If you’re one of the over 1 million households in California without a bank account, access to a growing economy can seem out of reach.
Banks and credit unions use a company called ChexSystems to monitor almost all checking account holders in the state. Most people get flagged for bouncing too many checks or not being in a position to pay excessive returned check fees (“NSF”). Your bank then either closes your checking account or denies you the opportunity to open a new account because of the information contained in the ChexSystems database.
And with the vast majority of banks and credit unions in California using ChexSystems, it’s very hard to march across the street to another bank in hopes of getting a new account.
Fortunately, there are banks and credit unions in California who do not use ChexSystems. There are are also banks and credit unions who offer so-called Second Chance Bank Accounts. They are hard to find, but when you do it is a great relief to know there are financial institutions who want your business. And they won’t charge you an arm and leg for it.
CheckingExpert has helped thousands of people just like you open second chance banking accounts. We’ve selected the best accounts in California based on acceptance rates, checking account features and benefits, and the accounts with the lowest fees. Best of all, you can open an account today!
List of the Best Second Chance Banks and Credit Unions in California

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. And, there are over 45 BBVA branch locations in the state.
- 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
It’s simple to apply. The BBVA website is simple and easy to interact with. There is a $25 minimum deposit required to open an account. Your online approval is immediate. BBVA is one of the most friendly banks for those who need a second chance at a checking account. The entire process from start to finish takes about 3 minutes.
Your BBVA Visa Debit Card allows you access to all BBVA ATMs and Allpoint ATMs. Allpoint ATMs can be found at these retailers and many more:

Another perk that makes this account stand out is that if you use direct deposit for paychecks from your employer, you can access that money two days sooner than you could with many other banks.
Though Chime doesn’t offer paper checks, users can still send checks to anywhere in the U.S. using the bank’s mobile app — which can also be used for making check deposits on the go.
Open a Chime account today!

A stand-out benefit of FreshStart Checking is the monthly service fee of only $7, which can be further reduced to $4 if your account balance is kept at $750 or higher. Added benefits of this checking option are:
- Free online banking and bill pay
- Unlimited check writing
- Overdraft protection
- A Visa card tied to your account

To be eligible for this checking account, your entry must be older than one year and it cannot be fraud-related. There is a $10 monthly fee tied to the account, but this can be waived via one of the following ways:
- Maintain an account balance above $1,000
- Have a $250 or more monthly deposit to your account
- Use your debit card at least 10 times during the month

- Unlimited check writing
- eStatements and online image statements
- Online banking and bill pay
- Mobile banking
There are four branch locations across California, with two being in Los Angeles and the other two being located in San Francisco.
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After a year of no overdraft activity, New Beginnings account holders are welcome to apply for a regular checking account. CACCU has locations in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Modesto, and Roseville.
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- Debit card for day-to-day and ATM transactions
- FASTdeposit to deposit checks through your smartphone or tablet
- Online banking and bill payment
If you’re usually worried about overdraft on your account, Safe Check is a smart option for ensuring you stay on top of your money.
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- You must be a member of Corporate American Family Credit Union
- Maintain a minimum balance of $100 in your Regular Share Account
- Pay a monthly fee of $10

After 12 months, you will be given the option to upgrade to another account, provided your banking history over the last year was positive. Restart your banking with the E-Builder Checking Account and begin to recover.
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Getting started with the Fresh Start account is as simple as a $50 deposit and having a savings account with Excite Credit Union. This account features no minimum balance and a measly $10 per month due to a service fee. You will receive online and mobile banking, along with access to in-network ATMs wherever they are available. Out-of-network ATMs can also be accessed for a small fee of just $2.
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However, successfully keeping your account in good standing for a year will make you eligible to be upgraded to Foothill Credit Union’s Simply Free account. You can apply at one of their locations in Arcadia, Covina, or Glendora.
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Deposits to your account can be made through mobile check deposit, direct deposit or by adding cash through participating retailers for a small fee. If you direct deposit over $500, your monthly maintenance fee of $8.95 is waived.
Account holders appreciate the ability to budget their money with the help of a mobile app, budgeting tools and a savings vault. There are many participating retailers, including Walgreens, CVS and Kroger.
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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

The fees associated with this account are fairly cheap and if you sign up for a direct deposit with this account, you will only have a $10 monthly fee. Considering the alternative is $15 per month, it’s clear that this is a safe and cheap option. You will also be provided with a debit card and standard services associated with banks.
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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

- A $100 per month direct deposit requirement
- $25 opening deposit along with $15 per month as a service fee
- No monthly minimum balance is required

A $50 minimum deposit is all that’s required to open this account and the first monthly fee is actually waived for your convenience. Keeping your account positive for a whole year will also make you eligible for an upgrade to a standard checking account. Some important benefits are:
- Free online and mobile banking
- Access to 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs
- Mobile Remote Deposit Capture for depositing checks

Second Chance Checking offers easy direct deposit to save you time and money by eliminating the check cashing process. Your access to your money is simple through a Peoples Cash Solutions debit Mastercard. Other convenient features include:
- Online banking
- Online money transfers
- Online bill pay
- A personal checkbook
- ATM access
You can apply online with a $30 minimum deposit. There is a monthly maintenance fee of $4.95 for Second Chance Checking through Peoples Cash Solutions.
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With a small minimum opening deposit of $25, you can open a Fresh Start Checking Account today. There is a $13 monthly service fee, but this can be reduced down to $10 by hitting $200 in direct deposits each month. Some prominent benefits of this account include:
- Online and mobile banking
- 30,000 fee-free ATMs
- eStatements and mobile deposits

If approved for this account, you will have no minimum balance required and will be responsible for a $15 per month service fee. It’s worth noting that there is a $300 daily limit on withdrawals via purchases and ATMs. Online and mobile banking can be accessed from anywhere and the Visa check card can be used at accepted locations. To open an account, visit a location in South Pasadena, Los Angeles, or Van Nuys today.
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All you need is a $10 minimum opening deposit. After that, you have no minimum balance requirements. There is a monthly service charge of $9, but you can apply for a free checking account after 12 months of positive banking history.
You can easily apply online for all Radius banking services. Essential Checking comes with:
- Free MasterCard® debit card
- Free mobile banking with check deposit
- Free online banking with bill pay
- No minimum balance

SoFi will even pay you through a high-yield interest rate on your checking balance. If you sign up for SoFi Money and make two direct deposits of at least $500 each, SoFi will give you a $50 cash bonus.
The sign-up process takes only a few minutes because SoFi does not use ChexSystems to approve accounts. After opening your account, you receive a SoFi debit Mastercard for use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The easy-to-use mobile app keeps you in control of your money and offers bill pay, money transfers, and educational services.
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Before applying for this account, you’ll need to make sure any outstanding balances from other banks are paid off. After that, however, you’re free to apply and begin the process of recovering your financials. To open the account, a $25 deposit will be required along with a hefty $20 monthly service fee. On the flip side, there is no minimum balance requirement, you receive a MasterCard debit card, and a positive year of use will make you eligible for an upgrade to Strata Credit Union’s Free account option.
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This account has no monthly fees associated and allows for eBanking from any device, meaning you’ll have access to your funds anywhere in the world that you have service. Building a positive checking history has never been easier with this second chance bank account.
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This option provides the same benefits as Upward Credit Union’s Elite Checking program, with the exception of overdraft protection. With that said, after a nine-month waiting period you are free to apply for their standard checking account. Features of Renew Checking include:
- No monthly service charge
- Visa debit cards and access to ATMs all across the country
- No minimum balance requirement

To open an account, you will need to visit one of US Bank’s in-store branches located in California. It is important to note that these are not traditional US Bank buildings, but rather are located within other stores, such as Safeway.
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When you open an account at Varo you can do so with no initial deposit. Plus, there are never any monthly maintenance fees, foreign transaction fees, transfer fees, or debit card replacement fees.
Finally, if Varo receives a payroll notification before your payday, it can deposit your money more quickly than many banks.
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With relaxed CheckSystems requirements, you’ll find it is easy to open an Online Rewards account. All you need is a minimum deposit of $10 and an online application. There is no minimum balance requirement, but there is a $14.95 monthly fee. After a year of good standing, you can convert your account to a free checking plan.
With Online Reward Checking, you have access to:
- A free Mastercard EMV debit card
- Free online banking and bill pay
- Free budgeting tools
- Free mobile banking
- Mobile deposit after 3 months of direct deposits
- Free eStatements

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
Did we leave your financial institution off this list of The Best Second Chance Banks in California? Has there been a change in any of the listings? Please let us know.