or find yourself on ChexSystems, BBVA will approve you for an account.
- NO monthly service charge
- NO monthly account balance minimums
- NO fees at over 64,000 Allpoint® and BBVA ATMs worldwide
- FREE online banking, bill pay, and mobile deposits
- FREE unlimited check writing
- FREE Visa® debit card
- Open with as little as $25
- BBVA USA, member FDIC
Applying is easy. The BBVA website is simple and easy to interact with. There is a $25 minimum deposit required to open an account and once that deposit clears, you’ll be off and running. Hands down, BBVA is one of the most friendly banks for those who have been negatively impacted by ChexSystems, Telecheck, or bad credit. The entire process from start to finish takes about 3 minutes.
For anyone interested, I signed up for a BBVA Bank checking account. I have been using the new checking account, debit card, online website, direct deposit, and customer service for over a month now. I have to say I am genuinely impressed with everything they have done with me and my account.
So far it seems like the ideal bank.
B. Lewis, BBVA Customer
Get your BBVA account!
List of the Best Second Chance Banks and Credit Unions in Arkansas
Residents in virtually every state have access to local, regional, or national financial institutions that offer “Second Chance Checking Programs” or what some banks call Fresh Start Checking, Opportunity Checking or New Start Checking. Most banks or credit unions offering second chance checking use ChexSystems or EWS, but are willing to forgive your previous banking mistakes and give you a second chance.
A second chance checking account offers the security of a bank account while letting a consumer rebuild his or her banking history. After a year or two, an account holder may be able to upgrade to a regular checking account. Here’s the list of banks in Arkansas offering these services:
| Financial Institution | Product |
| BBVA (Our Top Pick) | BBVA Online Checking |
| Chime Bank (Runner Up) | Chime Spending and Savings Account |
| BancorpSouth | Second Chance Checking |
| Bank OZK | Pathway Checking |
| BOK Financial | Opportunity Banking |
| Chambers Bank | New Opportunity Checking |
| Centennial Bank | Opportunity 100 Checking |
| Diamond Bank | Encore Checking |
| First Service Bank | General Checking |
| FSNB (Fort Sill National Bank) | Basic Checking |
| GTE Financial | Go Further Checking |
| Go Bank | Mobile Banking |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | Various Accounts |
| Peoples Bank | Totally Free Checking Checking |
| Peoples Cash Solutions | Second Chance Checking |
| Radius Bank | Essential Checking |
| Red River Credit Union | Fresh Start Checking |
| River Valley Community Federal Credit Union | Second Chance Checking |
| SoFi Money | Cash Management Account |
| Southern Bancorp | Opportunity Card Checking |
| UNIFY Financial Credit Union | Right Start Checking |
| US Bank | Safe Debit Account |
| Varo Bank | Online Bank Account |
| Washington Savings Bank | Online Rewards Checking |
| Wells Fargo | Clear Access Banking |