Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Alabama

Struggling to open a checking account in Alabama due to a negative ChexSystems listing?

While most banks use ChexSystems to review your banking history, there are some that don’t. Additionally, some banks offer second checking accounts.

Non-ChexSystems & Second Chance Banks in Alabama

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Alabama banks and credit unions that allow anyone to open a checking account, regardless of their banking history.

SoFi

Our Top Pick

Features & Benefits

  • Sign-up bonus up to $300 with qualifying direct deposits
  • No monthly fee
  • Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings
  • Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs

The SoFi Checking and Savings account provides a multitude of benefits, including no overdraft fees, balance requirements, or monthly charges.

For a limited time, there’s an enticing sign-up bonus of up to $300 with qualifying direct deposits.

In addition, account holders can utilize 55,000 ATMs free of charge via the Allpoint® Network. Those establishing direct deposit are entitled to an annual percentage yield (APY) of 4.60% on their savings and 0.50% on their checking accounts.

Direct deposit users also get the added benefit of early access to their paychecks – up to 2 days ahead, and they can earn up to 15% cash back at local businesses when they make transactions with the SoFi debit card.

Chime

Our Second Pick

Features & Benefits

  • Over 14.5 million downloads
  • No credit check or ChexSystems
  • No minimum opening deposit
  • Over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs

With Chime, bad banking history is not an issue. They offer an award-winning financial app, a checking account with a debit card, and a savings account, all with no credit check.

When you open a Chime Checking Account, you won’t have to worry about monthly maintenance fees, foreign transaction fees, or minimum balance fees.

You can also start building your credit7 with the Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. It’s a secured credit card with no annual fees, no credit checks, and no interest charges1.

Chime has over 60,0001 fee-free MoneyPass® and Visa® Plus Alliance ATMs. Plus, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit2. You can also deposit cash for free at over 8,500 Walgreens.

Current

Features & Benefits

  • Build credit just by using your debit card
  • No minimum balance or monthly fees
  • 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
  • Get paid up to 2 days faster
  • No credit check or ChexSystems

Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. The company does not use ChexSystems or pull your credit report, and they have a lot to offer.

With Current, your everyday purchases can now shape your financial future. Simply by swiping your debit card, you can build credit. No loans or credit checks needed. There are also no monthly or annual fees for this service.

A Current mobile bank account includes fee-free overdraft protection of up to $200. Account holders also get access to over 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs with your Current debit card, and there is no minimum balance or hidden fees.

You can also get paid up to two days early with direct deposit with a Current Premium account. Plus, Current offers up to 4.00% APY with Current Savings Pods.

GO2bank

Features & Benefits

  • No ChexSystems or credit check
  • 4.50% APY on savings
  • Over 19,000 fee-free ATMs
  • $5 monthly fee can be waived

GO2bank is a neobank offered by Green Dot, a well-established financial technology company. Customers can open a checking account featuring subaccounts known as vaults without a minimum balance requirement.

GO2bank provides an attractive 4.50% APY on savings accounts for balances of up to $5,000. Access to funds is made easy through cash deposits at 90,000 retail locations and fee-free ATMs at 19,000 locations.

Additionally, customers can receive their pay up to 2 days in advance and government benefits up to 4 days early via direct deposit.

You can also opt for overdraft protection up to $200 with eligible direct deposits.

GO2bank offers the GO2bank Secured Visa Credit Card, which can assist customers in building their credit over time through responsible use.

The $5 monthly fee is waived when you receive payroll or government benefits through direct deposit.

Chase

Features & Benefits

  • $100 bonus after 10 purchases
  • No credit check or ChexSystems
  • Over 16,000+ fee-free ATMs
  • Over 4,700 branches nationwide
  • $4.95 monthly service fee

Chase offers a checking account called Chase Secure Banking. The account comes with a Chase debit card that gets you access to over 16,000 fee-free ATMs.

Some features of this checking account include free online bill pay, free money orders and cashier’s checks, no overdraft fees, and no minimum opening deposit. However, there is also a monthly service fee of $4.95.

When you open a Chase Secure Banking account and make 10 qualifying purchases within 60 days, you’ll get a $100 cash bonus.

Account approval is immediate, and the debit card typically arrives within days.

Alabama Credit Union

Alabama Credit Union offers the On-Track Checking account, which is available if you have trouble getting approved for their Free Checking account.

The monthly fee is $8. There’s no required opening deposit, if you don’t sign up for direct deposit. However, you’ll be required to deposit $75 into a savings account.

You get all the same perks as ACU’s Free Checking account, including a free debit MasterCard. You can even earn rewards points each time you use your debit card.

You’re also able to manage your bank account online and through the ACUmBranch app. Plus, there are branch locations across Alabama if you prefer a personal touch.

Avadian City Credit Union

Avadian’s eChecking account is designed to help rebuild your banking and credit history. As the name implies, you don’t get access to paper checks with the e-Checking account, but instead, get a free Visa debit card.

You get unlimited debit transactions and don’t have to worry about maintaining a minimum balance. It takes just a $25 deposit to open the account. While the $7 monthly fee can be waived, it takes a hefty $2,500 account minimum to be eligible.

Avadian Credit Union is located throughout Birmingham and the surrounding areas. You can also find branches in Mobile, Dothan, Geneva, Madison, and Huntsville.

Azalea City Credit Union

You can apply for the Opportunity Draft account as Azalea City’s version of second chance checking. In addition to a free debit card, you also get unlimited check writing, online account access, and rewards program access.

There’s no minimum balance but you do have to pay a monthly fee in addition to a $5 new account fee. If you have a share account balance of less than $25, you’ll have to pay an additional $5 fee. Azalea City has two locations in Mobile and one location in Calvert, Alabama.

Bank OZK

Bank OZK offers a second chance checking account called Pathway Checking. There’s a $50 minimum opening deposit, but no minimum balance requirement.

The monthly service fee is $10 and you won’t earn interest like some of Bank OZK’s other checking accounts.

Pathway Checking comes with a Visa debit card, plus unlimited check writing, online banking, and mobile banking. You also get bill pay, with 15 free payments a month and each one costing $0.50 after that. 

Central State Bank

Central State Bank reportedly does not use ChexSystems as part of the approval process for checking accounts, so it may be worth trying out. Their most basic account is called Central Checking.

It requires a steep $100 minimum opening deposit, but there’s no monthly fee. Plus, you get a debit card, check writing, and unlimited bill pay.

If you travel, you can even get reimbursed for foreign ATM fees if you submit them within 30 days. There’s also more day-to-day services available, such as mobile check deposit and Apple Pay.

The main branch of Central State Bank is located in Calera, with additional locations in Limestone, Pelham, and Alabaster.

Community Bank and Trust

Community Bank and Trust has four different checking accounts available. They are Absolutely Free Checking, Premier 50+ Free Interest Checking, Preferred Free Interest Checking, and Prestige Checking.

The most basic option is Absolutely Free Checking. It requires a $50 minimum deposit. There are no minimum balance requirements or monthly frees.

You also get a free debit card, unlimited checking writing, mobile banking, and free E-statements.

Family Security Credit Union

You can re-establish your checking history with Family Security’s ‘Give Me a Break’ account. When you open your account, you’ll receive a packet with resources on budgeting and financial management. You also get a free consultation with a financial counselor.

The monthly fee for this account is $10, but there’s no minimum balance required. When you deposit checks, you’ll be subject to an extended hold, unless it’s issued by the government or from your employer’s payroll.

You also can’t use shared branching with this account. On the plus side, you can apply for a traditional account after 12 months of having no non-sufficient funds or negative balances.

Family Security has locations in the following cities:

Athens, Boaz, Cullman, Daphne, Decatur, Gardendale, Guntersville, Hartselle, Hazel Green, Huntsville, Madison, Mobile, Moulton, Muscle Shoals, Priceville, Saraland, Stevenson, Thomasville

First National Bank

First National doesn’t use ChexSystems, EWS, or Telecheck. However, they will run a credit check on new applications.

You must have a credit score of at least 600 for standard checking accounts. But, they also offer a credit builder account if the account holder can sign up for direct deposit.

The checking account comes with a MasterCard debit card, plus online banking and bill pay. There’s no minimum opening deposit and no minimum balance requirement.

Guardian Credit Union

Guardian Credit Union offers a Fresh Start Checking which comes with no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirement.

Extra services that come with this account include a free debit card and e-statements, online and mobile banking, plus an awards program.

There’s no overdraft protection or courtesy pay available until you upgrade to another account. Guardian can be found in the Montgomery area of Alabama.

MAX Credit Union

MAX is a non-ChexSystems bank in Alabama and uses EWS instead. There’s also no credit report pull as part of the application process.

The most straightforward account to apply for is the Standard Basic Checking. You need a valid ID, social security number, and email address to apply.

If you’re approved, the account comes with no minimum balance or per check charges. The opening deposit requirement is at least $50 and there’s a $5 monthly fee. You can get the fee waived if you are a student under the age of 26 or meet the following two conditions:

  • Use your debit card 15 times a month and
  • Receive one or more direct deposit or mobile deposit each month

MAX has several locations throughout the greater Montgomery area.

Renasant Bank

Renasant Bank uses ChexSystems, but it has built a reputation for being more lenient with negative records than other banks. As long as there isn’t a history of fraud and the applicant does not owe any money to Renasant, you may open an account.

Renasant offers four checking options: Renasant Checking, Student Checking, Rewards Checking, and Rewards Extra.

Checking accounts come with online and mobile banking (including remote deposit), bill pay, a free Visa debit card, and Renasant’s Mobile Wallet.

The mobile wallet currently works with:

  • Zelle
  • Apple Pay
  • Apple Pay Cash
  • Google Pay

Synovus

Instead of ChexSystems, Synovus Bank uses your Equifax credit report and your credit score when considering your application.

All applicants must have a credit score of at least 500 to be considered. If accepted, you’ll get your choice of either Free Checking, Preferred Account, and Gold Checking (if you’re in the military, there’s also the Military Interest Checking option).

Free Checking only requires a $100 deposit to open an account, and there’s no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.

Some features include a Visa® debit card, free online and mobile banking, and automatic bill pay.

United Bank

United Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems or a credit report to approve applicants. They offer three different checking accounts: United Free Checking, Platinum Checking, or United Rewards Checking.

United Free Checking has no minimum balance requirement and doesn’t charge a monthly fee. You will need a $50 deposit to open your account.

West Alabama Bank

West Alabama Bank offers Fresh Start Checking for those who have had applications denied for traditional checking accounts. You’ll need $100 to open the account, then you’ll pay a $10 monthly service fee.

Internet banking and bill pay are included with Fresh Start Checking, as are e-statements and mobile money. You can find West Alabama Bank locations in and around Tuscaloosa.

Woodforest National Bank

Woodforest offers a second chance bank account to members at over 700 branches in 17 states.

The minimum opening deposit is just $25 and you’ll also have to pay a one-time setup fee of $9.

It also comes with a monthly fee of $11.95. You can get it reduced to $9.95 by enrolling in direct deposit. Another small fee is a paper statement fee of $3 per month. It can be waived completely by signing up for e-statements.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.

1. Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply with Chime except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.

2. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Chime 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.

7. The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.