Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Arizona

Struggling to open a checking account in Arizona 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 Arizona

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

U.S. Bank

Our Top Pick

Features & Benefits

  • Minimum opening deposit of $25
  • Monthly service fee: $0 or $6.95
  • Over 40,000 surcharge-free MoneyPass ATMs

The U.S. Bank Smartly® 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.

SoFi

Our Second 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 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

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.

1st Convenience Bank

The eAccount from 1st Convenience Bank is a second chance account with a low monthly maintenance fee of either $5 (with e-statements) or $7 (with paper statements).

You won’t be able to qualify for check writing services or overdraft protection with this account. You can, however, purchase money orders and use online banking and bill pay. Additionally, enjoy free ATM withdrawals at Gold Key ATMs.

Alhambra Credit Union

Alhambra‘s Basic Checking Account is designed for members who have a record in ChexSystems. You could qualify for an account if your history is a result of an unpaid closure or non-sufficient funds activity.

The cost is $10 per month, but you do get access to features like bill pay and free usage of Alhambra ATMs. You also get four free withdrawals each month at non-Alhambra ATMs. Thereafter, you’ll pay just $2.25 each time.

America First Credit Union

Rather than using ChexSystems to determine eligibility, America First uses your Experian credit report.

There’s no monthly fee for the Go Checking account, nor is there a minimum balance requirement. Plus, you’ll get free e-statements, online banking, and bill pay.

You can use over 80,000 ATMs for free across the country, with a daily withdrawal limit of $500. Your Go Checking debit card limit is $3,000 for purchases and $1,000 for POS purchases when you use your PIN.

Banner Federal Credit Union

Banner Federal is for employees of Banner Health System employees. Primarily in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, Banner FCU offers a second chance checking option.

The Opportunity Checking account is designed for individuals who want to establish a positive checking history. You get all the benefits of a typical checking account, but your activity will be monitored more closely.

If they sense your finances are in trouble, they’ll reach out to you. After a year, you can apply to upgrade to a normal checking account from Banner FCU.

BOK Financial

BOK Financial uses ChexSystems for new accounts. However, they offer an Opportunity Banking account to help you get a second chance.

There’s a monthly fee with this option, which is $9.95 if you enroll in direct deposit, or $14.95 if you don’t. You get a debit card as well as online and mobile banking, and bill pay.

In addition to a large ATM network across the country, you can also request one overdraft fee refund each year.

The minimum opening deposit is $50. To save a monthly paper statement fee of $1.50, you can also switch to e-statements for free.

After you’ve managed your account well for a year, they could approve you for an upgraded checking account.

Copper State Credit Union

Copper State offers a comprehensive second chance account called Try Again Checking.

You can qualify if you have a ChexSystems record involving an unpaid closure or non-sufficient funds. Before you can open your account, you’ll need to complete an online personal finance course called CheckRight.

Once that’s done, you’ll pay a $10 monthly fee. If you keep on top of your account for 12 consecutive months, Copper State automatically converts it to the CashBack Checking Account.

Corporate America Family Federal Credit Union

Members of Corporate America Family Federal can apply for Fresh Start Checking. You’re required to keep $100 in your Regular Share Account and the monthly fee is $10.

You can also sign up to take an online class called Get In Balance. Use it to learn the most effective ways to become a successful account holder.

Cochise Credit Union

Rather than using ChexSystems to screen new checking account applicants, Cochise pulls a credit report. So if your credit history is better than your banking history, this could be a good option for you.

Start with an opening deposit of just $25. There’s no minimum balance required with this account but if you keep at least $50 in there, you’ll earn 0.05% APY on your balance.

You also get access to other checking benefits, including a Visa debit card, online banking, and bill pay. Membership eligibility is based on either your Arizona zip code or your local employer, so check to see if you can qualify.

Coconino Federal Credit Union

Coconino FCU offers more relaxed eligibility criteria for both of their checking accounts. You can qualify if you have just one paid ChexSystems record.

Consider the Adventure Checking, which offers minimum criteria for opening the account. The monthly fee is $6, but there’s no minimum deposit or required balance.

Plus, you get normal checking benefits like mobile banking and deposit, bill pay, and no per check charge. Coconino FCU offers branch locations in Flagstaff and Page, Arizona.

First American Community Credit Union

First American’s second chance checking account offers a way to get your banking history back on track.

Your opening deposit must be $50 or more, but from there you don’t need to maintain a minimum balance. The monthly fee is $10.

With this account, you can use your account for 50 transactions each month for free. Thereafter, you’ll pay $0.20 for each transaction. You also get services like mobile banking.

Once you’ve successfully maintained your Second Chance Checking account for 12 months, you can switch to another checking option from First American Community CU.

Pima Federal Credit Union

Pima Federal offers a Fresh Start Checking account. It’s designed to help people get back into checking who have had some mishaps in the past. There is a low monthly fee of $10 a month, but an account with PFCU gets you all the following:

  • Unlimited check writing
  • Access to 50,000 and counting surcharge-free ATMs across the nation
  • Debit card
  • Mobile access
  • Remote deposit
  • Alerts and notifications

If you’ve been denied access to other banks because of past credit challenges, Pima Federal’s Fresh Start was literally made to accommodate people like you.

OneAZ Credit Union

You can avoid a ChexSystems review with OneAZ (formerly known as Arizona State Credit Union) if you apply in person, in which case they’ll use EWS.

There are branch locations throughout the state, in and around Flagstaff, Prescott, Phoenix, and Safford. Check out the Arizona Checking Account, giving you 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.

SunWest Federal Credit Union

SunWest Federal is a ChexSystems bank, but if you become a member you can open a savings account with them. 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.

Tucson Federal Credit Union

Tucson Federal offers a second chance checking account for people who have had past incidents with other banks. To qualify you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Over 18 years old
  • Don’t have a current balance because of TFCU charge-off
  • Don’t have a current delinquency with TFCU
  • Don’t have a history of fraudulent activity on your ChexSystems account
  • Don’t have any balances owed on your ChexSystems account

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An account with TFCU comes with many benefits similar to a traditional checking account.

By maintaining a good standing with TFCU, you will be upgraded to a standard checking account after one year. Additionally, you may be eligible to apply for a credit card at this time, if desired.

Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union

If you need to start rebuilding your financial history, Tucson Old Pueblo CU offers a checking account called Mission Checking. Mission Checking requires a $20 opening deposit, as well as a $20 monthly fee.

With this account, you get free online banking and bill pay, free access to in-network ATMs for both withdrawals and deposits, as well as a free debit card with direct deposit.

After a year has elapsed, account holders are encouraged to contact Tucson Old Pueblo and inquire about getting access to one of their standard checking accounts.

Once you’ve strengthened your financial history, you’ll likely be able to jump over to either their Nickel-Back or classic checking accounts (neither of which has a monthly fee).

Western State Bank

Instead of referring to ChexSystems, Western State Bank uses your credit report for screening. If you have had some past mishaps with banks in the past, but have maintained a decent credit score, you may qualify for an account with WSB.

WSB offers four types of checking accounts, all of which come with unique benefits. They offer Free Checking, Future Checking, VIP Checking, and VIP Plus Checking. However, regardless of which checking account you choose, you’ll get:

  • Free bill pay
  • Free direct deposit
  • Free identity theft protection
  • Free online and mobile banking
  • Free Telebank

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.