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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma that can assist you.
List of the Best Second Chance Banks and Credit Unions in Oklahoma

The account is loaded with features and has no minimum balance requirements or monthly service charge. Simply stated, the BBVA Online Checking account has a combination of features no other bank can match. These include:
- NO ChexSystems
- 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
- BBVA USA, member FDIC
It’s simple to apply. The BBVA website is simple and easy to interact with. There is a $25 minimum deposit required to open an account. Your online approval is immediate. BBVA is one of the most friendly banks for those who need a second chance at a checking account. The entire process from start to finish takes about 3 minutes.
Your BBVA Visa Debit Card allows you access to all BBVA ATMs and Allpoint ATMs. Allpoint ATMs can be found at these retailers and many more:

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

To open your Second Chance Checking account, visit one of their numerous locations to get started. With your account, you’ll have access to free e-statements, mobile and online banking, unlimited transactions, and a free Visa debit card.
Allegiance Credit Union has three convenient locations in Oklahoma City and one in Edmond for all your financial needs.

In order to get started, simply visit one of their numerous locations. With your account, you’ll gain numerous benefits including free e-statements, free access to more than 450 ATMs, and potential for an account upgrade after one year of well managed financial history.
The Bank of Oklahoma has locations throughout the state including in Oklahoma City and Tulsa for easy access to your financial account.

Fresh Start Checking offers:
- Unlimited check writing
- A Bank of the West debit card
- Unlimited Bank of the West ATM access
- Online banking and bill pay
- Mobile banking
- Free bankers-by-phone access
You are required to keep the account open for at least 91 days. There is a $12 service fee. Bank of the West offers multiple locations throughout the state including branches in Oklahoma City and Tulsa for your convenience.

The Fresh Start Checking account requires just a $10 monthly maintenance fee (when enrolled in E-Statements) to get started. Once opened, you’ll have access to a wide variety of features and benefits including mobile and online banking, free bill pay, e-statements, and a free Visa debit card.
The Citizens Bank of Edmond offers locations in both Edmond and Oklahoma City for easy access to all of your financial needs.

After six consecutive months of no NSF fees and upon your request, Focus Federal Credit Union will convert your account to a Focus FCU checking account of your choice.

All you need is $5 to open an account. 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
FSNB has numerous locations in both Fort Sill and Lawton.

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.

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

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

Requiring no minimum opening deposit and no monthly maintenance fee, this account is a fantastic option for those looking to save on fees. Upon opening your account, you’ll have access to fantastic benefits including online banking services, a free Visa check card after your first direct deposit, and free ATM Zone transactions.
Oklahoma Educators Credit Union offers five locations throughout the state in Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Moore, Yukon, and Norman for your convenience.

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.

All you need is a $10 minimum opening deposit. After that, you have no minimum balance requirements. There is a monthly service charge of $9, but you can apply for a free checking account after 12 months of positive banking history.
You can easily apply online for all Radius banking services. Essential Checking comes with:
- Free MasterCard® debit card
- Free mobile banking with check deposit
- Free online banking with bill pay
- No minimum balance

SoFi will even pay you through a high-yield interest rate on your checking balance. If you sign up for SoFi Money and make two direct deposits of at least $500 each, SoFi will give you a $50 cash bonus.
The sign up process takes only a few minutes because SoFi does not use ChexSystems to approve accounts. After opening your account, you receive a SoFi debit Mastercard for use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The easy-to-use mobile app keeps you in control of your money and offers bill pay, money transfers and educational services.

To get started, simply visit your closest branch to apply. Upon opening your Fresh Start Checking account, you will have access to free bill pay, free e-statements, and online and mobile banking.
TTCU Federal Credit Union offers eighteen branches in the Tulsa area.

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.

With relaxed CheckSystems requirements, you’ll find it is easy to open an Online Rewards account. All you need is a minimum deposit of $10 and an online application. There is no minimum balance requirement, but there is a $14.95 monthly fee. After a year of good standing, you can convert your account to a free checking plan.
With Online Reward Checking, you have access to:
- A free Mastercard EMV debit card
- Free online banking and bill pay
- Free budgeting tools
- Free mobile banking
- Mobile deposit after 3 months of direct deposits
- Free eStatements

There is a $5 monthly fee, but that is be waived for account holders 24 years old and younger. This account is available to residents in all 50 states.
- The largest number of branches in the U.S.
- Minimum deposit of $25 to open an account
- Online bill pay and smartphone app
- Mobile check deposit
- Includes a Visa debit card
- Send and receive money through Zelle
- Additional features include account alerts, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and zero liability protection for your debit card

To apply for a new account, visit your local branch. Weokie offers some good benefits, including unlimited check writing, no minimum balance requirement, and up to $300 in overdraft protection.
Visit one of their numerous branches throughout Oklahoma City, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, or Yukon.

With just a $10 monthly maintenance fee that can be brought to $0 with an account balance over $150, this account is perfect for those looking to rebuild their creditworthiness. Once your account is active, you’ll have access to all the following benefits: a free debit card, a potential account upgrade after one year of good history, and access to over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
Western Sun Federal Credit Union has locations throughout Oklahoma in Broken Arrow, Bixby, Okmulgee, Owasso, and two in Tulsa for your financial convenience.
Did we leave your financial institution off this list? Has there been a change in any of the listings? Please let us know.