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 7 No ChexSystems Banks
The BBVA Online Checking Account is our favorite second chance banking account. And for good reason. BBVA has won several awards for its leading products and online services.Features include mobile deposits, direct deposit, online bill payment, and NO monthly service charge. Setting up an account is almost too easy and the smartphone app tools are the best we’ve reviewed. This account is available in all states except Alaska and Hawaii.
- NO monthly service charge
- NO monthly account balance minimums
- NO fees at over 64,000 Allpoint® and BBVA ATMs worldwide
- FREE award-winning mobile app (one of the best we’ve reviewed)
- FREE Visa® debit card you can personalize with your favorite photo
- FREE online banking, bill pay, and mobile deposits
- FREE money transfer to and from any email or mobile phone in the U.S. via Popmoney®, Venmo®, and other instant transfer services
- FREE dedicated team of mobile bankers you can contact via text, email, or phone
- FREE cash back rewards for everyday debit card purchases with Simple CashBack
- FREE unlimited check writing
- FREE Visa Zero Liability protects you against fraudulent purchases made on your debit card
- Open with as little as $25
- BBVA USA, member FDIC
Chime Bank is a fast-growing internet-only bank. 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.In our opinion, Chime is the only bank that comes close to BBVA.
- FREE Visa® debit card
- NO monthly service charge
- NO monthly minimums
- FREE online banking and mobile banking/deposits
- NO fees at over 38,000 MoneyPass® and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs worldwide
- SAVINGS: You can round up every purchase to the nearest dollar and automatically deposit that difference into your savings account.
If you are looking to save money, SoFi Money is our top choice for a non-traditional banking option. We recommend this online money management account to those who are tech savvy. One of the biggest perks is there aren’t any account fees. ATM fees are reimbursed, transfers are free and you have no minimum balance requirements. You don’t even need an initial deposit to set up your account.SoFi will even pay you through a high-yield interest rate on your checking balance. You can earn a $50 cash bonus if you sign up for SoFi Money® and make one direct deposit of at least $500.
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. SoFi Money is available in all 50 states.
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
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
GoBank is an online option for simple banking. All you need to do to open an account is to purchase a GoBank starter kit from a partner retailer and pass an identity verification. In return, you receive the ability to use a debit card for purchases and ATM withdrawals. You can also write checks to avoid expensive money order fees.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.
Get a Go Bank account
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
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:
- You can protect your money. A checking account is a safe and secure way to pay for things.
- It’s much easier to pay bills and expenses and costs you nothing.
- You can track spending and make adjustments.
- 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 BBVA.
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?
With the exception of BBVA, our top no ChexSystems banking recommendations offer accounts to residents in all 50 states. BBVA does not offer its banking services in Alaska or Hawaii.
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 Bank does 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?
BBVA and Chimecard 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.