Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Kentucky

U.S. Bank is now inviting new customers to take advantage of a special online promotion:

• Earn up to $450 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying activities.
• Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through December 30, 2024. Member FDIC.
• Offer may not be available if you are an existing U.S. Bank customer or live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint.

The 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.

Upgrade doesn’t pull your ChexSystems report, but they do look at your credit report.

The Upgrade Rewards Checking account has no monthly fees and no ATM fees. You’ll also get a free Visa debit card, and up to 2% cash back on everyday debit card purchases.

The Upgrade Premier Savings account delivers an impressive 4.14% APY, giving you a remarkable opportunity to grow your savings faster.

Upgrade is partnered with Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, and your funds are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. With an Upgrade checking account, you can also get up to 20% lower rates on Upgrade loans and credit cards.

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 can earn up to 4.00% APY on their savings and 0.50% APY on checking accounts.

Direct deposit users also get the added benefit of early access to their paychecks – up to 2 days ahead.

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.

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.

First Tech Federal Credit Union offers an attractive banking solution that goes beyond traditional constraints, providing members with a combination of high-yield interest and multiple financial incentives across its platforms.

With the First Tech Rewards Checking & Savings accounts, there are no minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fees.

These accounts offer competitive interest rates, with the potential to earn up to 3.50% APY on both checking and savings accounts, depending on the balance—significantly higher than many conventional banks.

Additionally, First Tech offers extensive accessibility with over 30,000 CO-OP network ATMs nationwide for fee-free withdrawals.

The credit union also ensures enhanced financial security and flexibility with features like real-time fraud monitoring and free overdraft transfers.

They provide four different checking options: Better Than Free Checking, Regular Checking, Now Account, and VIP Club Checking.

With the Better Than Free account, a $50 minimum deposit is required, but there are no ongoing balance requirements or monthly fees.

Customers enjoy unlimited free check writing and can easily manage their accounts online or over the phone at no additional cost. Bank of Clarkson operates branches in Clarkson and Leitchfield.

Eligibility requires living, working, worshiping, volunteering, or attending school in one of C-Plant’s serviceable counties, which include:

Ballard, Caldwell, Crittenden, Graves, Hopkins, Livingston, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Todd, and Union counties.

C-Plant has branch locations in LaCenter, Paducah, Smithland, Mayfield, Madisonville, and Morganfield.

The account comes with a $10 monthly service fee, which can be reduced to $8 if you enroll in direct deposit.

It allows unlimited debit transactions and written checks, plus it includes a free Visa debit card, as well as free online and mobile banking.

Cecilian Bank operates seventeen branches across Kentucky, with locations in Cecilia, Rineyville, Elizabethtown, Sonora, Vine Grove, Leitchfield, Radcliff, Brandenburg, Hardinsburg, and Irvington.

It only requires an initial opening deposit of $10 and there is a $10 monthly service charge. However, the fee can be dropped down to $8 if the account holder signs up for direct deposit.

The account comes with a free Visa debit card, free eStatements, free online and mobile banking, and a 0.50% loan discount when payments are auto-deducted from a Central Bank account.

Central Bank has locations in Berea, Covington, Crestview Hills, Florence, Fort Mitchell, Georgetown, Lexington, Louisville, Nicholasville, Richmond, and Winchester.

It requires a $25 minimum opening deposit and there is a monthly service fee of $10. This fee can be reduced to $8 if the account holder signs up for direct deposit.

The account comes with a free Visa debit card, and each account holder gets free access to online and mobile banking. There are no limits to the number of checks or transactions that can take place, and eStatements are always free.

CG Bank has Kentucky branch locations in Berea, Irvine, London, Richmond, and Stanton.

They offer a variety of checking accounts, including Student, Elite, Regular, 55 Plus, Business, Nonprofit, and Now accounts.

The Regular Checking account includes free online banking and eStatements, with a $100 minimum opening deposit.

There’s a $7 monthly service fee, but it can be waived if your balance stays above $700 throughout the statement cycle.

Citizens Bank has two locations in Jackson and one in Beattyville, along with three ATM locations spread across both towns.

There’s no minimum balance requirement, and the account has a $10 monthly fee. Account holders receive a free Visa debit card, which can be added to a mobile wallet for secure transactions.

You’ll also have access to digital banking and their mobile app. After one year, eligible members may transition to a commonWEALTH Checking account.

Commonwealth Credit Union has branches in Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, Versailles, Georgetown, Shelbyville, Owenton, Lexington, Nicholasville, Harrodsburg, Louisville, and Richmond.

They offer two checking accounts: Basic Checking with no monthly fee, and Advantage Checking, which has a $7 fee that can be waived with a $500 daily balance or $10,000 combined balance.

Both require a $100 deposit to open and offer unlimited transactions and access to a CTB ATM/Debit card.

Community Trust Bank has branches in several cities across Kentucky, including Ashland, Berea, Corbin, Danville, Elizabethtown, Florence, Frankfort, Georgetown, London, Richmond, Winchester, and Williamsburg.

Customers can choose from three checking accounts: Hometown Living Checking, Hometown Loyalty Checking, and Hometown Legacy Checking.

The Hometown Living account has no monthly service fees or minimum balance requirements. Customers can write three free checks per cycle, with a $1 fee for each additional check. Debit cards are available upon request, and eStatements are free, while paper statements cost $2 monthly.

First & People’s Bank and Trust has branches in Russell, Flatwoods, Greenup, and South Shore, Kentucky.

With a $5 monthly service charge, the account has no minimum balance requirements and no overdraft fees, ever.

Additionally, you gain access to 55,000+ fee-free ATMs, a free contactless debit card, and convenient online banking tools. A $25 initial deposit is required to open the account.

First Financial Bank has branch locations across Kentucky, including Harrodsburg, Lawrenceburg, Louisville, and Shelbyville.

Their Easy Checking account requires a $50 deposit to open and a $100 minimum balance.

If the balance falls below $100, there’s a $6 monthly fee. Account holders receive free eStatements, as well as access to online and mobile banking.

Forcht Bank has branches in Barbourville, Burlington, Campbellsville, Corbin, Crittenden, Dry Ridge, Greensburg, Lexington, London, Louisville, Richmond, Somerset, and Williamsburg, Kentucky.

The account includes features such as free online banking with bill pay, check images, telephone banking, and overdraft privilege.

A $50 deposit is required to open the account, along with a one-time setup fee of $10. The monthly maintenance fee is $12.99 with direct deposit or $19.99 without.

Hearthside Bank has branches located in Harlan and Middlesboro, Kentucky.

With this account, you receive a debit card or ATM card and access to free online services.

After maintaining your account in good standing for 12 months, you may apply for an upgrade to one of Liberty Federal’s other checking options.

Liberty Federal has branches throughout Kentucky, including locations in Bowling Green, Crestwood, Henderson, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, and Prospect.

The account also provides early access to direct deposits and federal tax refunds. The $4.95 monthly fee can be waived with a direct deposit, debit card transaction, or online bill pay each cycle.

With free online and mobile banking, Simple Access Checking also gives fee-free ATM access at over 90,000 ATMs via Republic Bank, Presto, SUM, MoneyPass, and Allpoint networks.

Republic Bank has branch locations in Louisville, Lexington, Shepherdsville, and Shelbyville.

The account comes with free online banking, eStatements, 24-hour telephone banking, and a Visa debit card.

A $50 minimum deposit is required to open, with a monthly service fee of $12.95, which reduces to $8.95 if an ACH deposit posts during the statement cycle.

After maintaining the account in good standing for a year, you may be eligible to transition to a Free Checking or Green Tree Checking account.

South Central Bank has branches in Bowling Green, Cave City, Elizabethtown, Franklin, Glasgow, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, Russellville, Somerset, and other locations throughout the state.

After completing the trial period, account holders may qualify for a standard checking account.

To become a member, you must live, work, or worship in one of Transcend’s serviceable areas in Kentucky, which include counties like Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham, and more.

Transcend Credit Union has five locations across Louisville and one in Lexington.

Their checking accounts come with free online banking, a Visa card, email statements, and online bill pay, with overdraft protection also available.

The Free & Easy Checking account requires a $100 opening deposit but has no monthly fees.

Wilson and Muir have branches in Bardstown, Bloomfield, Vine Grove, Elizabethtown, Leitchfield, Big Clifty, and Louisville.