Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Georgia

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

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.

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. 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.