21 Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems

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Can’t Open A Bank Account? Enter: ChexSystems

Opening regular bank accounts can prove challenging once you have a negative ChexSystems report associated with you. You may consider short-term options such as Prepaid debit cards and secured credit cards, but they might not suffice.

Seeking alternatives becomes essential — exploring banks and financial services that provide checking accounts despite a poor ChexSystems consumer file.

But what is ChexSystems? It is a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which operates similarly to a credit bureau but for checking accounts. It tracks your banking history and assigns scores that impact your ability to open new accounts.

Our team has analyzed over 600 FDIC-insured checking account options and curated a list of 10 banks and fintech companies that don’t use ChexSystems, with excellent features, no minimum balance requirements, and low monthly charges.

Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems

Let’s look at some non-ChexSystems Banks (and not credit unions that serve as a bank) that offer FDIC-insured checking accounts for individuals blacklisted by ChexSystems due to past banking issues.

Following are the 10 banks that don’t use ChexSystems reports:

PNC Bank

Pittsburgh National Bank belongs to the PNC Financial Services Group, a financial services corporation based in Pittsburgh. After contacting the bank, we discovered that they do not use ChexSystems reports as part of their account approval process; instead, they use ‘Early Warning Services.’

This non-ChexSystems bank offers the ‘Foundation Checking account,’ designed for people who may have encountered difficulties getting approved for a traditional checking account. To open this account, you must visit a PNC branch in person.

Locations: Available in all states except Alaska and Hawaii.

Suggested account: Foundation Checking
Monthly maintenance fee: $5 (waived for individuals aged over 62 years)
Minimum opening deposit: $0
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

Cashier’s Checks and PNC Bank Visa Debit Card is included
Overdraft and returned item fees are $0;
PNC Pay is available for seamless digital transactions
Quickly deposit checks with PNC Mobile Deposit

Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo is a major bank and financial services company with branches nationwide. The bank conducts ChexSystems screenings for specific accounts, but certain accounts are excluded.

The person we contacted at the bank explained that ChexSystems isn’t used when approving the Clear Access Banking account.

Locations: 37 states, including California, Texas and Florida.

Suggested account: Clear Access Banking
Monthly maintenance fee: $5 (waived for individuals aged 13 to 24)
Minimum opening deposit: $25
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

There are no overdraft fees or non-sufficient funds
11,000+ Wells Fargo ATMs with check and cash deposits
24/7 fraud monitoring is also provided
No overdraft Protection or debit card overdraft service

FSNB

FSNB, formerly Fort Sill National Bank, is the next ChexSystems-free bank on our list. FSNB is an ideal solution for individuals who desire a more personalized banking experience as it offers four checking account options, none requiring a credit check.

SoFi

SoFi, a San Francisco-based financial company established in 2011, operates similarly to a traditional bank, providing diverse services and products.

Unlike other non-ChexSystems accounts, with SoFi’s accounts, members with direct deposit can earn 4.50% APY on their savings balances and 0.50% APY on their checking balances.

As per the bank representative, SoFi does not use ChexSystems reports for new accounts.

Locations: 9 states, including California, New York, Florida and Texas.

Suggested account: SoFi Checking and Savings®
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Minimum deposit: $0
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

No minimum daily balance or monthly service charge
Fee-free overdraft coverage for debit card purchases, up to 50 dollars
Access to 55,000+ fee-free ATMs
Deposits insured up to $2M
Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit

Capital One

Capital One, based in McLean, Virginia, offers the ‘360 Checking Account’ for individuals aiming to rebuild their credit history after financial challenges.

According to our brief talk with the bank representative, they don’t use ChexSystems to approve this account; instead, they use EWS. Interestingly, they also mentioned that the bank boasts a high approval rate for this account.

You can either set up this checking account online or open an account in person at a Capital One location with no opening deposit requirement.

Locations: Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Suggested account: 360 Checking Account
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Minimum opening deposit: $0 (provided you make a deposit within 60 days)
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

70,000+ fee-free ATMs and no overdraft fees
Daily cash withdrawal limits at $5,000
Send cash or pay bills online with Zelle
Earn interest while having access to funds in your checking account

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card for 5% cash back on Walmart.com

Varo Bank

Varo Bank, alternatively called Varo Money, is a neobank offering a comprehensive financial service suite. As it is an online-only bank, it operates without any physical bank branches.

To open a Varo Bank account, download the Varo Bank mobile app, provide personal information, verify your identity, set up your account, and add your card to your mobile wallet.

Our team reached out to the bank, and we were informed that they do not conduct credit checks (including ChexSystems) to open a new account. Instead, this low-fee online bank collaborates with various partners to authenticate identities and protect against fraud and identity theft.

Locations: Online platform; no physical branches.

Suggested account: Varo Bank Account
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Minimum opening deposit: $0
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

40,000 + fee-free in-network ATMs
Free Varo Debit card included
No overdraft fees or minimum balance fees
Early direct deposit helps you get paid two days earlier
Payments facilitated with Zelle

Get the Varo Believe Credit-Builder Card w/ $500 direct deposits for automatic payments and credit building.

Go2Bank

Go2Bank is a neobank, with banking offered by Green Dot Bank, a bank holding and fintech company headquartered in Austin. They offer consumer-friendly banking options, the lowest minimum deposit requirements, and provide banking opportunities for those looking for a fresh start.

In our conversation with bank representatives, they stated that when you open a GO2bank debit account, there’s no credit check, including ChexSystems reports. However, federal law requires them to collect and verify info like name, address, and Social Security number during account setup.

Locations: Online platform; no physical branches.

Suggested account: GO2bank^TM account
Monthly maintenance fee: $5 (waived with direct deposit)
Minimum opening deposit: $0 (without a debit card)
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

Credit building with the GO2bank Secured Visa® Credit Card
Access pay up to two days in advance with direct deposit
Cash checks with the GO2bank app, snap a pic, enter the amount, and get your money
$15 fee for overdrafts not repaid within 24 hours
Initial deposit is waived for accounts without debit card issuance.

Tip: Their high-yield savings accounts earn a 4.50% APY on the average daily balance up to $5,000, receiving quarterly interest for accounts in good standing.

Chime

Chime is a neobank and a financial technology company, with banking services provided by The Stride Bank or The Bancorp Bank. They provide excellent options for people looking to open a checking account with a non-so-perfect credit history.

After reaching out to representatives from Chime, we were informed that credit score evaluations are not conducted during the application process for any account.

Open an account by downloading the Chime mobile application and providing your details and SSN. Connect your existing bank account to transfer money. You can use the temporary debit card to make purchases until your physical card arrives in the mail in 7-10 days.

Locations: Online platform; no physical branches.

Suggested account: Chime Checking Account
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Minimum deposit: $0
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

No overdraft fees and $200 free overdraft with SpotMe
Free Chime Visa debit card with no foreign transaction fees
Access to Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card with eligible direct deposit
60k+ fee-free ATMs
No network ATM withdrawal fee at Allpoint, Visa Plus Alliance, or MoneyPass ATMs
$2.50 charge (per transaction) for any out-of-network ATM withdrawal

Current

Established in 2015, Current is a neobank and a financial technology enterprise. Its banking services are provided by the FDIC member Choice Financial Group.

The ‘Build Card’ by Current is a secured credit card that builds credit by reporting each transaction as credit. Add money to your current account, and your credit card spending limit gets automatically updated.

The representative on Twitter assured us that ChexSystems reports are not utilized for any approvals. “There’s no minimum credit score required. No credit check is conducted during sign-up; we only request basic information.”

Locations: Online platform; no physical branches.

Suggested product: Current Build Card
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Minimum deposit: $0
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

Credit-building features like AutoPay and credit bureau reporting
Mobile check deposits possible with the Current mobile banking app
Get paid two days earlier with direct deposits
Fee-free overdraft
No bank transfer fee, annual fees and in-network fees
Earn 4.00% APY on ‘Savings Pods,’ their savings product

Acorns

Acorns is a neobank with a special focus on investing and saving. Despite this, they offer the Acorns Checking Account, even to those with less than perfect credit history.

Acorns does not conduct a credit check and uses ChexSystems during the application process, as confirmed per our communication with the company. However, you must link your pre-existing checking account from elsewhere to apply for the Acorns Checking account.

Locations: Online platform; no physical branches.

Suggested account: Acorns Checking Account
Monthly maintenance fee: $3, $5 or $9
Minimum deposit: $0
Minimum balance required: $0

Additional info:

3.00% APY on Checking, 5.00% APY on Emergency Fund
55,000+ fee-free ATMs (AllPoint network)
No overdraft fees
$3/month: Basic banking + green Visa debit card.

$5+/month: Mighty Oak debit card w/ early paydays and cashback rewards.

9 Banks That Do Use ChexSystems Reports

Based on our analysis and direct conversations with banking representatives, we found that some banks do use ChexSystems records to approve all their accounts.

If you want to avoid ChexSystems at this point in your banking journey, you may skip the following banks.

Note that the banks listed below are excellent choices for all eligible applicants. We aren’t implying that they are unsuitable in general.

First American Bank
“Yes, all of our accounts run a ChexSystems report for approvals.”
Renasant Bank
“Yes, we use ChexSystems reports.”
Peoples Bank
“Yes, we do use ChexSystems for all accounts.”
U.S. Bank
“We do review ChexSystems information when approving new accounts.”
Huntington Bank
“Yes, ChexSystems is one of the tools we use during the application process of all accounts, including Asterisk-Free Checking.”
United Bank
“Yes, we do currently use such a system (ChexSystems).”
Axiom Bank
“Yes, ChexSystems is used.”
Bank OZK
“Yes, ChexSystems reports are utilized for all account openings.”
Axos Bank
“ChexSystems are used for all customers.”

Second Chance Bank Accounts: Good option?

What is Second Chance Banking? Certain banks look past blemishes in your ChexSystems records and offer dedicated checking accounts with lenient eligibility criteria.

These accounts, characterized by high acceptance rates, provide the opportunity to re-establish positive banking histories.

Let us take a brief look at 5 banks that do use ChexSystems information but offer second chances regardless:

1. U.S. Bank

According to a representative, U.S. Bank uses ChexSystems for new accounts. However, it offers the Safe Debit Checking account as a dedicated second-chance option with limited features like no paper checks.

Suggested account: Smartly Checking or Safe Debit Checking
Minimum opening deposit: $25
Minimum balance required: $0

2. Bank OZK

Applicants with past banking issues can find a fresh start with OZK Pathway Checking (their second chance account), even though ChexSystems is reviewed during the application process, as confirmed by the bank representative.

Suggested account: OZK Pathway Checking
Minimum opening deposit: $50
Minimum balance required: $0

3. GTE Financial

GTE Federal Credit Union, also known as GTE Financial, is a well-established financial institution in Tampa, Florida. While they use ChexSystems, individuals with poor credit can still get the ‘Go Further account.’

Suggested account: Go Further account
Minimum opening deposit: $5
Minimum balance required: $0

4. Peoples Bank

Although relying on ChexSystems for new accounts, as confirmed by the representatives, Peoples Bank provides the “Second Chance Checking” option for individuals with negative items on their credit reports or ChexSystems consumer files.

>> Read up on How to Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report.

Suggested account: Second Chance Checking
Minimum opening deposit: $30
Minimum balance required: $0

5. Woodforest National Bank

Woodforest National Bank utilizes ChexSystems for new account applications, as confirmed by the bank. However, they offer the “Second Chance Checking” account for individuals with bad credit and a negative banking history.

Suggested account: Second Chance Checking
Minimum opening deposit: $25 (with a $9 one-time account setup fee)
Minimum balance requirement: $0

>> For the complete list, see our article, 15 Best Second Chance Checking Accounts.

Credit Unions That Don’t Use ChexSystems

If you wish to explore more options, then we may look at Credit Unions (not conventional banks) that offer excellent options with high acceptance rates for those who have been blacklisted by ChexSystems.

Q: What is a credit union, and how is it different from a regular bank?

Credit unions are like community banks, owned by their members, not shareholders. This means lower fees, higher interest rates, and more personalized service, but with membership requirements like location or employer. For an in-depth comparison, read our Banks vs. Credit Union guide.

Here are the top 5 non-ChexSystems Credit Unions:

PenFed Credit Union
Suggested account: Free Checking

California Community Credit Union

Suggested account: New Beginnings Checking account

Navy Federal Credit Union

Suggested account: Free Everyday Checking

North Georgia Credit Union

Suggested account: Checking account

Cardinal Community Credit Union

Suggested account: The Savings (Share) Account

>> See our article The Best Credit Unions that Don’t Use ChexSystems for the full list.

What Is ChexSystems, and How To Get Out of It?

ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency specializing in tracking information about savings and checking account history.

It gathers data on unpaid overdrafts, bounced checks, negative balances, account closures, suspected fraud, and account applications from your closed deposit accounts. This data is used to compile a ChexSystems consumer report and ChexSystems scores that range from 100 to 899.

Banks and credit unions review ChexSystems reports to assess the risk of opening new accounts for customers.

ChexSystems Reports and Credit Bureau Reports: what’s the difference?

ChexSystems generates reports for screening checking account applicants by banks and credit unions. However, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, the major credit bureaus in the United States, also compile reports for financial institutions.

ChexSystems reports do not impact credit scores and focus on checking and savings account history. Credit reports do impact credit scores and center on credit history, including auto loans, credit cards, and late payments.

>> Read up on How To Increase Your Credit Score

How To Clear A ChexSystems Report? (Fix The Problem)

If you face challenges opening regular bank accounts due to negative marks on your ChexSystems report, start by getting a free copy of your report—you’re entitled to one every 12 months.

Once you have your report, review it for any errors or signs of fraud. If you find anything suspicious, you have the right to dispute it. Contact the company that reported the information or let ChexSystems handle the dispute process via dispute letters.

Next, check the report for any outstanding balances owed to banks. If you find any, contact the banks directly to settle them. Once you’ve paid off the debts, ask the banks to remove the negative entries from your ChexSystems consumer file.

>> Learn more: Clean Up Your ChexSystems Record (step-by-step guide)

What Are the Alternatives to ChexSystems?

ChexSystems is a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) in the U.S., but it is not the only one.

Some CRAs, like ChexSystems, specialize in checking and savings account history, including Early Warning and Cross Check.

Then there are CRAs specializing in credit history (Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies), including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Lastly, some CRAs specialize in check verification, such as TeleCheck Services, Certegy Check Services, and Shared Check Authorization Network (SCAN).

Glossary

An overdraft happens when you spend more money than you have in your bank account. The bank covers the extra amount, but they may charge you fees for this service, and you might need to pay interest on the borrowed money.

Consumer reporting companies compile data on individuals and create comprehensive records about you to businesses. The information contained serves as a tool for assessing creditworthiness, eligibility for new bank accounts, and insurance coverage.

A neobank (alternatively called an online bank, internet-only bank, or digital bank) is a virtual bank that functions solely through digital means and does not rely on conventional brick-and-mortar branch networks.

In-network ATM usage means using ATMs that belong to your own bank or financial institution. This often comes with lower or no fees for transactions.

A non-interest-bearing account is a type of bank account that does not earn interest on the balance. It typically serves for basic transactions and doesn’t generate additional income based on the funds held in the account.

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is the total interest earned on a deposit, considering compounding, expressed as a percentage. Unlike the interest rate, APY accounts for the impact of compounding, providing a more accurate measure of the actual yield on an investment.

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