Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Florida

Struggling to open a checking account in Florida 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 Florida

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

SoFi

Our Top 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®

Our Second Pick

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.

Ameris Bank

Ameris Bank uses ChexSystems. However, if you have settled the debt and there are no reports of fraud or account abuse, you shouldn’t have any problems opening a new account.

Ameris has multiple locations throughout northern, western, and central Florida, and it currently offers four checking accounts.

It’s the cheapest account is At-Ease Checking, which doesn’t charge a monthly fee nor have a minimum account balance. It offers free online, mobile, and text banking, as well as free bill pay. To open an account, an initial $25 deposit is required.

Bank United

If only one bank is on your ChexSystems history, and the report doesn’t indicate bank fraud and has since been paid, Bank United may open an account with you. Currently, Bank United offers four accounts:

  • Vertical Rewards Elite Checking
  • Relationship Checking
  • Value Checking
  • Health Checking

Value Checking requires an initial deposit of $50 and a low monthly service fee of $7. Members get a free debit card, free online, mobile and text banking, and free bill pay.

Bank United currently has multiple locations throughout Southeast and Southwest Florida.

Bank OZK

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. 

Campus USA Credit Union

Campus USA uses each applicant’s Equifax report instead of referring to his or ChexSystems’ file. Currently, Campus USA has 17 locations throughout Alachua, Columbia, Leon, Marion, and Sumter counties.

Campus’s free checking doesn’t require a monthly service fee, nor does it have a minimum balance requirement.

Account holders also get access to:

  • Free mobile banking
  • Free online banking
  • Free remote mobile deposits
  • Free bill pay
  • Free debit card
  • Free ATM access at Campus and Publix Presto ATMs

Centennial Bank

Centennial Bank has a second chance account called Opportunity 100 Checking. Centennial Bank still uses ChexSystems, so Opportunity 100 can help you reestablish your checking history.

It also comes with a variety of benefits, including:

  • Free bill pay
  • Free debit card
  • Free eStatements
  • Free online banking

This account doesn’t require a monthly balance, nor is there a monthly service fee. After 12 months has elapsed, members can upgrade their account to a standard account if they’ve kept their account in good standing.

Centennial Bank has branch locations throughout Central Florida, Panhandle Florida, South Florida, and Southeast Florida.

Community First Credit Union

Community First CU uses ChexSystems but offers second chance checking accounts called Fresh Start Checking. This account is fully functional, meaning account holders can write checks, use a Visa debit card, and access their account either online or through the mobile app.

There’s a $10 surcharge fee, as well as a $25 initial deposit requirement. Before you can open an account, you must first open a share account with Community First.

To become a member, you’ll need to live, work, or attend school in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, or St. Johns County.

Coral Community Federal Credit Union

Coral Community uses an applicant’s ChexSystems and Equifax credit report. It’s alright if you have negative entries listed on both as long as there is no report of bank fraud and any reporting bank has been paid in full. If all of these are true, you can get an account with Coral Community FCU.

Membership, however, is limited to select regions in Broward County. Members can do all of their banking needs both online and via the mobile app, and there aren’t any balance or direct deposit requirements, nor are there any monthly service fees.

First American Bank

First American Bank is located in the Jacksonville area and offers a second chance checking account called Fresh Start Checking.

It requires an initial deposit of $50 to open, but there’s no minimum balance requirement.

Once you’ve kept your account in good standing for 12 months or more, meaning no overdrafts or non-sufficient funds, you may be eligible to open a standard checking account with FAB.

Each account with FAB comes with mobile banking, online banking, and access to a large network of surcharge-free ATMs.

First Choice Credit Union

First Choice has locations in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens but is also a part of the Co-Op Shared Branch network, which has locations across the country. Members can go to any of them.

FCCU reviews all applicants prior to membership. Once a member, you’ll have your choice of several account options. Value Checking is perhaps the best, as it doesn’t require a minimum balance or charge any monthly service fees.

First Florida Credit Union

First Florida CU offers a second chance account called Smart Track Checking. Smart Track Checking offers members the chance to get a traditional bank account and repair their financial history.

This account has a $5 monthly service fee, but after 12 months of keeping the account in good standing, members may transition to a standard account with no monthly fees.

All new members get a Visa debit card, free bill pay, and online banking tools. To open an account, you only need to provide a $25 initial deposit after submitting an application.

Florida Credit Union

Florida Credit Union does not use ChexSystems, but rather uses both a credit report and Telecheck when screening new applications.

Florida CU offers two checking accounts: an interest-bearing account and a non-interest bearing account. The non-interest bearing account is completely free and doesn’t require a minimum balance.

For either account you choose, you get free overdraft protection, online and mobile access, and ATM rebates at non-FCU ATM locations. FCU currently has branches in DeLand, Lake City, Ocala, Starke, and Gainesville.

Gold Coast Federal Credit Union

If you’ve had checking problems in your past, Gold Coast Federal offers a second chance account called Fresh Start.

It does not require a minimum balance, and members can switch over to a standard account after a year of keeping their account in good standing.

Gold Coast currently has locations in West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach. Belle Glade, Port St. Lucie, Boynton Beach and CU Center, Inc.

Additionally, Gold Coast FCU is partnered with Co-Op Shared Branch ATMs, which means you’ll get access to over 5,600 surcharge-free ATMs when you join.

Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union

Gulf Winds FCU has a second chance account called My Opportunity Checking. My Opportunity Checking has a monthly fee of $10.95

It also requires an initial deposit of $25, which is also the minimum balance. Members get access to a free debit card, free online banking, and free overdraft protection transfer.

Currently, Gulf Winds has six branch locations in Pensacola, one in Crawfordville, and three in Tallahassee. To become a member, you’ll need first need to provide your personal information online, which only takes a few moments of your time.

JetStream Federal Credit Union

JetStream offers second chance checking to qualified applicants. If you’ve been denied membership at other banks because of past financial history, their account can help you repair your checking history.

JetStream has locations throughout Florida in Miami, Doral, Hialeah, and Coconut Grove.

Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, studies, or worships in the following locations:

  • Miami Dade County
  • Carolina, Trujillo Alto
  • San Juan
  • Puerto Rico

Membership is also available to anyone who is a relative or existing JetStream Federal member, as well as an employee of a Select Member Company.

Liberty Savings Bank

Liberty Savings Bank has a second chance checking account called Clean Slate Checking. To qualify, you can’t have more than three reports in your ChexSystems record.

There is no minimum balance requirement, and you’re eligible for a regular account after 12 months.

The account comes with a free debit card with access to 55,000 AllPoint surcharge-free ATMs. You also get free online and mobile banking, and you can write an unlimited number of checks per month.

LOYALTY Credit Union

LOYALTY Credit Union has a second chance account called Fresh Start Checking.

It doesn’t require an initial deposit, and account holders get a fully functional Visa debit card. LOYALTY Credit Union has branch locations in Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee, and Crawfordville.

Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in one of 15 different counties. To begin membership, new members must purchase one $5.00 share from LCU.

McCoy Federal Credit Union

McCoy FCU offers second chance accounts to enable people to repair their financial history while also enjoying all the perks that come with a standard checking account.

With McCoy, account holders get unlimited check writing, free direct deposit, free debit card, free bill pay, free eStatements, and online account access.

McCoy has multiple locations throughout Orlando, and membership is available to anyone lives, works, studies, or worships in Orange, Osceola, Seminole or Lake counties.

Members First Credit Union

Members First does use ChexSystems when approving new accounts. However, unlike most credit unions and banks, they’re ok with a negative entry or two.

As long as there isn’t a history of fraud and all previous accounts have been paid, Members First may approve your application.

Members First currently has three types of checking accounts for members to choose from. They are Kasasa Cash, Kasasa Cash Back, and Everyday Checking.

Each account is free, and none of them require a minimum account balance. All accounts come with every modern banking tool on the market. These free features include:

  • Online, mobile, and text banking
  • Bill pay
  • eStatements
  • Debit card
  • Phone banking
  • First Pay (get paid two days early with automatic deposit)

One Florida Bank

One Florida Bank has an account called Opportunity Checking. It requires a minimum of a $100 deposit to open, and from there is a $15 monthly fee.

This account enables members to repair their credit histories and prepare them for a standard checking account. After 12 months of keeping their accounts in good standing, members can transition to a One Florida Classic account.

One Florida is located in Chipley and is open during standard business hours. They have two locations opening soon in Orlando and one in Apopka.

People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union

People’s Alliance Federal does not use ChexSystems nor EWS during their screening process; instead, they utilize Telecheck.

If you were previously denied from other banks, there is a good chance People’s Alliance would be a suitable option for successfully opening an account.

People’s Alliance has multiple account options that include various benefits and perks to suit your needs. All accounts include online access, easy bill pay, unlimited debit card use, and fee-free ATM access at participating locations.

Republic Bank

Republic Bank has a second chance checking account called Checking Builder Account. It requires a $50 deposit, a social security number, and government ID.

If you’re in ChexSystems, you may need to provide documentation that you have satisfied any debt you may have had with a former financial institution.

The monthly fee is $12.95 a month. However, this amount can be reduced if you sign up for direct deposit, or have at least 20 debit transactions a month.

Checking Builder doesn’t require a minimum balance, and comes with free internet banking, free bill pay, and unlimited check writing. You get free ATM transactions with Republic Bank, Presto, Sum, MoneyPass, or Allpoint ATMs.

San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union

SACFCU offers second chance checking to new applicants. To become a member, applicants must live, work, study, or worship in Eastern Pasco or Easter Hernando County.

Visit one of the four branches and open up a savings account with as little as $5 to make the membership official.

After a year of keeping the second chance account in good standing, members are able to transfer over to a standard account.

South Florida Federal Credit Union

South Florida Federal offers second chance checking to those in need. This account is available to applicants who have been denied membership at other banks because of negative ChexSystems records.

Called Another Chance Checking, the account doesn’t have any monthly fees, nor does it have any minimum balance requirements.

Members get a free debit card with their account and can visit numerous ATMs throughout the Miami area. If you’re interested, you can fill out an application online.

Synovus

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.

University Credit Union

If you’ve only had issues with a ChexSystems bank, UCU might be a good fit for you. As long as your credit report is average and you don’t have any negative entries with Telecheck, University CU may open an account with you.

Membership is available to anyone associated with the University of Miami, Florida International University, St. Thomas University, the Legal Community, and the Miami-Dade Community.

There are no service fees or minimum balance requirements, and each member gets free access to mobile and online banking, and access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs.

Union State Bank

Union State Bank uses neither ChexSystems nor EWS. This is very fortunate because most people turned away from banks are done because of negative entries they have with ChexSystems or EWS. Union State’s most popular account is Freedom Checking.

Freedom Checking only requires a $50 initial deposit to open, and comes with the following features:

  • Free debit card
  • $0 service fee
  • Unlimited check writing
  • Free online bill pay

Union State currently has a branch location in Destin with plans to further expand in the future.

Vystar Credit Union

Vystar doesn’t use ChexSystems, but uses Telecheck instead. Many applicants that are turned away from other banks can set up an account with a Telecheck-based bank.

Vystar is located primarily in the Jacksonville area. To join, you have to live, study, work, or worship in a nearby county.

Participating counties include Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lake, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia.

A standard account with Vystar is 100% free and comes with access to online, mobile, and text banking.

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.