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 Montana 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 Montana that can assist you.
The Best Second Chance Banks and Credit Unions in Montana
Chime is a fast-growing internet-only financial company. Unlike big banks, Chime was created during the smartphone era and, therefore, features an app that is more than just a way for customers to review their bank accounts.And, best of all, Chime accepts almost all customers who apply. Even if you have bad or poor credit or have been blacklisted by ChexSystems or credit bureaus. This makes Chime a solid choice for a second chance bank account.
Features include mobile deposits, direct deposit, online bill payment, NO monthly or annual fees, NO overdrafts, NO credit check, and NO CheckSystems.
Here are a few of the highlights:
- FREE Visa® debit card
- NO monthly Service Charge
- NO monthly minimums
- NO credit check; Bad credit OK
- NO ChexSystems or Telecheck; guaranteed approval
- FREE online banking and mobile banking/deposits
- FREE mobile and online bill pay
- NO foreign transaction fees
- NO fees at over 60,000 ATMs at convenient locations like Walgreens, 7-Eleven, CVS and more
- SAVINGS: You can round up every purchase to the nearest dollar and automatically deposit that difference into your savings account.
Chime Lets You Get A Jump On Payday
You can receive your paycheck up to two days earlier than at a traditional bank if you set up direct deposit — Chime processes your employer’s check immediately instead of waiting like other banks may.
Chime is one of the most friendly for those who have been negatively impacted by bad credit, ChexSystems, or Telecheck.
Your Chime Visa Debit Card charges NO fees at over 60,000 ATMs found at these retailers and many more:
Get a Chime Account Today!
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
The SoFi Money Cash Management Account is offered by SoFi Securities LLC, a FINRA registered broker dealer. It’s a checking account on steroids and we love that. Plus, they don’t use ChexSystems to approve accounts. When you sign up and deposit at least $10 within 5 days, SoFi will deposit an additional $25 in your account immediately!You get a debit MasterCard and a very slick smartphone app. You can make deposits, write checks, utilize electronic bill pay, and transfer money. There are no monthly fees or overdraft fees. Plus, you earn interest on all the money in the account! The sign-up process can take less than 60 seconds.
There is no minimum balance requirement and SoFi Money is available in all 50 states.
- No account fees
- Unlimited reimbursed ATM fees
- Access to SoFi member benefits like career coaching and financial advising
- Automated bill pay
- Freeze debit card on-the-go
SoFi Money 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 Money seems to be the perfect account.
Gena M., SoFi Money Customer
Clearwater Credit Union offers a second chance account for those who have had trouble in the past qualifying for a traditional checking account. It’s called SmartSpend Checking and it is designed to provide you with all the basics while keeping costs down.SmartSpend Checking does not have a minimum balance requirement and has a monthly service fee of $7.50. The account comes with unlimited check writing capabilities and even allows you to earn dividends on your account balance!
In order to become a member at Clearwater CU, you are required to have a connection to at least one of 20 eligible counties. Even if you do not live or work within their boundaries, you can contact them and request to further review your membership application. Their branches can be found in Missoula, Stevensville, and Butte.
Rather than referring to your ChexSystems history, First Security Bank only requires two forms of ID when you apply for a checking account. It’s important to note that one ID must be government-issued.We like their Totally Free Checking account because it has no monthly service fees and no minimum balance requirements. All that is needed to open the account is a $50 opening deposit. From there, you will receive a free Visa debit card, access to online banking with bill pay, and even a free thank you gift!
The Totally Free Checking account can be applied for online or in person. First Security Bank has several branches in Bozeman, Belgrade, Three Forks, Big Sky, and West Yellowstone.
Garfield County Bank is another great example of a non-ChexSystems bank that only requires proper ID when you apply for an account. You will need to provide two forms of ID, one of which must be government-issued, and your social security card.We recommend their Pay Less Checking account if you want a simple way to manage your money while avoiding pesky service fees. There are no minimum balance requirements and no monthly service charges. If you want check images to be returned with your monthly statement, you will need to pay a $6.75 monthly fee. If you do not need check images, the account is free each month.
To get started, you can give them a call or stop by their branch in Jordan, Montana.
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 credit card, which has no annual fee or required 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 1% on all money in the saving vault up to $5,000.
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
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
Peoples Cash Solutions understands that being denied a checking account for bad credit or problems with ChexSystems or TeleCheck isn’t a good feeling. If you haven’t been involved in fraudulent activity, all you need is a fresh start. You can find it with the Second Chance Checking account from Peoples Cash Solutions.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.
You do not need a perfect banking history to open an Essential Checking account through Radius Bank. Designed to help you manage your money, this is an excellent opportunity to start over.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
The Safe Debit Account is an account that almost anyone can use to store and transact money. You can use direct deposit, configure low balance alerts, and send money to family and friends within your account. The one thing that you won’t be able to do is write checks.Instead, the Safe Debit Account makes things easier by making the funds available via debit card. With a debit card, it is proven that account holders are much less likely to overdraw. With only a $4.95 maintenance fee, the account is very affordable to open and maintain. Another added benefit of this account is that you’ll get free monitoring of your credit score so you can ensure you are on the right track.
To open an account, you can apply online or visit one of US Bank’s branches in Montana. They can be found in Billings, Chester, Glendive, Hamilton, Great Falls, and several other cities across the state.
Valley Bank of Helena will not refer to ChexSystems, Telecheck, EWS, or even a credit report when you apply for a checking account. Instead, all they require are two forms of ID. It’s important to note that at least one form of ID must be government-issued.We like their Totally Free Checking account because, well… it’s totally free! There are no monthly service charges to worry about and no minimum balance requirements. All it takes to open this account is a $50 opening deposit. If you want to earn interest on your balance, check out their Easy Interest Checking account. It has all of the benefits of a free checking account plus the added benefit of bearing interest.
As the name would suggest, Valley Bank of Helena is primarily located in Helena. Visit a branch nearest you to get a checking account and reestablish a positive banking history!
Valley Credit Union offers a true second chance to those who have had challenges in the past with managing a checking account. Their Opportunity Checking can help you improve your financial standing while providing you with most of the benefits of a traditional checking account.Opportunity Checking requires an opening deposit of at least $50 and has a monthly service fee of $7.50. If you enroll in direct deposit, that fee will be reduced to just $5 each month. You will also receive a free Visa debit card, free eStatements, unlimited check writing, and access to online banking.
To join Valley CU, you will need to have a connection to one of 10 eligible counties in Montana. You can also join if you have a family member who is already a member. Visit their website or one of their branches in Billings, Bozeman, Columbus, or Roundup to see if you’re eligible!
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.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.
Washington Savings Bank gives you the opportunity to start fresh with their Online Rewards Checking. We understand that you need an account with easy accessibility and plenty of options. Washington Savings Bank provides all the perks you need to rebuild your banking relationship.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
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
Did we leave your financial institution off this list of The Best Second Chance Banks and Credit Unions in Montana? Has there been a change in any of the listings? Please let us know.