Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Maine

Have you been denied a bank account in Maine? ChexSystems might be why. It’s a banking history database many financial institutions check before approving new accounts.

The good news is that some Maine banks don’t use ChexSystems—and others offer second chance checking options that make it easier to open an account and rebuild your finances.

11 Banks in Maine That Don’t Use ChexSystems

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

Current

Our Top Pick

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

Current doesn’t use ChexSystems or run credit checks, so approval is easy—even with a rough banking history.

There are no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and you get access to 40,000 fee-free ATMs.

You can also build credit by using your debit card—no loans, credit pulls, or interest charges.

Current includes fee-free overdraft protection up to $200 and lets you get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. Optional Savings Pods earn up to 4.00% APY.

SoFi

Features & Benefits

  • Sign-up bonus up to $300 with qualifying direct deposits
  • No monthly fee
  • Earn up to 3.80% APY on savings
  • Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs

SoFi doesn’t use ChexSystems and offers a no-fee checking and savings account with solid perks.

You can earn up to 3.80% APY on savings, access over 55,000 fee-free ATMs, and get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

There are no overdraft fees, balance requirements, or monthly charges. You can also earn a sign-up bonus of up to $300 when you set up qualifying direct deposits.

Chime

Features & Benefits

  • No monthly fees or minimums
  • Credit Builder Card with no interest, fees, or credit pull
  • Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit
  • Over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs

Chime doesn’t use ChexSystems or run credit checks, so anyone can open an account.

There’s no monthly fee, no minimum opening deposit, and access to over 60,0001 fee-free ATMs.

You can also build credit7 with the Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card—no annual fees, interest charges1, or credit pull required.

Direct deposit users can get paid up to two days early2, and cash deposits are free at over 8,500 Walgreens locations.

Cumberland County Federal Credit Union

Cumberland County Federal Credit Union (CCFCU) offers the Fresh Start Checking account, designed to help individuals rebuild their financial records.

If you’ve had an overdrawn account closed and appear on national lists that other institutions use, this account provides a second chance. The account has a low monthly fee of $5.

CCFCU has locations in several Maine cities, including Falmouth, Gray, Portland, Westbrook, Windham, and Yarmouth.

Eastmill Federal Credit Union

Eastmill Federal doesn’t use ChexSystems and only requires valid ID to open an account. There are no minimum balance requirements or monthly service fees.

Members can link their savings to their checking account for optional overdraft protection.

To be eligible, you must live, work, worship, or attend school in Penobscot County or Southern and Central Aroostook County.

Relatives of current members can also join. A $25 deposit into a share savings account is required for all new members.

Eastmill Federal has branch offices in East Millinocket and Patten, Maine.

Five County Credit Union

You may qualify for Second Chance Checking at Five County Credit Union if your past banking issues are minor. This account has a $5 monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement.

With the account, you’ll receive a free Visa debit card with a daily limit of $2,500. Bill pay requires a small fee, and this account is not eligible for shared branching.

Membership is available to those who live, work, or worship in Maine’s Androscoggin, Cumberland, Lincoln, Kennebec, Knox, Sagadahoc, Somerset, or Waldo Counties, or those employed by Bath Iron Works. Relatives of current members can also apply.

Five County has branches in Auburn, Augusta, Bath, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Lewiston, Lisbon, Portland, Rockland, Scarborough, Skowhegan, Topsham, Waterville, Windham, and Yarmouth.

Midcoast Federal Credit Union

Midcoast Federal offers Compass Checking for individuals looking to regain control of their finances.

This account includes tools for money management, budgeting guides, and e-alerts to help keep you on track.

Compass Checking requires no minimum deposits, balance requirements, or monthly fees. You’ll also receive a free debit card and access to Midcoast Federal’s e-services.

To open an account, you must become a member by providing a government-issued ID and a Social Security number or individual tax identification number.

Membership is available to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, and Knox Counties, as well as select communities within Androscoggin and Cumberland Counties.

Midcoast Federal has branches in Bath, Brunswick, Edgecomb, Freeport, and Thomaston, Maine.

New Dimension Federal Credit Union

New Dimension Federal Credit Union may approve you for a checking account if your ChexSystems record shows only minor issues.

Their Regular Checking account is free, with no minimum balance requirement or per-check fees. Members receive a free Visa debit card and have access to online and mobile banking.

To join New Dimension Federal Credit Union, you must have a connection to either Kennebec or Somerset County. To get started, you’ll need to open a savings account with a $25 deposit.

New Dimension Federal has locations in Waterville, Winslow, and Skowhegan, Maine.

Saco Valley Credit Union

Saco Valley Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems. They approve checking accounts with just a valid photo ID.

Their checking account has no minimum balance requirement and no monthly service fee. Members receive a debit card, unlimited check writing, and access to mobile and online banking.

To become a member, you must live, work, attend school, or worship in Cumberland or York County, Maine. You can apply in person at their branches in Saco and Waterboro.

TD Bank

TD Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems, making it a viable option for those with a troubled banking history.

They offer several checking account options in Maine, such as TD Complete Checking, TD Beyond Checking, and TD Essential Banking.

  • TD Complete Checking has a $15 monthly fee that can be waived through direct deposits or other qualifying activities.
  • TD Beyond Checking provides interest and no ATM fees with a $25 monthly fee, which can also be waived by maintaining a daily balance.
  • TD Essential Banking, a checkless account, comes with a $4.95 monthly fee and no minimum balance, perfect for straightforward banking needs.

TD Bank has branch locations in several cities in Maine, including Auburn, Bangor, Brunswick, Lewiston, Portland, Rockland, Saco, Sanford, South Portland, and Waterville, among others.

Town & Country Federal Credit Union

Town & Country Federal Credit Union checks your credit instead of using ChexSystems.

They offer numerous checking account options, with Better Checking being the most basic. This account has no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no specific deposit amount needed to open.

Before opening an account, you’ll need to become a member, which is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Cumberland or York County, Maine.

Town & Country has branches in Portland, Saco, Scarborough, and South Portland.