If you’ve been turned down for a checking account with a traditional bank because of your ChexSystems report, you likely feel at a loss. More than 80% of banks and credit unions use ChexSystems as their primary tool for screening new applications.
It can be hard finding ones that don’t because they don’t always openly disclose that information. If they do, it’s in the fine print on an obscure PDF hidden somewhere on the bank’s website. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you.
To get a bank account with a bad ChexSystems report you have two options:
The first way is to find a bank that uses another system. Other screening systems include Telecheck and EWS. Some banks don’t use anything and only require a credit report and two forms of ID. And then there are those that only want two forms of ID and don’t use any other screening.
Your second option is to find a ChexSystems bank that offers a second chance checking account. This type of account normally has a monthly fee and an opening deposit requirement. Both are usually low and very manageable.
After 6 to 12 months of keeping your account in good standing, you can then transfer over to a standard checking account. This is a good option if you want to repair your checking history and stay with a ChexSystems bank for future financial needs.
There are banks and credit unions throughout the entire state of Iowa included in our comprehensive list. You should be able to find something that is both nearby and fulfills your needs.
BBVA Compass ClearConnect Checking
For an online banking experience that doesn’t use ChexSystems, consider BBVA Compass ClearConnect Checking. With an opening deposit of just $25, this account gets you access to a debit card, plus online and mobile banking for no monthly fee. There’s also no minimum balance to maintain.
ClearConnect Checking also comes with a cash back rewards program that helps you earn more as you use your debit card for purchases. You can even get free access to any ATM in the Allpoint or BBVA Compass network.
Affinity Credit Union
You can qualify for a New Beginning checking account with Affinity Credit Union 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 Credit Union is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Cedar Falls Community Credit Union
Cedar Falls Community Credit Union uses a credit check instead of ChexSystems for approving an account. It’s free to open a checking account, with no minimum balance required or monthly fee. There’s also unlimited check writing and you could potentially apply for overdraft protection. Online and mobile banking is also available.
To become a member at Cedar Falls Community Credit Union, you must live or work in Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Grundy, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Hardin, Howard, Linn, Marshall, Mitchell, Tama, and Winneshiek counties.
Chime Bank
For an online option available in Iowa, consider Chime Bank. It’s a kind of second chance checking account that you manage entirely through a mobile app. If you have direct deposit, you can receive your funds in your account as soon as two days earlier than usual.
You get a debit card, plus ongoing alerts so you know where your account balance stands.
There’s no monthly fee with Chime Bank and you can also sign up for a savings account.
Collins Credit Union
Collins Credit Union does use ChexSystems but also offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history. Called Take2, there is a $9.95 monthly fee and a $50 opening deposit requirement.
After 12 months of keeping your account in good standing, you can transfer to a standard checking account with Collins Credit Union. Take2 isn’t a checking account in name only. It comes with every modern banking tool currently on the market, including free mobile banking and free remote mobile deposit.
CCU has locations in Cedar Rapids, Johnston, Asbury, Clive, Dubuque, Des Moines, North Liberty, Marion, Iowa City, and Cedar Falls. Membership is available to anyone who is an immediate family member of a current member or who is employed by a select employee group. If you live or work in certain counties within Iowa, you also qualify.
Community Bank
Instead of running your application through ChexSystems, Community Bank simply runs a credit report check. If you have a decent credit score, you may be able to open an account. You’ll also be required to present both a government-issued photo ID as well as your social security card.
Community Bank has locations in Dunlap, Logan, Modale, Persia, Pisgah, Soldier, and Ute. Community Bank offers the following types of checking accounts: Free Checking, Regular Checking, Checking with Interest, and Student/ Senior Checking. Free Checking requires an opening deposit of $100, but there is no balance requirement thereafter and there are no per-debit fees.
DeWitt Bank and Trust
Dewitt Bank and Trust runs a credit report to screen new applications instead of running a ChexSystems report. It has locations in Wilton and DeWitt, Iowa.
DeWitt currently offers five types of checking accounts. They are Totally Free Checking, Incentive Checking, High Interest Checking, 50+ Checking, and Interest Checking. Totally Free Checking only requires a $25 opening deposit and doesn’t have any monthly fees or balance requirements. However, each account comes with a free box of checks, a debit card, online and mobile banking, bill pay, eStatements, as well as a thank you gift.
Dubuque Bank & Trust
Dubuque Bank & Trust is a non-ChexSystems bank with locations in Dubuque, Epworth, Farley, and Holy Cross. It currently offers four types of personal checking accounts: Cash Rewards Checking, Free Checking with eStatements, Signature Series Checking, and Money Manager 5000. Free Checking only requires a $25 opening deposit but is otherwise completely free provided you sign up for free eStatements instead of paper statements.
Dupaco
Dupaco doesn’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS, but does check credit reports if you would like to get an ATM or debit card. Dupaco has 16 locations in Iowa in the following areas:
- Cedar Falls
- Waterloo
- Cedar Rapids
- Marion
- Dubuque
- Asbury
- Dyersville
- Manchester
- Peosta
- Carroll
Dupaco is also a part of the Co-Op Shared Branch network, which gets account holders free access to their account at over 5,000 locations across the nation.
They offer checking, savings and money market accounts. The free checking account only requires an opening deposit of $50, but there aren’t any fees or limitations on checks.
Exchange State Bank
Exchange State Bank doesn’t run a ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS report when screening new applications. They also don’t run a credit report check. Instead, Exchange State Bank only requires proper identification when approving new accounts. For this, you’ll need two forms of ID, one of which much be government issued.
Exchange State Bank has locations in Springville and Martelle and offers a variety of checking accounts. Their most popular option is called Our Town Checking. Our Town Checking doesn’t charge an annual fee for debit cards, nor does it charge a monthly service fee, or a fee for paper copies of your monthly statements.
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank is a non-ChexSystems bank. Instead, Farmers and Merchants only requires two forms of ID and will run a credit report. It has locations in Waukon and Decorah, Iowa.
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank offers six types of checking products:
- Express Checking
- ePay Checking
- Regular Checking
- Student Checking
- Now Checking
- HSA Checking
Express Checking requires an opening deposit of $100. There’s a monthly fee of $5 unless your account balance is at or above $100. You can have as many debit card transactions as you want per month, but there’s a $1 monthly fee. The account comes with free eStatements, check images, as well as online and mobile access.
Farmers State Bank
Farmers State Bank runs an Equifax credit report on all new applications in lieu of using ChexSystems. They require that each new member have a credit report of at least 600.
There are locations in Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, Gilbertville, Independence, Jesup, La Porte City, Waterloo, and Waverly.
Farmers State Bank offers three types of checking products: Ultimate Checking, Green Checking, and Loyalty Checking. Ultimate Checking does not require a minimum balance, nor is there a monthly service fee associated with this type of account. It comes with free eStatements as well as free online access.
Farmers Trust and Bank
Farmers Trust and Bank does not use ChexSystems, Telecheck or EWS to screen new applications. Instead, they only require two forms of ID and a credit report scan. As long as the credit report doesn’t show too many negative entries on it, you should be able to open an account.
Farmers Trust and Bank is located in Spencer, Iowa. They offer three types of checking accounts: Everyday, Campus, and Investor. Everyday Checking requires an opening deposit of $100, as well as a minimum balance of $750. If your account balance falls below $750, there is a $4 monthly fee.
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 only runs a credit report check on new account applications instead of using ChexSystems. It has locations in Oxford and Coralville.
Once approved, you can choose from seven types of checking accounts. For their free checking account, there is no monthly fee or minimum daily balance requirement. It comes with unlimited check writing and only requires a $100 opening deposit.
Frontier Savings Bank
Frontier Savings Bank runs a credit report check in lieu of a ChexSystems review. The bank is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Frontier offers the following checking accounts: New Horizon Checking, Vista Checking, NOW Checking, and Senior Checking. New Horizon Checking has a $7.50 monthly fee and a $100 opening deposit requirement but doesn’t require a minimum balance. You can write an unlimited amount of checks, access your account online for free, as well as pay your bills online for free.
Greater Iowa Credit Union
Greater Iowa Credit Union is a ChexSystems bank, but it offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history. Called Fresh Start Checking, it doesn’t require an opening deposit, but you do have to pay a monthly fee of $5.
Locations for Greater Iowa Credit Union include Ames, Des Moines, Denison, Indianola, and Waukee. To join, applicants must live or work within one of 33 counties that are within the field of membership. Membership is also available to anyone who is an immediate family member of a current member or who works with a participating employer group.
Hills Bank and Trust Company
Hills Bank and Trust Company doesn’t use ChexSystems when screening new applications. Instead, they only run a credit report. All applicants are required to have a credit score of 580 for approval.
The bank has five locations in Cedar Rapids and Marion and offers eight types of unique checking accounts. Free checking is free to open and doesn’t have any monthly fees or balance requirements. It comes with online and mobile banking, as well as unlimited debit card transactions.
Home State Bank
Home State Bank is a non-ChexSystems bank. To approve new applications, Home State instead relies on credit reports. However, if you only want to open a savings account, they won’t do any type of screening.
Home State Bank is located in Jefferson, Iowa. They currently have a variety of checking accounts to choose from. Most accounts don’t have minimum balance requirements or monthly service fees. All accounts come with free online and mobile banking, as well as free online bill pay and free eStatements.
Iowa Falls State Bank
Iowa Falls State Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS. Instead, they run a credit check and require two forms of ID, one of which must be government issued).
Iowa Falls has locations in Iowa Falls and Williams, and offers four types of checking accounts: Premier, Value, Rewards, and To Go Checking. Rewards Checking doesn’t require a minimum balance and comes with free online bill pay and eStatements. There’s a monthly service fee of $5 if you don’t use your debit card at least 10 times a month.
Iowa State Bank and Trust
When opening a checking or savings account, Iowa State Bank and Trust will run a credit report check. It doesn’t use ChexSystems during any stage of the application process.
Iowa State Bank and Trust has two branch locations and four ATMs in Fairfield, Iowa. They currently offer six types of checking accounts: Free Kasasa Cash Back, Free Kasasa Cash, Siler Advantage Account, ISB Interest Bearing Account, Regular Checking, and Free Checking.
Both Free and Regular Checking require an opening deposit of $100 but don’t have a balance requirement. Free Checking doesn’t have any monthly fees, whereas Regular Checking charges $1 a month as well as $0.10 per debit card use.
Keystone Savings Bank
Keystone Savings Bank is a non-ChexSystems bank. To screen new applications, Keystone instead uses Telecheck, and if you want a debit card they’ll also run a credit report.
You’ll find locations in Center Point, Keystone, Marengo, Pleasant Hill, and Victor. Keystone offers a variety of 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.
Marine Credit Union
Instead of using ChexSystems, Marine Credit Union runs a TransUnion credit report on new applications.They don’t state what their minimum credit score is, but if you don’t qualify, they do offer a Credit Builder account.
It’s a type of second chance checking account and you can transfer to a standard checking account after you’ve kept your account in good standing for 12 months. There’s a $55 opening deposit requirement, a $5 monthly fee, and you must set your account up with direct deposit.
Though Credit Builder is a second chance checking account, it comes with every digital banking tool currently on the market. Marine Credit Union has locations in Des Moines, Davenport, Decorah, Muscatine, and West Des Moines.
MBT
MBT runs an Equifax credit report on new applications in lieu of ChexSystems. They have locations in Lake Mills, Forest City, Clear Lake, and Crystal Lake. You can apply entirely online provided you have a means of submitting a picture or scan of your ID.
MBT has four types of checking accounts for its members to choose from: 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.
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.
You can find Midland Credit Union locations in Urbandale and Pleasant Hill, Iowa. To join you must either live or work in Story, Jasper, Marion, Warren, Madison, Dallas, or Boone County. You may also join if you have an immediate family member who is already a member, or if you work with a participating employer group.
Checking accounts with Midland are free and you can earn monthly dividends on balances greater than $500.
North Star Community Credit Union
North Star Community Credit Union runs a credit report on new applications instead of using ChexSystems. They have locations in Cherokee, Ida Grove, and Sheldon. To become a member, you must live or work in one of the following counties:
- Buena Vista
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Crawford
- Dickenson
- Ida
- Lyon
- Monoa
- O’Brien
- Osceola
- Plymouth
- Sac
- Sioux
- Woodbury
North Star offers a variety of checking accounts. Their Share Draft account doesn’t have a balance requirement but does charge a $3.21 monthly service fee. The Minimum Balance Share Draft is free but comes with a $300 balance requirement.
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank does not use ChexSystems to screen new applications, but instead only relies on credit reports. Peoples Trust has locations in Adel, Clive, Grand Junction, Guthrie Center, Jefferson, Ogden, Rippey, Scranton, and Waukee.
You can choose from four types of checking accounts:
- Rewards Interest Checking
- Rewards Checking
- Direct Checking
- Interest Checking
Rewards Checking has a $5 monthly fee, but doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement. It comes with online and mobile banking, free bill pay and free eStatements. It also comes with identity protection, discounts when you shop locally, plus roadside assistance as well as cell phone protection.
R.I.A. Federal Credit Union
R.I.A. Federal Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS. They do, however, run credit reports on new applications. R.I.A. has Iowa locations in Bettendorf, Rock Island, Fort McCoy, Moline, Tomah, Wilton, Davenport, Savanna, Milan, and Silvis. Membership is available to immediate family of current members and anyone who lives or works within 30 miles of a branch location.
R.I.A. offers four checking accounts, but their Smart Checking account doesn’t have any monthly service fees or balance requirements and comes with every modern banking tool on the market.
River Community Credit Union
River Community Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems to screen new applications. For standard checking accounts, they do run credit reports. But if you just want a savings account, they won’t do any kind of screening.
River Community Credit Union is located in Ottumwa, Iowa and offers just one personal checking accounts. This Share Draft account comes with a free debit card and doesn’t have any monthly fees or balance requirements.
State Bank
State Bank uses your credit report rather than ChexSystems to screen your applications. Each applicant is required to have a credit score of at least 675 at the time of opening an account.
The Basic Checking account with State Bank requires an opening deposit of $100. If you have a debit card, there’s a $1.00 monthly fee, and if you prefer paper statements, there is an additional $2.00 fee (eStatements are free). It comes with free online and mobile banking, as well as free bill pay. State Bank has locations in Everly, Peterson, and Spencer.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo offers a second chance checking account called Opportunity Checking. There’s a $10 monthly fee, but this fee can be waived if you meet one of their three conditions. The first condition requires 10 or more debit card purchases a month; the second is a daily balance of $1,500; and the third is $500 or more in direct deposits each month. Opportunity Checking comes with online and mobile access, unlimited check writing, and a free debit card.
Wells Fargo is a nationwide bank and has numerous locations throughout Iowa.
White State Bank
White State Bank is a non-ChexSystems Bank and is currently located in South English, Iowa. They offer three types of checking accounts to customers: Basic Checking, Regular Checking, and Now Checking.
Basic Checking doesn’t charge a monthly fee or require a minimum account balance. However, there is a $0.25 charge every time you use your debit card. Regular Checking has a fee, too, but it’s only $0.10 per transaction. The monthly fee is $4, but this fee can be waived if your account balance is over $500.