Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Alabama

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Features & Benefits

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Features & Benefits

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• Over 4,700 branches nationwide
• $4.95 monthly service fee

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’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.

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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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.