The Best No ChexSystems Banks. Guaranteed Approval.
If you were recently denied a bank account, the bank may have told you it was based on a negative ChexSystems report. And since a huge portion of banks and credit unions use ChexSystems, it’s not like you can walk across the street and open a checking account at another bank.
Unfortunately, being on that list lasts for five years and can make opening a simple checking account a nightmare.
Luckily, there are banks that don’t use ChexSystems at all during the application process. 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.
We’ve helped thousands of people just like you open checking accounts at no ChexSystems banks. We’ve selected the best accounts 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.
Best No ChexSystems Banks
Open an account today!
U.S. Bank | Earn Up To $700 Cash Bonus
You can earn up to $700 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and a Standard Savings account and complete qualifying activities. The offer is subject to certain terms and limitations and is valid through June 27, 2024. Member FDIC. Offer may not be available if you live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint or are not an existing client of U.S. Bank or State Farm.
U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking at a Glance
- A U.S. Bank Visa debit card
- Online banking and bill pay
- Mobile banking and mobile check deposit
- Send money with Zelle®
- 24/7 customer support
- No NSF charges for overdraft balances under $50
- Access to U.S. Bank Smart Rewards® to reap additional benefits
- No fees at U.S. Bank ATMs
- No surcharge fees at 40,000 MoneyPass ATMs
States Where U.S. Bank is Available
If you live in one of the following 26 states where this account is available, you can apply online: AR, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY.
Account Details and Costs
To get an account, you’ll need to make an opening deposit of $25. The monthly service fee is $6.95 but can be waived if you maintain a minimum balance of $1,500 or by having a combined monthly direct deposit totaling $1,000. You can also avoid the monthly fee if you are 24 and under, 65 and over, or a member of the military (must self-disclose) or qualify for one of the four Smart Rewards® tiers (Primary, Plus, Premium, or Pinnacle).
Banking Made Easy
The U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account comes with one of the best mobile apps on the market. Over one million customers have given the app an overall rating of five stars. You can manage your entire account from a computer or your smartphone.
And there’s more to U.S. Bank than an outstanding smartphone app: 24/7 customer service, Zelle® instant transfers, free budgeting and automated tools, overdraft leniency, and Smart Rewards®. Perhaps that’s why U.S. Bank repeatedly makes the list of one of the best banks in the country.
Open an account today!
Chime | Our Top Pick
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.
Deposit Cash for FREE at Over 8,500 Walgreens
Having access to a physical location for cash deposits is important to Chime members. And now it’s 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. With over 78% of the country within 5 miles of a Walgreens, this is a significant benefit for millions.3
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 instantly4 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)5 in interest on that savings account.
If you use direct deposit with your Chime account, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days early6. 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!
SoFi Checking & Savings | Earn a $325 Welcome Bonus
SoFi Checking & Savings at a Glance
- FREE SoFi debit MasterCard
- FREE smartphone app. Manage your account online, too
- No opening deposit required
- No monthly minimum balance requirement
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No fees at 55,000+ ATMs
- Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit
How to Earn the $325 Bonus
As soon as you get your SoFi Checking & Savings account and deposit $10 or more, you’ll earn $25. When you set up direct deposit from an employer, SoFi will credit your account up to an additional $300 (depending on the amount of your direct deposit).
Using the SoFi direct deposit option unlocks additional benefits, too. 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.
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. SoFi seems to be the perfect bank.
Claire M., SoFi Customer
Get a SoFi Account Now!
Chase Secure BankingSM | $100 New Account Bonus
For many people, having access to a local bank branch is paramount when setting up a checking account. With over 15,000 ATMs and 4,700 branches across the country, the Chase Secure Banking account might be the perfect fit.
Here are some of our favorite features with this account:
- 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
Highly Rated Mobile App
Available for iOS and Android, the Chase Mobile app offers 24/7 access to your account. The app is highly rated, earning 4.8 stars out of 5 on the App Store and 4.4 stars out of 5 on Google Play.
You can transfer funds, deposit checks, send money with Zelle, set up account alerts and notifications, and lock your card if it’s been lost or stolen.
The app also has incredibly helpful budgeting tools, personalized insights, and the ability to check your credit score for free.
How The Account Works
Opening the Chase Secure Banking account is easy. They verify your name, address, and social security through Experian, but don’t pull a credit report or credit score. Chase doesn’t use ChexSystems for this account, either. Account approval is immediate, there’s no opening deposit requirement, and you’ll receive your Chase Secure card within a matter of days.
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. Surcharges from the ATM owner/network may apply.
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. And, you’ll have peace of mind with Chase’s Zero Liability Protection if you detect and report unauthorized transactions.
Banking With A Leader
Chase claims to be involved with 40% of Americans in some way or another. There can be comfort in size, reach, and stability. Chase has all of that and the assurance they will be there for a long, long time.
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 Secure Banking account today!
Current | Earn High Interest
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 deposit required to open an account
- 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 4.0% interest on your balance up to $6,000
- 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!
NorthOne | No ChexSystems Small Business Banking
- FREE business Mastercard debit card
- FREE access at over 1,000,000 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.
Integrations
With NorthOne business banking, you can connect your account to an almost unlimited number of third-party apps. NorthOne integrates with business tools including Paypal, Stripe, Square, Etsy, Shopify, Airbnb, Amazon, Venmo, Toast, Uber, Lyft, Quickbooks, FreshBooks, Wave, Expensify, and many more. Through these integrations, you can sync transaction details, collect payments, see and pay invoices, send payroll, pay contractors, and more.
If creating and sending invoices, quotes, and estimates is critical to your business, NorthOne offers a free stand-alone invoice creator that integrates seamlessly with the banking app. We’ve tried it and think it’s an elegant solution.
Envelopes
NorthOne has created a feature that helps you plan for and manage important expense categories. They call these sub-accounts “Envelopes” and you can set up as many as you want. This allows you to set aside funds you know you’ll need in the future such as taxes or payroll. You can set custom rules for your envelopes and easily move money back and forth as needed.
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.
NorthOne 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.
Open an account today!
Wells Fargo Bank
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 can 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
GO2bank
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
Navy Federal Credit Union
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 a NFCU account
Varo Bank
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.
Get a Varo Account Now!
Acorns
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 not only do you get a checking and savings account, but you also have access to an investment account once you’re ready to consider that. And, it’s free. 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.
Get an Acorns Account!
What Is ChexSystems?
Never heard of ChexSystems before today? Don’t worry. You’re far from alone in that. In fact, most people have no idea that the company exists unless they try to open a bank account and find out they’ve been blacklisted by ChexSystems.
To put it simply, ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that tracks your checking and savings account activity.
Essentially, ChexSystems gathers data from almost 90% of banks and credit unions. This data includes personal information such as name and social security on over 300 million checking and savings accounts in the United States.
ChexSystems is in the same category as the credit bureaus (or credit reporting agencies) such as Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax and their handling of all this highly sensitive data falls under government oversight and regulation.
What Information Shows Up on Your ChexSystems Report
If your bank reports that you bounced too many checks, have not paid your monthly or transaction fees, or even committed fraud, your ChexSystems profile may spell trouble.
Not only may your current bank no longer want to do business, but now every bank and credit union that subscribes to the ChexSystems database will probably deny you an account.
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:
- Any type of fraud
- Unpaid or paid insufficient fund items
- Uncollected overdrafts, automatic payments the bank paid, or ATM transactions
- Violations of any banking regulations or rules
- Abuse of a savings account, debit card, or ATM card
- Opening an account using incorrect information
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.
>> MORE: How To Dispute Information On ChexSystems
Why You Need a Checking Account
It has been shown that having a checking account is an essential part of managing your money on a regular basis. Some studies show that people who do not have a checking account will spend up to nearly 5% of their net income on the fees that payday loan providers, prepaid card companies, and check-cashing companies require from their customers.
A checking account allows you to protect your money since it’s a secure and safe method of paying for items and services. It also makes it much easier to pay expenses and bills without additional fees. A checking account often has technology that makes it simple to track your spending and make adjustments to your financial habits. On top of that, you can use direct deposit with your checking account to get quick and easy access to your paycheck as soon as it is provided by your employer.
If you are listed on ChexSystems, getting a new checking account isn’t as simple as walking into any bank on the street and filling out a few papers. Many banks simply do not do business with anyone with a negative ChexSystems file.
>> More: Reasons To Have A Checking Account
The Solution: Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems
We’ve done all the hard work for you. We’ve already located several national banks that want your business. And all of them are banks that don’t use ChexSystems in order 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 zero liability for fraudulent transactions
While there are many credit unions and banks that don’t use ChexSystems, they aren’t all the same. There’s no reason to choose an account with a bank that has high fees and a wide range of restrictions. This can make having a checking account a major hassle.
Many people choose these accounts because they have no idea that other options are available. There are options and you can choose a bank account with all the perks that you want.
When you apply for a no ChexSystems bank account, you can expect to provide the same information as you would for any other checking account. This includes your social security number or tax ID number. Sometimes the bank will also ask a series of questions to verify you are who you claim to be.
Once satisfied, the approval rate on these accounts is enormous. It can be as high as 95%, which lets you have the freedom of enjoying all the perks that a checking account will offer you.
Differences Between Second Chance Bank Accounts and No ChexSystems Bank Accounts
A lot of people are under the impression that banks that don’t use ChexSystems are the exact same as banks that offer second chance checking accounts. These two terms are often used to describe the same thing, but there are differences between the two that you should be aware of.
If you are listed with ChexSystems and do not have the time or ability to dispute the negative information, it’s important to select no ChexSystems banks if you want to avoid ChexSystems altogether. This is probably the safest route to take so you won’t be denied based on the infractions in your ChexSystems report.
When you choose a bank with second chance bank accounts, they typically do look at ChexSystems before you are approved. This doesn’t mean you need to be discouraged or avoid opening an account with them, though. In most cases, the bank will open a checking account for you as long as you don’t owe them any money.
The good news is that both no ChexSystems banks and second chance checking banks typically have higher than normal approval rates. On top of that, the best options out of these banks will provide you with the same options you would get from a traditional savings or checking account.
Choosing Between Prepaid Cards and Payday Loans or a No ChexSystems Bank Account
If you care about convenience and you want to save your money for the things that matter, the best choice you can make is to open an account at one of the many banks that don’t use ChexSystems. Here are some of the pros to opening an account at one of the various no ChexSystems banks out there:
- You get more consumer protections when it comes to using a debit card.
- You’re able to move money in and out of your account without expensive fees.
- You can spend your money however you feel fit.
When you choose to visit a check-cashing business, use a prepaid debit card, or visit a payday loan location, the fees are going to be higher and the process is going to be more complicated and time-consuming.
As an example, a payday lender is going to have a variety of fees that you have to pay. Even those who make all of their payments on time will have to deal with these. Those who get behind will stack fees and can end up wasting even more money. Experts agree that these kinds of services are negative for customers and should be avoided whenever possible.
When you look at the advantages and disadvantages of the options, it’s pretty clear which solution comes out on top. Choosing to set up a no ChexSystems bank account with an included debit card is the best choice for nearly all consumers.
The Best Second Chance Banks by State
Most major banks don’t advertise that they are “no ChexSystems banks” or “Second Chance Banks”, but many community banks and credit unions have these specialty accounts under various names, such as “Opportunity Checking” and “Fresh Start Checking.”
Our editorial staff regularly updates the list of banks offering no ChexSystems and second chance checking in every state. Here’s an overview of these accounts and where you can find them at branches in your area!
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. 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.
3Customers are limited to three $1,000 cash deposits at Walgreens each day and $10,000 each month.
4Sometimes instant transfers can be delayed. The recipient must use a valid debit card to claim funds. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Pay Friends Transfers details.
5The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of May 22, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
6Early 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.