Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Arizona

U.S. Bank is now inviting new customers to take advantage of a special online promotion:

• Earn up to $400 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying activities.
• Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through May 6, 2025. Member FDIC.
• Offer may not be available if you are an existing U.S. Bank customer or live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint.

The checking account comes with a free debit card and the option to lock or unlock the card if it’s ever lost or stolen.

Plus, you’ll never have to worry about ATM transaction fees at U.S. Bank ATMs or surcharge fees at over 40,000 MoneyPass Network ATMs.

U.S. Bank uses ChexSystems, but it has a history of being more lenient with records than most banks.

As long as you don’t have a history of fraud, or you don’t owe any money to U.S. Bank, you may be able to open a checking account with them.

The minimum opening deposit for this account is just $25, and the monthly service fee is $6.95. However, you can avoid the monthly fee by maintaining a minimum balance of $1,500 or by having a minimum monthly direct deposit of $1,000.

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 can earn up to 3.80.00% APY on their savings and 0.50% APY on checking accounts.

Direct deposit users also get the added benefit of early access to their paychecks – up to 2 days ahead.

Current lets you open a mobile bank account without ChexSystems checks or credit pulls. It’s built for speed, flexibility, and getting your finances back on track.

You can build credit just by using your Current debit card—no loans, credit checks, or interest charges involved. There are no monthly or annual fees for this feature.

Current also offers fee-free overdraft protection up to $200, access to over 40,000 Allpoint ATMs, and no minimum balance requirements.

With a Premium account, you can get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. Current also offers up to 4.00% APY through its Savings Pods, which lets you earn interest while keeping your money accessible.

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.

Upgrade doesn’t pull your ChexSystems report, but they do look at your credit report.

The Upgrade Rewards Checking account has no monthly fees and no overdraft fees. You’ll also get a free Visa debit card, and up to 2% cash back on everyday debit card purchases.

The Upgrade Premier Savings account delivers an impressive 4.02% APY, giving you a remarkable opportunity to grow your savings faster.

You’ll get access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs through the Allpoint network, including Walgreens and CVS locations. Plus, checking account customers can qualify for up to 20% lower rates on Upgrade loans and credit cards.

It offers a low monthly maintenance fee of either $5 if you choose e-statements or $7 if you prefer paper statements, providing a flexible option depending on your needs.

While you won’t qualify for check writing services or overdraft protection with this account, there are still several key features to take advantage of.

You can purchase money orders, utilize online banking, and access bill pay services. Additionally, eAccount holders enjoy free ATM withdrawals at Gold Key ATMs.

1st Convenience Bank serves Arizona with branch locations in cities like Cottonwood, Kingman, Mesa, Phoenix, and Tucson.

You may qualify for this account if your history involves an unpaid closure or non-sufficient funds activity.

The account has a monthly fee of $10 and includes features like bill pay and free usage of Alhambra ATMs. Additionally, you get four free withdrawals each month at non-Alhambra ATMs, with a fee of $2.25 for each withdrawal beyond that.

Alhambra Credit Union has branch locations in Phoenix and Glendale, providing easy access for Arizona residents.

Their Go Checking account comes with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. You’ll also get free e-statements, online banking, and bill pay.

With over 80,000 ATMs available for free across the country, the account offers a daily withdrawal limit of $500. The Go Checking debit card allows for up to $3,000 in purchases and $1,000 for point-of-sale purchases using your PIN.

America First Credit Union serves Arizona residents with branches in cities like Goodyear, Mesa, Page, St. Johns, and Tempe.

The credit union offers two checking account options: Premier Checking, which has a $9 monthly service fee (waived under specific conditions), and Free Checking with no monthly fee.

Both accounts provide key features such as overdraft services, mobile banking, and access to a free Visa debit card.

Arizona Financial Credit Union has branches in multiple cities across the state, including Phoenix, Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Surprise.

This account provides all the same benefits as a regular checking account but with closer monitoring. If any financial trouble is detected, Banner FCU will reach out to assist.

After maintaining good standing for a year, members can apply to upgrade to a regular checking account.

Banner Federal has branches located in several Arizona cities, including Glendale, Mesa, and Phoenix.

It’s designed to give you essential banking tools without overwhelming fees or strict requirements.

There’s no minimum balance requirement, and the account includes unlimited check writing, a Banterra Visa® Debit Card, and free access to Banterra Digital Banking.

You’ll also get unlimited ATM and ITM transactions at Banterra machines, making it easy to manage your money anytime.

While Banterra is primarily based in the Midwest, it also operates branch locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, Arizona.

This account comes with a monthly fee of $9.95 if you enroll in direct deposit, or $14.95 if you don’t.

It includes a free Visa debit card, online and mobile banking, and bill pay services. You also get access to over 32,000 ATMs nationwide and can request one overdraft fee refund per year.

The minimum opening deposit is $50, and you can avoid the $1.50 monthly paper statement fee by opting for e-statements.

After a year of managing the account responsibly, you may qualify for an upgrade to a standard checking account.

BOK Financial has branches in Arizona, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.

So if your credit history is better than your banking history, this could be a viable option for you.

The account requires an opening deposit of just $25, with no minimum balance required. However, if you maintain a balance of at least $50, you’ll earn 0.05% APY on your account. Additional checking benefits include a Visa debit card, online banking, and bill pay.

Membership eligibility is based on your Arizona zip code or your local employer, so be sure to check if you qualify. Cochise Credit Union has branch locations in Willcox.

You can qualify for an account even with one paid ChexSystems record, which helps more people get back on track.

The Adventure Checking account keeps things simple. There’s no minimum deposit or balance requirement, but there is a $6 monthly fee.

It comes with full-service features like mobile banking, mobile deposit, bill pay, and no per-check charges.

Coconino FCU has branch locations in Flagstaff and Page, Arizona, serving members in the northern parts of the state.

To open the account, you’ll need an initial deposit of $50 or more, but there’s no ongoing minimum balance requirement. The monthly fee is $10.

This account allows for 50 free transactions each month, with a fee of $0.20 for each transaction beyond that limit. You also get access to services like mobile banking.

After successfully managing your Second Chance Checking account for 12 months, you may be eligible to switch to another checking option offered by First American Community Credit Union.

First American Community Credit Union has locations in Sells and Casa Grande.

With a low monthly fee of $10, this account provides access to unlimited check writing, over 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide, a debit card, mobile access, remote deposit, and alerts and notifications.

If you’ve been denied by other banks due to past credit issues, Pima Federal’s Fresh Start Checking is tailored to help you regain access to essential banking services.

Pima Federal Credit Union serves Arizona residents with locations in Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, and Springerville.

Check out the Arizona Checking Account, providing you with access to both online banking and text alerts.

There’s a $7 monthly fee, but you can get it waived with one of the following:

• one direct deposit each month of at least $100
• at least 10 purchases with your debit card each month
• a $2,000 aggregate average daily balance of loans and deposits through OneAZ.

There are branch locations throughout the state, in and around Flagstaff, Prescott, Phoenix, and Safford.

After one year has elapsed, you’ll be able to open a checking account, too, if the savings account remains in good standing.

It’s a bank worth getting your foot in the door to because a checking account with SunWest comes with many perks.

For starters, SunWest doesn’t require a monthly service fee, nor is there a minimum balance. Furthermore, they offer multiple overdraft protection options, free unlimited checking, and free mobile banking.

If you eventually get a Premier checking account and maintain a daily balance of $1,000 or more, you can get paid dividends each month.

To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, have no current balance from a TFCU charge-off, and no active delinquencies with the credit union.

You also can’t have any fraudulent activity or unpaid balances reported in ChexSystems.

This account comes with many of the same features as a traditional checking account, giving you the tools to manage your money while rebuilding your banking history.

If you keep the account in good standing for one year, you’ll be upgraded to a standard checking account. At that point, you may also be eligible to apply for a TFCU credit card.

It requires a $20 opening deposit and has a $20 monthly fee, but provides the basic tools needed to manage your money while working toward better standing.

With Mission Checking, you’ll get free online banking, bill pay, and a debit card with direct deposit. You also have free access to in-network ATMs for both deposits and withdrawals.

After maintaining the account in good standing for a year, you can reach out to the credit union to request an upgrade.

Most members move on to one of T.O.P.’s standard checking options, like Nickel-Back or Classic Checking—neither of which comes with a monthly fee.

With a low $25 initial deposit and a $4 monthly maintenance fee, this account offers essential banking features such as online and mobile banking, person-to-person payments, and no minimum balance requirements.

There are no overdraft or nonsufficient funds fees, and after building a positive account history, you can upgrade to a traditional checking account.

WaFd Bank has branches in cities like Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Prescott Valley, Scottsdale, Show Low, Surprise, Tucson, and more throughout Arizona.

If you’ve had issues with banks in the past but have maintained a decent credit score, you may qualify for an account with WSB.

Western State Bank offers four types of checking accounts: Free Checking, Future Checking, VIP Checking, and VIP Plus Checking.

All of these accounts come with benefits such as free bill pay, free direct deposit, free identity theft protection, free online and mobile banking, and free Telebank services.

Western State Bank serves Arizona residents with branches in Casa Grande, Chandler, Deer Valley, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Sun City.