Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Idaho

Struggling to open a checking account in Idaho 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 Idaho

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

U.S. Bank

Our Top Pick

Features & Benefits

  • Up to $400 bonus
  • Minimum opening deposit of $25
  • Monthly service fee: $0 or $6.95
  • Over 40,000 surcharge-free MoneyPass ATMs

The U.S. Bank Smartly® 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.

SoFi

Our Second 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

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.

Capital Educators Credit Union

CapEd doesn’t access ChexSystems, EWS, or Telecheck. However, they may run a credit report when reviewing your application.

There are a few different checking accounts available, each of which comes with a debit card, checks, overdraft protection, and courtesy pay.

Good For Me Checking comes with no monthly fees or required minimum balance. Plus, you can earn 2% cash back on your debit card purchases and receive ATM refunds of up to $25. Other standard perks include online banking and bill pay.

You can become a CapEd member by having a connection to the education system in one of the following counties: Ada, Adams, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Owyhee, Payette, Valley, or Washington.

Alternatively, you can join the Idaho CapEd Foundation for a one-time fee of $20.

Cottonwood Community Federal Credit Union

Cottonwood Community Federal utilizes your Equifax credit report rather than your ChexSystems record. If approved, you can get a share draft checking account, which includes a debit card and direct deposit.

To become a member, you must live, work, attend school, or worship in either Idaho County or Lewis County. Branches are located in Cottonwood, Craigmont, and Nezperce.

Horizon Credit Union

Horizon relies on a credit report, not ChexSystems for new account approvals. There are three account options: Explore Youth Checking, Replenish, and Bridge.

The Replenish Checking account requires a minimum opening balance of $25, but there’s no monthly service charge. All accounts come with Horizon’s Home Banking mobile app, online statements, and mobile check deposit.

Other helpful tools include MX (an online money management resource), Popmoney, and purchase rewards.

Membership to Horizon is open to anyone who resides, works, or worships within Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, Shoshone, Latah, Nez Perce, or Lewis County of Idaho.

Idaho Central Credit Union

Idaho Central will run a credit check instead of your ChexSystems record.

You can choose from one of five checking accounts available: Free Checking, Go Green Checking, Money Market Checking, Starter Checking, and Classic Checking.

The Free Checking account has no minimum balance or monthly fee. You can get an instant-issue Visa debit card and could even qualify for a Visa credit card if approved.

Other benefits include online and mobile banking, plus the CardControl app that helps you manage your spending.

Idaho Central has branches in the following cities:

Blackfoot, Boise, Burley, Caldwell, Chubbuck, Coeur d’Alene, Eagle, Hayden, Idaho Falls, Jerome, Kuna, Meridian, Nampa, Pierce, Pocatello, Post Falls, Rexburg, and Twin Falls.

Latah Federal Credit Union

Latah Federal offers a Second Chance Checking account to help get you back into affordable checking. The monthly fee is $8, but it’s waived completely if you maintain an average daily balance of $100 in your account.

Otherwise, there’s no minimum balance required besides a $25 opening deposit. Along with your debit card comes unlimited transactions. Digital banking is available, but you’ll have to pay $6.45 monthly to take advantage of online bill pay.

If you’re interested in this account and want to become a member of Latah Federal, you must live, work, worship, or attend school in Latah, Benewah, Kootenai, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone, Nez Perce or Lewis County.

There are five branches located throughout northern Idaho.

Mountain West Bank

Mountain West Bank does not use ChexSystems, EWS, Telecheck, nor does it pull a credit report when reviewing applications.

To open a checking, you’ll need a minimum opening deposit of $50.

Mountain West Bank offers four types of checking accounts: Totally Free Checking, Easy Interest, 50+ Interest Checking, and Premier Interest Checking.

Each account comes with a host of free features, some of which include:

  • Free online banking
  • Free bill pay
  • Free mobile banking
  • Free remote deposit
  • Free Visa Debit Card
  • Free eStatements

Pioneer Federal Credit Union

Pioneer Federal will likely approve you for an account if you have a minimum credit score of 500. If you don’t have any open collections on your report (besides medical or utilities) you could potentially qualify even with a lower credit score.

All checking accounts come with a monthly $1.99 fee. With Preferred Checking, you don’t have to worry about a minimum account balance.

Pioneer Federal has branch locations in Mountain Home, Glenns Ferry, Gooding, Boise, Meridian, Jerome, Nampa, Hailey, Twin Falls, Middleton, or Caldwell.

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.