Struggling to open a checking account in Iowa 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 Iowa
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Iowa banks and credit unions that allow anyone to open a checking account, regardless of their banking history.
U.S. Bank
Features & Benefits
- Up to $450 bonus
- Minimum opening deposit of $25
- Monthly service fee: $0 or $6.95
- Over 40,000 surcharge-free MoneyPass ATMs
Upgrade
Features & Benefits
- Up to 4.14% APY on savings
- Up to 2% cash back
- No minimum balance requirement
- No monthly fees or overdraft fees
SoFi
Features & Benefits
- Sign-up bonus up to $300 with qualifying direct deposits
- No monthly fee
- Earn up to 4.00% APY on savings
- Over 55,000 fee-free 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
Chime
Features & Benefits
- Over 14.5 million downloads
- No credit check or ChexSystems
- No minimum opening deposit
- Over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs
First Tech Federal Credit Union
Features & Benefits
- Up to $300 sign-up bonus with direct deposit
- Earn up to 3.50% APY
- No minimum balance requirements
- Over 30,000 fee-free ATMs
Affinity Credit Union
You can qualify for a New Beginning checking account with Affinity if you want to rebuild a positive checking history. The minimum balance for an account is $5 and comes with online and mobile banking. To apply for an account, you must first be a member.
There are a couple of different ways to qualify for membership. The first is to live or work in Polk, Boone, Story, Marshall, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Warren, Marion, Adams, Union, Page, Taylor, and Ringgold counties.
Alternatively, you can be an employee of one of their Select Employee Groups. Affinity has two branches in Des Moines, Iowa.
Collins Community Credit Union
Collins Community Credit Union offers a second chance checking account called Take2 for individuals who may have had difficulties with banking in the past. It requires a $50 opening deposit and has a $9.95 monthly fee.
Dewitt Bank and Trust
Dewitt Bank and Trust screens new applicants by running a credit report instead of using ChexSystems. The bank offers five different types of checking accounts: Totally Free Checking, Incentive Checking, High Interest Checking, 50+ Checking, and Interest Checking.
Totally Free Checking requires just a $25 deposit to open and has no monthly fees or balance requirements. All accounts come with various perks, including a free box of checks, a debit card, online and mobile banking, bill pay, eStatements, and a complimentary “Thank You” gift.
Dewitt Bank and Trust has locations in DeWitt and Wilton, Iowa.
Dubuque Bank & Trust
Dubuque Bank & Trust does not use ChexSystems and offers four types of personal checking accounts: Cash Rewards Checking, Free Checking with eStatements, Signature Series Checking, and Money Manager 5000.
The Free Checking account only requires a $25 opening deposit and has no monthly fees if you opt for eStatements instead of paper statements.
Dubuque Bank & Trust has multiple locations, including in Dubuque, Clive, and Farley, Iowa.
Dupaco Credit Union
Dupaco Credit Union does not use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS, but it does check credit reports if you want to obtain an ATM or debit card.
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank is a non-ChexSystems bank. Instead of using ChexSystems, it requires two forms of identification and runs a credit report to approve new applicants.
Farmers Bank
Farmers Bank does not rely on ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS to screen new applications. Instead, they only require two forms of ID and conduct a credit report check. If the credit report has limited negative entries, you are likely to be approved for an account.
The bank offers three types of checking accounts: Everyday, Campus, and Investor. The Everyday Checking account requires a $100 opening deposit and a minimum balance of $750 to avoid a $4 monthly fee if the balance falls below that amount.
Farmers Bank is located in Spencer, Iowa.
Farmers State Bank
Farmers State Bank uses an Equifax credit report instead of ChexSystems for new applications, requiring a credit score of at least 600 for approval.
The bank offers three types of checking accounts: Ultimate Checking, Green Checking, and Loyalty Checking. The Ultimate Checking account has no minimum balance requirement and no monthly service fee. It also includes free eStatements and free online access.
Farmers State Bank has locations in Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, Gilbertville, Independence, Jesup, La Porte City, Waterloo, and Waverly, Iowa.
Federation Bank
Federation Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems when screening new applications. Instead, they run a credit report check on all new accounts.
If the credit score is too low, you can open a Fresh Start Checking account, which is a type of second chance checking account. It comes with a $250 opening deposit requirement as well as a $6 monthly service fee.
Federation Bank has locations in Washington, Brighton, Richland, and Wellman.
First Trust and Savings Bank
First Trust and Savings Bank conducts a credit report check for new account applications rather than using ChexSystems. Once approved, you can select from several checking account options.
Their free checking account does not have a monthly fee or minimum balance requirement, and it includes unlimited check writing. The only requirement is a $100 opening deposit.
First Trust and Savings Bank has locations in Oxford and Coralville, Iowa.
Greater Iowa Credit Union
Greater Iowa Credit Union uses ChexSystems, but it offers a second chance checking account called Fresh Start Checking. This account has no opening deposit requirement and includes a $5 monthly fee.
Membership is available to individuals who live or work in one of the 33 counties within the field of membership. Immediate family members of current members and employees of participating employer groups are also eligible for membership.
You can find Greater Iowa Credit Union branches in cities such as Ames, Des Moines, Denison, Indianola, and Waukee.
Hills Bank and Trust Company
Hills Bank and Trust Company does not use ChexSystems to review new applications. Instead, they run a credit report, with a minimum credit score requirement of 580 for approval.
The bank offers eight unique checking accounts, including a free checking option that doesn’t require an opening deposit, has no monthly fees, and allows unlimited debit card transactions. This account also includes access to online and mobile banking.
Hills Bank and Trust Company has branches located in Cedar Rapids and Marion, Iowa.
Home State Bank
Home State Bank does not rely on ChexSystems when approving new applications. Instead, they use a credit report as part of the process. For customers looking to open a savings account, no screening is conducted.
The bank offers several checking account options, with many of them featuring no minimum balance requirements or monthly service fees. All accounts offer convenient features like free online and mobile banking, along with free bill pay and eStatements.
Located in Jefferson, Iowa, Home State Bank provides various financial services to the local community.
Iowa Falls State Bank
Iowa Falls State Bank doesn’t rely on ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS when evaluating new account applications. Instead, they conduct a credit check and require two forms of identification, one of which must be government-issued.
The bank offers four types of checking accounts—Premier, Value, Rewards, and To Go Checking. The Rewards Checking account has no minimum balance requirement and includes free online bill pay and eStatements. However, a $5 monthly fee applies if the debit card isn’t used at least 10 times per month.
Iowa Falls State Bank serves its customers through branches located in Iowa Falls and Williams.
Iowa State Bank
Iowa State Bank and Trust runs a credit report check when opening checking or savings accounts, but does not use ChexSystems at any point during the application process.
Keystone Savings Bank
Keystone Savings Bank is a non-ChexSystems bank. To screen new applications, it uses Telecheck instead, and if you want a debit card they’ll also run a credit report.
The bank offers various checking accounts for its customers, but their most popular checking account is Economy Checking.
The account only requires an opening deposit of $100, but doesn’t come with a minimum balance requirement. If you want paper statements, there’s a $3.00 monthly charge, but other than this charge (which is easy to avoid), there aren’t any monthly service fees.
You’ll find locations in Center Point, Keystone, Marengo, Pleasant Hill, and Victor.
Marine Credit Union
Marine Credit Union offers the My Marine Checking account, designed to help individuals build better financial habits.
MBT Bank
MBT Bank runs an Equifax credit report on new applications in lieu of ChexSystems. They offer four types of checking accounts: GoPlus Checking, Go Checking, GoEasy Checking, and GoSmart Checking.
GoEasy Checking requires an opening deposit of $100, but doesn’t have any monthly service fees or balance requirements. It comes with free online and mobile banking, remote mobile deposit, bill pay, as well as a debit card.
MBT Bank has locations in Lake Mills, Forest City, Clear Lake, and Crystal Lake.
Midland Credit Union
Midland Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems when screening new applications. Instead, they run a credit report. As long as the report doesn’t show too many negative entries, you should be able to open an account.
North Star Community Credit Union
North Star Community Credit Union does not use ChexSystems for screening new applicants. They provide various checking account options, such as the Share Draft account, which has no balance requirement but includes a $3.21 monthly service fee.
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank does not use ChexSystems to screen new applications, relying solely on credit reports instead.
R.I.A. Federal Credit Union
R.I.A. Federal Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS but does run credit reports for new applications.
River Community Credit Union
River Community Credit Union does not use ChexSystems to screen new applications. While they run credit reports for standard checking accounts, no screening is done if you are only interested in opening a savings account.
The credit union offers one personal checking account, known as a Share Draft account, which features no monthly fees or balance requirements. Additionally, it includes a free debit card for convenient access.
River Community is located in Ottumwa, Iowa.
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