Struggling to open a checking account in Georgia 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 Georgia
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Georgia banks and credit unions that allow anyone to open a checking account, regardless of their banking history.
SoFi
Features & Benefits
- Sign-up bonus up to $250 with qualifying direct deposits
- No monthly fee
- Earn up to 4.50% APY on savings
- Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs
Chime
Features & Benefits
- Over 14.5 million downloads
- No credit check or ChexSystems
- No minimum opening deposit
- Over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs
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
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
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
Associated Credit Union
Associated uses Equifax credit reports to screen new applications. They have multiple locations throughout all of Georgia, but have a particularly strong presence in Atlanta.
Currently, they offer two types of checking accounts: Associated Checking and Simple Checking.
Both require an initial deposit of $25 to open, but for $4.95 a month, Associated Checking comes with a variety of benefits, including credit monitoring, ID Protection, and Cell phone protection.
The checking account includes ATM access, online banking, and even monthly compounding interest on balances over $2,500.
Community Bank and Trust
Community Bank and Trust has four different checking accounts available. They are Absolutely Free Checking, Premier 50+ Free Interest Checking, Preferred Free Interest Checking, and Prestige Checking.
The most basic option is Absolutely Free Checking. It requires a $50 minimum deposit. There are no minimum balance requirements or monthly frees.
You also get a free debit card, unlimited checking writing, mobile banking, and free E-statements.
Excel Federal Credit Union
Excel FCU is designed for people who need to strengthen their credit history, it acts as a stepping stone to a traditional checking account. They offer second chance banking called Fresh Start Checking.
There are monthly fees associated with this account, but members who keep their account in good standing may be eligible to transition to one of Excel’s more traditional accounts.
To become a member of Excel, you must be related to someone who already has an account, or work with a company that is a part of the Excel network. Excel currently has three locations throughout the Atlanta area.
Firstate Bank
Firstate Bank has locations in Wrens, Louisville, Americus, and Warrenton. They offer a checking with mobile and OnCall banking.
Firstate currently has three accounts: Community Plus, Community Commercial Checking, and Community Commercial Interest Checking.
Community Plus is the most popular option requiring an initial deposit of $100 with a monthly service of fee of $5.
Georgia United Credit Union
Georgia United offers a second chance checking account called Restart Checking. It only requires an initial deposit of $25 to open and has a low monthly fee of $12.
Each account holder receives 1.00% APY on balances up to $15,000 and can receive up to $10 in refunds on ATM fees.
Currently, Georgia United CU is concentrated in central and northern Georgia and has 19 branch locations throughout the state.
If you frequent ATMs, it currently has 19 ATMs, as well as over 30 surcharge-free ATMs in the Conyers and Covington regions.
Georgia’s Own Credit Union
Georgia’s Own offers what it calls Resolution Checking for account holders who may have had previous banking problems in the past. To open an account, applicants must speak with a Georgia’s Own representative.
Georgia’s Own currently has branches in 33 locations located throughout metro Atlanta, Southwest Georgia, Augusta, and Savannah.
Georgia’s Own is completely online and mobile-friendly and is part of a network of surcharge-free ATMs throughout the state.
Heritage Bank
Heritage Bank does not use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS to screen new applicants.
To open an account with them, new applicants must apply in person and be able to present a government-issued ID. It has 15 locations throughout Georgian, including even one in Jacksonville, Florida.
They offer four checking accounts but consider Connect Checking; it has no monthly fees. It only requires a one-time deposit of $50 to open, and comes with unlimited free transactions. Furthermore, once the account is open, it does not require a minimum balance to stay free.
North Georgia Credit Union
North Georgia uses Equifax credit reports to screen all new applications for checking accounts. However, if the applicant simply wants to open a savings account, nothing is screened or analyzed.
NGCU has locations in Toccoa, Hartwell, and Lavonia, and an application can be completed entirely online.
A deposit of $25 into a savings account is required. There is also a one-time fee of $5. The $25 in savings must stay there for membership to continue.
A checking account is entirely free and does not require a minimum balance. Automatic bill pay, as well as online and mobile banking, are also free.
Peach State Federal Credit Union
Peach State Federal offers a second chance checking account called Fresh Start Checking. It allows account holders to rebuild their ChexSystems credit profile while also enjoying all the benefits of modern checking.
After a year of maintaining a positive status with their account, the account holder may be able to transfer over to a standard checking account.
There is a monthly fee of $9.00 associated with Fresh Start Checking, but once account holders transfer over to the basic plan, there are no monthly fees. Currently, there are 19 branch locations throughout Georgia.
Renasant Bank
Renasant Bank uses ChexSystems, but it has built a reputation for being more lenient with negative records than other banks. As long as there isn’t a history of fraud and the applicant does not owe any money to Renasant, you may open an account.
Renasant offers four checking options: Renasant Checking, Student Checking, Rewards Checking, and Rewards Extra.
Checking accounts come with online and mobile banking (including remote deposit), bill pay, a free Visa debit card, and Renasant’s Mobile Wallet.
The mobile wallet currently works with:
- Zelle
- Apple Pay
- Apple Pay Cash
- Google Pay
Robins Federal Credit Union
Robins Federal offers a second chance checking account to anyone looking to repair their checking account history. It requires an initial deposit to open an account and has a monthly service fee of $10.
After only 12 months of maintaining a positive account, members who have not overdrawn and who have been able to pay the monthly fees can open up a free checking account.
This account comes with unlimited check writing, a free debit card, as well as free online and mobile banking. Robins Federal currently has multiple locations throughout and around Warner Robins.
Rochelle Bank
Rochelle State Bank only requires a government-issued ID from anyone interested in opening an account. To open up a standard checking account, Rochelle State requires an initial deposit of $100.
There aren’t any monthly service fees if you can keep at least $500 in your account every day of the month. If it falls below $500, however, there is a $5.00 fee.
Moreover, there is also a $0.10 fee for any debit card transactions when the account balance is below $500. Currently, Rochelle State Bank only has one branch location in Rochelle, Georgia.
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.
Woodforest National Bank
Woodforest offers a second chance bank account to members at over 700 branches in 17 states.
The minimum opening deposit is just $25 and you’ll also have to pay a one-time setup fee of $9.
It also comes with a monthly fee of $11.95. You can get it reduced to $9.95 by enrolling in direct deposit. Another small fee is a paper statement fee of $3 per month. It can be waived completely by signing up for e-statements.
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. To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
Non-ChexSystems Banks by State
Looking for more information and additional options available in your area? Select your state from the list below to explore your options.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming