Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in California

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.

To open the account, there is a $20 fee, and you’ll need to maintain a balance of at least $100. The monthly service fee is $7, but it can be reduced to $4 if your account balance is $750 or more.

Account benefits include free online banking, online bill pay, unlimited check writing, and a Visa debit card. You can also sign up for overdraft protection to add an extra layer of security to your account.

American United Federal Credit Union has branch locations in California at Coachella, San Jacinto, and Cabazon.

Their Totally Free Checking account offers several perks, including a free debit card, free e-statements, online banking, and bill pay. If you regularly write checks, there’s no limit on how many you can use each month, and you can even personalize your checks with images.

There are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, making Bank of the Sierra a strong option for unbanked Californians.

Bank of the Sierra has branches in cities across California, including Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia, and Porterville.

To open this account, you’ll need to have a Primary Savings Account and make an initial deposit of $25. The account comes with a monthly fee of $15. After one year of keeping the account in good standing, without any overdraft activity, you may apply for a Regular Free Checking account.

New Beginnings Checking provides access to essential banking services, including free online banking, e-statements, and bill pay. There are no overdraft fees, and account holders can use over 30,000 Co-op Network ATMs across the U.S. and Canada without paying extra fees, though some restrictions may apply.

California Community Credit Union has branches in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Modesto, and Roseville.

Both accounts earn up to 3.50% APY, making them a strong option for anyone looking to maximize interest without locking funds in a certificate or high-yield savings account.

You’ll also get access to over 30,000 fee-free ATMs through the CO-OP network, along with free overdraft transfers and real-time fraud monitoring.

First Tech has several branch locations across California, including Cupertino, Palo Alto, Roseville, San Diego, San Jose, and Santa Rosa.

The monthly service fee is just $6 if you maintain a balance of $50 or more. Otherwise, the cost is $10 per month.

If your account is in good standing for a year, you can upgrade to Foothill’s Simply Free account. You can apply in person at one of their three branch locations in Arcadia, Covina, or Glendora.

Note that Foothill states that Rebound accounts are subject to close monitoring and can be closed immediately for negative activity. That gives you extra incentive to manage your account responsibly.

After keeping your account in good standing for 12 months, you can upgrade to a Regular account.

If you sign up for direct deposit with your Second Chance account, the monthly fee is $10. Without direct deposit, the monthly fee is $15. The account comes with a debit card and services like online banking.

Los Angeles Federal Credit Union has branches across the Los Angeles area, including in Van Nuys, Glendale, Culver City, Downtown Los Angeles, Montebello, El Monte, Gardena, and Cerritos.

The minimum opening deposit is $25, and the monthly fee is $13, which can be reduced to $10 per month if you receive at least $200 in direct deposits each month.

Services with this account include online and mobile banking, bill pay, and mobile check deposit. Premier America also provides access to a wide network of ATMs, which you can use for free.

Additionally, there’s no fee from Premier America if you use an out-of-network ATM. You can also transfer funds using person-to-person services like Popmoney.

Premier America Credit Union has branches in cities across California, including Burbank, Camarillo, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Oxnard, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks.

To qualify, you’ll need a credit score of at least 520 and a $25 opening deposit.

You must also have at least $500 a month in direct deposits and must pay a $15 monthly service fee. To open an account, visit one of Priority One’s branches in South Pasadena, Los Angeles, or Van Nuys.

Once you’re approved for your account, there’s no minimum balance required.

You’re free to access both online and mobile banking and can use your check card anywhere Visa is accepted. There is, however, a $300 daily limit on how much you can withdraw through both purchases and ATMs.

The monthly service fee is $5, but it can be waived in one of three ways: by maintaining an average daily balance of $2,500 across all Self-Help accounts, having direct deposits of $500 or more each month, or if the account holder is aged 24 or under or 65 or older.

Services such as online banking, mobile banking, and mobile deposits are free. However, for bill pay services, only the first 20 transactions are free each month, with a $1 fee for each additional transaction.

Self-Help Federal Credit Union has branches throughout California, including in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Oakland, and San Francisco.

There’s no minimum deposit or balance required for this account, but it comes with a $15 monthly service fee. You’ll also need to set up direct deposit, unless your employer doesn’t offer this option.

After successfully managing the account for 12 months, you can take a Consumer Credit Counseling Service class, paid for by Southland Credit Union. After completing the class, you can upgrade to a regular account.

Southland Credit Union has branches in cities across California, including Downey, Carson, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica.

This straightforward account has no minimum balance and no monthly or per-check fees, making it easy to manage.

UNIFY has multiple locations across California, including branches in Brentwood, Camarillo, Concord, Glendale, Hawthorne, Huntington Beach, Lakewood, Los Angeles, Montebello, and Oakland.

By setting up direct deposit, you can reduce the monthly service fee to $5. Otherwise, the fee is $12 without direct deposit.

This account offers an opportunity for financial recovery with essential banking services. To improve your chances of being approved, it’s recommended to apply in person at one of VCCU’s conveniently located branches.

VCCU has multiple branches in Ventura, Port Hueneme, Oxnard, RiverPark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Moorpark. Those who live, work, or attend school in Ventura or Santa Barbara counties are eligible to become members.