If your bank recently contacted you to tell you that your account has been closed or your application for a checking account has been denied, this is usually a result of a negative report coming from a company called ChexSystems.
A large majority of banks in the U.S. use ChexSystems to track their customers’ banking activity. Consumers who have made banking mistakes, like bounced checks, excessive returned check charges, or too many transfers or withdrawals, might end up in their system. This means you’re basically blacklisted by most if not all banks that use ChexSystems.
Thankfully there are some great banks that don’t use ChexSystems at all! These banks offer the same services as traditional financial institutions and have high acceptance rates for new customers.
Say Goodbye to Banking Hassles: Find a No ChexSystems Checking Account Today
Open an account today!
Chime® is a fast-growing internet-only financial company and our top choice for a no ChexSystems 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.
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.
NorthOne is a fast-growing company built specifically around business banking solutions for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. In addition to dramatically streamlining the application process, NorthOne doesn’t check your credit and is a great find if you’re looking for a no ChexSystems account. Here’s a recap:
- 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.
The SoFi Checking & Savings account is offered by SoFi Bank. It’s a checking and savings account on steroids and we love that. Plus, they don’t use ChexSystems to approve accounts.
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. With over 2.5 million members, SoFi is a bank you can count on!
The $275 bonus comes in two parts. When you deposit at least $10, SoFi will credit your account $25. When you set up direct deposit from an employer, SoFi will credit your account up to $250 (depending on the amount of your direct deposit) and bump the interest rate you earn to 2.50% APY. The bonus and interest rate are some of the highest we’ve seen.
- No account fees
- No minimum balance
- No overdraft fees
- No fees at over 55,000 ATMs
- 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 Checking & Savings seems to be the perfect account.
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 Checking & Savings seems to be the perfect account.Kevin M., SoFi Customer
For many people, having access to a local bank branch is paramount when setting up a checking account. With over 16,000 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 16,000 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.
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.
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 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.
What Is ChexSystems?
If you have received a phone call from your bank telling you your account has been terminated, or you were recently denied a new checking account, you have probably heard of ChexSystems. But if this hasn’t happened, you’ve most likely never heard of ChexSystems.
In short, ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency that tracks your checking and savings account activity.
The way it works is through banks providing data to the agency. This data includes the account holder’s Social Security number as well as the current account health. Customers who have bounced checks or have unpaid fees can be reported to ChexSystems, resulting in a negative listing on your banking activity report.
It is estimated that more than 85 percent of banks in the U.S. use ChexSystems and the agency has data on nearly 300 million American consumers.
Every negative listing on a banking activity report is made available to every bank and credit union that subscribes to the ChexSystems database, which can make getting a new account after being banned from your current bank extremely difficult.
Information That Appears on Your ChexSystems Report
Here is a list of six different pieces of information that can be found in your ChexSystems report:
- Any kind of fraud
- Uncollected overdraft fees, 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
- Paid and unpaid non-sufficient funds (NSF) items
While banks that don’t use ChexSystems do not access data associated with the ChexSystems database, they will typically consult other banking activity data agencies like Early Warning Services (EWS) and TeleCheck.
Consumers who have negative listings with these companies might have their checking account applications rejected. However, most people listed in ChexSystems are usually not in EWS or TeleCheck.
What Are My Options if I’m Listed in ChexSystems?
Not having access to a checking account can make it difficult to manage your money efficiently. Studies have shown that those without a checking account waste nearly five percent of their income on fees charged by payday loan providers and check cashing companies.
Open an Account at No ChexSystems Banks
If you’ve been reported to ChexSystems, one of the best options you have is to bank elsewhere at one of the many banks that don’t use ChexSystems during the application process.
Once you’re approved, you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of having a checking account without having to worry about your negative record with ChexSystems.
Use a Prepaid Debit Card if You’re in a Pinch (Not Recommended!)
Another option people often turn to is prepaid debit cards. With a prepaid debit card, you can make electronic payments with the money you’ve loaded onto your card. Visa and MasterCard offer some of the most popular prepaid options. However, it is important to know that these cards aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
One major disadvantage of these cards is that they have many fees associated with their use that can add up over time. The costs of loading money onto your card, along with the general hassle of having to do it every time you want to spend money, make a regular debit card that is associated with a bank account a much more attractive option.
With this in mind, opening a checking account is going to be the best way to go if you’re looking to organize your finances effectively.
Why No ChexSystems Banks Are the Best Choice
If you’ve been turned away from other financial institutions, no ChexSystems banks are great because they provide you with the exact same products and services. With most accounts recommended in this article, you can enjoy:
- No minimum balance requirement
- 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 oftentimes free) ATM network
- Purchases with your bank card carry a zero liability for fraudulent transactions
With so many available benefits and federal insurance, you should never settle for any bank that offers less than the benefits listed above. No ChexSystems banks with too many restrictions along with high fees should be avoided.
While it might be tempting to go with the first bank that approves you for a new account after having lost your old one, it is important to consider all the options you have available to you and go with a no ChexSystems bank that offers you great banking services with low to zero fees.
What’s the Difference Between No ChexSystems Banks and Second Chance Banks?
This is a common and very important question. Ultimately, there are some major differences between no ChexSystems bank accounts and second chance bank accounts.
Some banks and credit unions offer second chance bank accounts to consumers who have made some banking mistakes in the past or to those who have poor credit. Oftentimes these banks will look at your ChexSystems report and determine your eligibility depending on the severity of your report. Second chance accounts usually come with rules and restrictions to help the consumer manage their money wisely.
No ChexSystems banks, on the other hand, offer traditional checking accounts to anyone who qualifies. Instead of offering a specialty account like a second chance account, these banks simply do not use ChexSystems at all during the application process.
The Best Second Chance Banks by State
Most major banks fail to offer second chance checking accounts. However, many community banks and credit unions do so under different names like “Opportunity Checking” or “Fresh Start Checking.”
Our sister website, CheckingExpert.com, regularly updates the list of banks offering second chance checking accounts in every state and puts it all in one place. Here’s an overview of these accounts and where you can find them in your area.
Conclusion
If you’re like one of the millions of Americans who have experienced issues with past banking mistakes, you are definitely not alone. Our comprehensive guides to second chance accounts and no ChexSystems banks will surely point you in the right direction and help you re-establish yourself in the banking system.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. 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.
