The Best Non-ChexSystems Banks in the United States

Were you recently denied a checking account? Did your bank contact you and tell you they closed your account? If either of these events happened to you, you were probably told it was based on a report from a company called ChexSystems. A huge percentage of banks and credit unions use ChexSystems and if you’ve experienced banking mistakes like bounced checks, excessive returned check (NSF) charges, or too many transfers or withdrawals you might be on their blacklist.

Unfortunately, being on that list lasts for five years and can make opening a simple checking account a nightmare. And with so many banks and credit unions using ChexSystems, you can’t just open an account at the bank across the street.

Luckily, there are banks that do not use ChexSystems. These “No ChexSystems Banks” offer you a way back into banking and they offer all the services you need and deserve with acceptance rates that are surprisingly high.

CheckingExpert has helped thousands of people just like you open No ChexSystems Bank Accounts. We have selected the best banks 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!

The Top 8 No ChexSystems Banks

1. Chime | Our Top Pick

Chime is a fast-growing internet-only financial company and our top choice for a second chance bank account.

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 the credit bureaus.

Features include mobile deposits, direct deposit, online bill payment, NO monthly or annual fees, NO overdrafts fees¹, NO credit check, and NO CheckSystems. Opening an account is super easy. It takes about 2 minutes and you don’t have to make an initial deposit. Here’s what we like:

No Monthly Fees

For the past couple of years, Chime’s huge growth has come at the expense of the big banks and their outrageous fees. And it’s one of the best features of a Chime account. There are no monthly or annual service charges, no minimum balance requirement, no foreign transaction fees, no fees at over 60,000 ATMs², and no fees for mobile and online bill pay.

Smart Technology

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.

You can transfer funds to friends and family, Chime members or not… and they can claim their money instantly³ 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 300,000 customers have given the app a 5-star review.

Customers First

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 0.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)⁴ in interest on that savings account.

If you use direct deposit with your Chime account, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days early⁵. And Chime is just saying no to big bank NSF charges with a fee-free overdraft program up to $200. Finally, Chime just recently launched their Credit Builder credit card with no interest and no annual fee. We don’t think there is another company innovating for their customers like Chime.

Get a Chime Account Today!
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card issued by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. See additional disclaimers below.

2. Nearside | Best No ChexSystems Small Business Banking

Nearside is a fast-growing company built specifically around business banking solutions for entrepreneurs and small business owners. In addition to dramatically streamlining the application process, Nearside requires no minimum deposit, doesn’t check your credit, and has no monthly maintenance fees. Here’s a recap:

• FREE business Mastercard debit card
• FREE access at over 55,000 ATMs nationwide
• FREE online and mobile app
• FREE cashback and rewards program
• NO minimum deposit is required when you apply
• NO monthly fee
• NO NSF fees
• NO card replacement fees
• NO ACH transfer fees

Banking Services

Transferring money is easy with Nearside using ACH, bill pay, or paper check. And you can deposit checks using the Nearside app. Need cash? Get it at over 55,000 ATMs. We also like that there are no NSF fees on the account. If you lose your debit card, Nearside will replace it free of charge. Finally, you can link your Nearside debit card to Apple Pay or Google Pay and monitor all your transactions from the Nearside app.

Rewards Program

Cashback and rewards programs can save you a ton of money when you use your Nearside debit card. You can save 5% cashback on car rentals, 4% on hotels and dining, 3% on business vendor spending, and 1% on gas. Nearside Perks is a discount program offered when you use such services as Quickbooks, Constant Contact, Yelp, Indeed, Square, and many more.

Application Process

Nearside targets account approvals within one business day. Information required to open an account includes name, address, and social security number or tax identification number. If applicable, Nearside may ask for a copy of your business license and business formation documents. They do not check your credit or use ChexSystems.

Nearside is one of the most competitive business bank accounts for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Their combination of services and offerings, the fast application process, and customer support create an outsized competitive advantage for both the bank and its customers. Every small business owner understands how critical that is for success.

Get an account now!

3. Current | Runner Up

Current is another web-only national bank that has some really great features… and has become one of the fastest-growing checking accounts for consumers who want it all without all the costs and hassles.

Why are we featuring Current on our website? It’s simple: they don’t use ChexSystems or your credit report to open a new account. Sign-up takes about 2 minutes and Current has extremely high acceptance rates. But what’s really cool are the incredible features offered with this account:

• NO minimum balance
• NO overdraft fees when you overdraw by up to $100 with Overdrive™
• NO fees at over 40,000 ATMS in the U.S.
• Get your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit
• Earn points for unlimited cashback at participating retailers
• Send money instantly for free
• An elegant but simple smartphone app
• 24/7 member support

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 a debit 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 debit card will immediately refund the hold so you have access to all your funds. We haven’t found that benefit anywhere in the marketplace.

Here’s what’s really important, though. Deposits are FDIC-insured up to the highest possible amount allowed: $250,000. 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!

4. SoFi Money

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

Get a SoFi Account Now!

5. Varo Bank

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.
Get a Varo Bank account

6. Wells Fargo Bank

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

Get a Wells Fargo account

7. GO2bank

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.

Get a GO2Bank account

8. Navy Federal Credit Union

No matter your banking past, Navy Federal Credit Union offers traditional checking for all members 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

Get an account at Navy Federal Credit Union

What Is ChexSystems?

Most consumers aren’t familiar with ChexSystems until they’re denied a new bank account or a merchant declines to accept their check. Briefly, ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that tracks your checking and savings account activity.

Its business is pretty simple. Banks contribute data about all of their checking account customers. For consumer accounts, the social security number is the key identifier. Banks also contribute information about the health of these accounts. If a consumer has bounced a lot of checks or has unpaid fees, the bank will also report that information to ChexSystems.

Then ChexSystems creates an aggregated database not only from the bank in our example but from more than 85% of all remaining banks and credit unions. ChexSystems holds this information on over 300 million people and companies!

If you have negative marks entered by a bank, that information is available to EVERY bank and credit union that subscribes to the ChexSystems database. And all any bank or credit union needs in order to check your banking history is your social security number. A social security number is required to set up a checking account.

It’s important to note that ChexSystems is not responsible for the decision made by banks to deny you a bank account; however, the information reported by banks and credit unions and stored by ChexSystems can result in a denial of a bank account.

The following information may be stored in your ChexSystems report:

• Paid and unpaid “non-sufficient funds” items (“NSF”)
• Any kind of fraud
• Uncollected overdrafts, ATM transactions, or automatic payments the bank paid
• Abuse of debit card, savings account, or ATM card
• Violation of any banking rules and regulations
• Opening an account with false information

There may be additional reasons a bank reports their customers to ChexSystems, but the above list represents the most common reasons consumers end up in ChexSystems.

Some no ChexSystems banks do access other types of record-keeping companies such as Early Warning Services and Telecheck. So if you have negative marks with these companies, you might be rejected for a checking account. However, it’s been our experience that most people in ChexSystems are not in EWS or Telecheck.

What Are My Options If I’m Listed in ChexSystems?

Having a checking account is essential to managing your money on a regular basis. Studies have shown that those without a checking account waste almost 5% of their net income on fees charged by payday loan providers, checking cashing companies, and prepaid card charges. Having a traditional checking account will save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime!

But if you’ve been blacklisted by ChexSystems, getting back into banking can be difficult. And expensive if you don’t know where to turn. Some people drop out of banking altogether because they don’t believe there are reliable alternatives. They turn to check cashing companies or payday loans.

Others turn to prepaid debit cards so they can make electronic payments. Your credit isn’t checked when you apply for a prepaid debit card and you can use the account to make payments with the prepaid Visa or Mastercard using money you’ve already loaded onto your card.

The downside to having a prepaid debit card is the fee structure; the fees can add up quickly. Our analysis indicates that the costs of loading money onto your prepaid card, as well as the inconvenience, make a debit card tied to a checking account much more attractive.

That’s why getting a checking account can make your financial life so much easier. You have easy access to pay for goods and services and have access to the incredible number of alternative financial technology tools such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, Venmo, Google Pay, and PopMoney to name a few.

Most people who don’t know about No ChexSystems Banks take the more difficult and expensive path of payday loans, check cashing fees, or prepaid cards. But you can get a great checking account by just checking out our research and recommendations.

In short, having a checking account saves you a ton of money and makes your life a lot easier. Consider the following:

1. You can protect your money. A checking account is a safe and secure way to pay for things.
2. It’s much easier to pay bills and expenses and costs you nothing.
3. You can track spending and make adjustments.
4. You get fast access to your paycheck with direct deposit.

The ease and convenience of adding money into your checking account without any hidden fees, the consumer protections attached to these cards, and the freedom to spend your money immediately make them a great option for anyone looking to create a healthy financial lifestyle.

Why A No ChexSystems Bank Is The Best Choice

At CheckingExpert, we’ve done all the hard work for you. We’ve already located 5 national banks that want your business. And none of them use ChexSystems to approve your checking account application. All of them have the basic benefits you need, including:

• No minimum balance required
• Low or no monthly fee
• Ability to write checks
• Online and mobile banking
• Debit card access
• FDIC insured accounts up to $250,000
• Access to a large (and most times free) ATM network
• Purchases with your bank card carry a zero liability for fraudulent transactions

Don’t settle for a no ChexSystems bank account with tight restrictions and controls while also demanding high fees. This is a trap too many people fall for because they don’t know about no ChexSystems bank accounts or have been told to go to payday loan or check cashing companies.

What’s The Difference Between A No ChexSystems Bank Account And A Second Chance Bank Account?

There is a difference between a bank that does not use ChexSystems and a second chance checking account. Here’s why it’s important:

If you are on ChexSystems and are unable or do not have the time to dispute the negative information, you will want to find a bank that does not use ChexSystems as part of their checking account screening process. Be aware that the bank may perform a quick check on your credit score, and they may use EWS to make sure you have not engaged in fraudulent behavior. These kinds of banks and credit unions are very rare and difficult to find. Our top pick for this group of banks is Chime.

Banks offering Second Chance Checking will almost always check ChexSystems. And they may also use EWS and Telecheck. However, generally, they are prepared to open an account as long as you don’t owe their institution money.

Approval rates for both of these types of accounts are high and you’ll enjoy most of the banking options you would expect with a ‘normal’ checking or savings account.

Again, finding both no ChexSystems bank accounts and second chance banks and credit unions is hard. The staff at CheckingExpert.com has reviewed over 1,000 different checking accounts and we have the most comprehensive and accurate list of second chance banks available.

More Frequently Asked Question About A No ChexSystems Bank Account

Can I live anywhere in the United States to apply for a no ChexSystems bank account?

Our top no ChexSystems banking recommendations offer accounts to residents in all 50 states.

What information will I need for the application process?

You will need your social security number (or individual tax ID number). In some cases, the bank will ask questions during the application process to verify your identity.

What’s the likelihood my application will be accepted?

We’ve selected these banks based on their extraordinarily high acceptance rates. Our informal surveys indicate an acceptance rate of about 95 percent.

Do these banks require an initial deposit to set up the account?

Chime and Nearside (business banking) do not require an initial deposit, while the balance of the banks do. We’ve provided information about the minimum deposit required for each of the banks.

Will I receive a pre-paid card or a checking debit card?

None of our top no ChexSystems banks will send you a pre-paid card. They only offer Visa or MasterCard debit cards which are linked directly to your checking account. These debit cards will allow you to select a personal identification number (PIN) and have the full buying functionality that comes with the Visa or MasterCard networks.

What are the fees associated with my no ChexSystems bank account?

Chime and SoFi have no monthly fees. The remaining banks have low monthly fees as detailed above.

Will my no ChexSystems bank account be FDIC insured?

All of the banks on our list offer FDIC-insured checking accounts. That means the federal government insures the money in your account up to $250,000.

What if I want to bank locally so I have access to a branch office?

The CheckingExpert editorial staff has reviewed bank checking accounts in all 50 states and we’ve detailed those banks and credit unions in each state which offer no ChexSystems and second chance banking accounts. That list is provided below.

The Best Second Chance Banks by State

Most major banks don’t offer non-ChexSystems or second chance checking, but many community banks and credit unions have them under various names, such as Opportunity Checking and Fresh Start Checking.

Our editorial staff regularly updates the list of banks offering no ChexSystems second chance checking in every state. Here’s an overview of these accounts and where you can find them at branches in your area.

Ready For Your Second Chance?

If you’ve experienced issues with credit debt, checking account issues, or bounced checks, CheckingExpert can help you get back on track toward a healthy financial future. Our goal is to guide you through the complex financial roadmap to find the banks or credit unions that can best meet your needs.

The vast majority of the time, you can get a bank account with ALL the features and benefits you need with no fees, minimums, or restrictions. We’re glad you found us. Now, let us help you find the right financial partner for you.