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 October 31, 2024. 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.

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 ATM 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 4.69% APY, giving you a remarkable opportunity to grow your savings faster.

Upgrade is partnered with Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, and your funds are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. With an Upgrade checking account, you can also get up to 20% lower rates on Upgrade loans and credit cards.

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 4.30% 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.

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.

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.

First Tech Federal Credit Union offers an attractive banking solution that goes beyond traditional constraints, providing members with a combination of high-yield interest and multiple financial incentives across its platforms.

With the First Tech Rewards Checking & Savings accounts, there are no minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fees.

These accounts offer competitive interest rates, with the potential to earn up to 4.00% APY on both checking and savings accounts, depending on the balance—significantly higher than many conventional banks.

Additionally, First Tech offers extensive accessibility with over 30,000 CO-OP network ATMs nationwide for fee-free withdrawals.

The credit union also ensures enhanced financial security and flexibility with features like real-time fraud monitoring and free overdraft transfers.

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.

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.

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.