In comparison to the rest of the United States, Louisiana has one of the highest populations of “unbanked” households, meaning that no one living in the home has a checking or savings account. To put it in perspective, there are 11.4% of unbanked households in the state, which equates to nearly 200,000 Louisiana homes.
There’s a whole laundry list of reasons why a person lives without a bank account. A survey by the FDIC shows that the majority of unbanked people cite that they don’t have enough money to meet minimum balance requirements or they simply don’t trust banks. A growing amount of the population has also experienced being blacklisted by a consumer reporting agency called ChexSystems, making it next to impossible to open an account.
If you’ve ever experienced hardships in the past when it comes to managing a bank account, you may have been reported to ChexSystems. Whether you’ve experienced a number of overdraft fees, unpaid debts, or involuntary account closures at a previous financial institution, ChexSystems will flag that behavior and keep it in its database for other financial institutions to see.
Fortunately, our job here at CheckingExpert.com is to locate banks and credit unions in Louisiana that will look beyond a ChexSystems record and even a bad credit score. Our list contains banks and credit unions that offer second chance checking accounts that specialize in getting customers back into the banking system. In addition, some banks on this list won’t view your record with ChexSystems at all during the application process. Here are the banks and credit unions that want your business!
Second Chance Banking in Louisiana for November 2023
Open an account today!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!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:- You add money to your account
- Swipe your card to make purchases, pay bills, or get money from an ATM machine
- The funds in your account pay for these transactions
- 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!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!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.
Learn MoreFor 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.
The Fresh Start Checking account has a lower monthly fee of $5 and provides you with a free Visa debit card, access to online banking, and plenty of other general account perks. This account also includes a financial wellness counseling if you want to learn more about money managing strategies.
If you keep the account in good standing for 12 months, you’re eligible to upgrade to free checking or their other types of accounts! To apply for the account you can go on their website or visit their branch located in Hammond.
With this account, you’ll also be eligible to level up to a regular checking account in as little as 12 months as long as no more blemishes pop up. This account costs only $5 monthly and requires a $25 deposit to open the account.
With plenty of locations, it will be easy to find a branch when needed. BancorpSouth has over 35 locations in Louisiana in cities such as Pineville, Alexandria, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and many others.
Economy Checking is an affordable account that comes with all the basics. You get access to online banking, unlimited check writing, and direct deposit if you choose to enroll. There is a $100 minimum required as an opening deposit as well as a moderate $7.50 monthly service fee if your balance falls below $500.
As the name would suggest, BOM is an Alabama-based bank and has several branches located in Montgomery, Natchitoches, Cloutierville, Many, and several other cities in Louisiana. You can visit their website to apply online or stop by a location most convenient to you!
In addition to a CreditPlus Checking account, you can use the product to help you get out of a Payday Lending cycle. They offer small, low-interest loans that are provided as an alternative to expensive Payday Lenders and Check Cashing services. To get started with any part of this program, you will need to complete a financial literacy course.
To open a CreditPlus Checking account, you will need $100 as an opening deposit. With locations in nine cities across Louisiana, it is definitely worth looking into if you’re looking for a helping hand with your finances. Their locations include Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Hammond, New Orleans, and several others.
Fresh Start Checking comes with a free Visa debit card, unlimited check writing capabilities, and access to several online banking tools to help you keep track of your money. To open the account, you can either deposit at least $100 or set up direct deposit. There is a monthly service fee of $10 and an additional $6 fee if your balance falls below $200.
Barksdale FCU offers membership to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Bossier, Caddo, Webster, Rapides, Allen or Grant parishes. There are also several other ways you can join. Visit their website or one of their branches in Shreveport, Fort Polk, Oakdale, and other cities across Louisiana to see if you’re eligible!
We recommend the Traditional Personal Checking account because it’s a simple and affordable account. With this account you will receive a free debit card, access to online banking with bill pay, and unlimited check writing. If your balance falls below $1,000.01, you will only need to pay a $3.50 monthly service charge. We recommend enrolling in eStatements to avoid an additional $3.50 paper statement fee.
To get started, stop by one of Community Bank of Louisiana’s convenient branches located in Bossier City, Gloster, Logansport, Mansfield, Many, Shreveport, and Stonewall.
We like their Personal Checking account because it provides you with a simple, straightforward way to manage your money. It’s important to note that there is a $100 required opening deposit and a monthly service charge that is dependent upon your balance. The higher your balance, the lower your service charge. The account also comes with online banking, unlimited check writing, and a debit card for everyday spending.
Crescent Bank has three locations in the greater New Orleans area including branches in Metairie and Mandeville. Stop by a branch today to get started!
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.
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
All you need is $5 to open an account at one of their branches in Bossier City or Shreveport. The Basic Checking account comes with:
- A free Visa CheckCard
- Unlimited check writing
- Surcharge-free ATM withdrawals at FSNB locations
- Access to the Savings Round Up program
- Online, mobile, and text checking options
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.
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
Choice Checking comes with all of the necessities like access to online banking with bill pay, free eStatements, a Visa debit card, and overdraft protection services. All that is required is a $100 opening deposit. There is an $8 monthly service fee that can be waived by meeting one of the following transaction types each statement cycle:
- Write 5 checks
- Utilize bill pay 5 times
- Use your debit card for 5 point-of-sale transactions (excluding ATM transactions)
- OR if the primary account holder is 24 years and younger
You can apply for Choice Checking online or visit one of Home Bank’s branch locations. You can find them in cities across southern Louisiana including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Slidell, and several others.
You’ll need to keep a $25 minimum balance, but the $9.95 monthly fee can be waived with a $200 minimum balance. Plus, there is an opening deposit of $25 that is required. On the upside, you’ll get a free debit card and free eStatements along with online banking, bill pay, mobile/smartphone app, free telephone customer service, and free direct deposit.
Hope Credit Union has 2 locations in Louisiana both located in New Orleans. You can open an account online or visit a branch nearest to you to apply in person.
Second Chance Checking comes with a free Visa debit card and requires that you receive eStatements instead of paper statements each month. If you enroll in direct deposit, the monthly service fee of $11.95 will be reduced to $9.95. You can also access your balance any time of day via online banking.
Jefferson Financial FCU extends membership to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in one of six eligible parishes. You can also join if you have a relative who is already a member or if you are a student or staff member at one of their eligible school systems. Their branches are located in and around New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, and Lake Charles.
We like their Simple Checking account because it provides you with easy access to your money while remaining affordable. You can access your balance at any time using online banking or their smartphone mobile app. There is a monthly service fee of $8, but that can be waived if you enroll in direct deposit or use your debit card for non-ATM transactions at least 10 times throughout the month.
To get started with a Simple Checking account, you can fill out an application online or apply in-person at one of their branches in Pineville, Ruston, Alexandria, Oakdale, and several other cities across Louisiana.
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!You only need $50 to open the account and the monthly maintenance fee is $10. Since direct deposit is required with Reboot Checking, your money will go right into your account on payday to encourage you to spend wisely. You’ll also get a debit card to help you spend only what’s in your account, as well as overdraft protection when you link your savings account.
Once you’ve kept your account in good standing for the allotted time and met the other requirements, you can seamlessly move over to a traditional checking account and continue improving your financial future. To open an account, visit one of their branches located in Gonzales, Gramercy, Hammond, LaPlace, and Norco.
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
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
This account only requires a $25 opening deposit and won’t charge you any monthly service fees. Plus, if you use direct deposit and enroll in eStatements, you become eligible to receive cashback on everyday purchases. You can earn up to $300 in cashback rewards every year!
Neighbors FCU offers membership to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in one of nine eligible parishes. Visit their website or one of their branches located in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Port Allen, Prairieville, Zachary, or Walker to see if you are eligible!
We like their InControl Checking account because it provides you with great benefits while remaining low in cost. This account comes with online banking with bill pay, a free debit card, and overdraft protection services. You can also waive the $4 monthly service fee by signing up for eStatements or use your debit card eight times throughout the month. If you fulfill both of those requirements, they will even refund you on ATM fees!
As the name would suggest, New Orleans Firemen’s FCU extends membership to current or retired New Orleans firefighters. They also extend membership to those who are employed by one of their select employee groups and those who have a connection to St. James, Tangipahoa, and Plaquemines Parishes. Contact a branch location nearest you to see if you’re eligible!
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.
Learn MoreHorizon Checking has a $10 monthly service fee and comes with online banking capabilities, free eStatements, and a free Visa debit card. This account is unlike other second chance accounts because it gives you the opportunity to apply for a traditional account after only six consecutive months of good standing! We think that is definitely worth noting.
All that it takes to open a Horizon Checking account is a $25 initial deposit. Pelican State CU offers membership to anyone who lives in Rapides, St. Landry, or St. Tammany Parish. You can also join if you are part of one of their select employee groups. Their branches are located all over Louisiana in cities including Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and many others.
Benefits include a free Visa debit card with purchase alerts, access to online banking, and a reasonable maintenance fee of $10 a month. This account also offers money management tools that can help you stay on track with your finances.
To become a member of RRCU, you must live, work, worship, or attend school in Caddo or Bossier Parish. You can also join if you have a relative who is already a member. To see if you’re eligible, visit their website or contact one of their branches in Shreveport.
When you apply for the account, you will need $50 for the opening deposit and two forms of ID. There is a moderate monthly service charge of $10, but in turn you get a free Visa debit card, overdraft protection from your savings, and free online banking access. It’s important to note that with this account there are daily limits on ATM use and debit card transactions.
Southwest Louisiana CU extends membership to anyone who is a relative of a current member or anyone who works for one of their select employee groups. Their select employer list includes hundreds of businesses in the area, so there’s a good chance you or someone you know is eligible. Contact one of their branches in Lake Charles or Sulphur to see if you can join!
A small $15 deposit is required to open TheFirst Step Checking account and there is no minimum balance required to keep the account open. We like this account because the monthly maintenance fee is only $3! You also get a debit or ATM card, but there are no paper checks are allowed.
After six months of opening the account, you can request a review to determine if you qualify for an account upgrade. Through this program at The First Bank, you can also gain access to loan services that have fewer requirements compared to other loans out there. To open an account, visit one of their branches in New Orleans, Prairieville, Baton Rouge, and several other locations in Louisiana.
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.
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.
Open an account today!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
With Free Checking you can enjoy all of the necessities like overdraft protection, direct deposit, and monthly statements. This account doesn’t have any service charges, minimum balance requirements, or per-check charges. All that is required to get started is a $25 into a savings account to establish membership. They will deduct $5 from that amount as a one-time fee, but the rest will remain in the savings account.
WESLA FCU offers membership to anyone who lives, works, or worships in Caddo or Bossier Parish. Family members of current members are also welcome to join. You can find several branch locations in Shreveport and Bossier City for your convenience.
You can lower your monthly maintenance fee from $11.95 to $9.95 by setting up monthly direct deposit. Woodforest offers:
- Online and mobile banking
- Woodforest Debit Card
- Overdraft solutions
- Additional financial services to meet your needs
All services are easily managed online or in-person at branches in Walmart Supercenters across the US. Woodforest National Bank has countless locations in cities across Louisiana including New Orleans, Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and many others.
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
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
Best Second Chance Banks by State
To find more information and additional options available in your area, select your state from the list below and explore your options.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.
1Eligibility requirements apply. Overdraft only applies to debit card purchases and cash withdrawals. Limits start at $20 and may be increased up to $200 by Chime. See chime.com/spotme.
2Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. Cash deposit or other third-party fees may apply.
3Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
4Customers are limited to three $1,000 cash deposits at Walgreens each day and $10,000 each month.
5Sometimes instant transfers can be delayed. The recipient must use a valid debit card to claim funds. Once you are approved for a Chime Checking Account, see your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Pay Anyone Transfers details. Please see the back of your Chime debit card for your issuing bank. See Terms and Conditions.
6The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
7Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
1Family Accounts: Activated, personalized card required. Other fees apply to the additional account. Family members age 13 years and over are eligible. Limit 4 cards per account. See Deposit Account Agreement for details.
2Cash back, up to $75 per year, is credited to card balance at end of reward year and is subject to successful activation and other eligibility requirements. Redeem rewards using our website or app. You will earn cash back of three percent (3%) on qualifying purchases made at Walmart.com and in the Walmart app using your card or your card number, two percent (2%) at Walmart fuel stations, and one percent (1%) on qualifying purchases at Walmart stores in the United States (less returns and credits) posted to your Card during each reward year. Grocery delivery and pickup purchases made on Walmart.com or the Walmart app earn 1%. For the purposes of cash back rewards, a “reward year” is twelve (12) monthly periods in which you have paid your monthly fee or had it waived. See account agreement for details.
3Interest is paid annually on each enrollment anniversary based on the average daily balance of the prior 365 days, up to a maximum average daily balance of $1,000, if the account is in good standing and has a positive balance. 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield may change at any time before or after account is opened. Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of 3/1/2022.
4Direct Deposit: Early availability of direct deposit depends on timing of payroll’s payment instructions and fraud prevention restrictions may apply. As such, the availability or timing of early direct deposit may vary from pay period to pay period. Make sure the name and social security number on file with your employer or benefits provider matches what’s on your Walmart MoneyCard account exactly. We will not be able to deposit your payment if we are unable to match recipients.
5Opt-in required. $15 fee may apply to each eligible purchase transaction that brings your account negative. Balance must be brought to at least $0 within 24 hours of authorization of the first transaction that overdraws your account to avoid the fee. We require immediate payment of each overdraft and overdraft fee. Overdrafts paid at our discretion, and we do not guarantee that we will authorize and pay any transaction. Learn more about overdraft protection.
6No monthly fee with qualifying direct deposit, otherwise $5.94 a month. Waived when $500+ is loaded in the previous monthly period. First monthly fee occurs upon first use, the day after card activation or 90 days after card purchase, whichever is earlier.