Have you tried to open a checking account in Maine, but can’t get approved? It’s probably because you have a negative listing in ChexSystems. Most banks in Maine use ChexSystems to review your banking history.
Fortunately, you still have options. There are several banks that don’t use ChexSystems during the application process, and others that offer second chance checking.
Non-ChexSystems & Second Chance Banks in Maine
Take a look at this comprehensive list of banks and credit unions in Maine that either don’t use ChexSystems, or offer second chance checking accounts.
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
Axos Bank
Features & Benefits
- $100 sign-up bonus
- Earn up to 3.30% APY
- No monthly maintenance fees or overdraft fees
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Get early direct deposits and tax refunds up to 2 days early
The Rewards Checking account from Axos Bank is an excellent choice for those looking for a bank account with no monthly maintenance fees, unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements, and cash back rewards.
Chime
Features & Benefits
- Over 14.5 million downloads
- No credit check or ChexSystems
- No minimum opening deposit
- Over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs
Current
Features & Benefits
- No minimum balance or monthly fees
- Fee-free overdraft up to $200 with Overdrive
- 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
- Get paid up to 2 days faster
- No credit check or ChexSystems
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
Eastmill Federal Credit Union
Eastmill Federal does not use ChexSystems and only requires proper ID to get started with an account. They no minimum balance requirements, nor are there any monthly service fees.
If you link your savings account to your checking account, you can opt into overdraft protection.
The field of membership for Eastmill FCU includes anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Penobscot County and Southern and Central Aroostook County.
Relatives of existing members are also allowed to join. All new members are required to make a $25 deposit into their share savings account.
There are branch offices in East Millinocket and Patten, Maine.
Five County Credit Union
You can potentially sign up for Second Chance Checking at Five County as long as your past issues are minor. The monthly fee is just $5 and there is no minimum balance.
You get a free Visa debit card and check card. The daily limit is $2,500, with $2,000 being allotted to purchases and $500 of it going to cash.
To use bill pay, you must pay a small fee. Additionally, this account isn’t eligible for shared branching.
Eligibility for membership is offered to those who live, work, or worship in Maine’s Androscoggin, Cumberland, Lincoln, Kennebec, Knox, Sagadahoc, Somerset or Waldo Counties.
Alternatively, you can be an employee of Bath Iron Works or be a relative of an existing member.
Infinity Credit Union
Infinity Federal’s second chance checking account is called Bridge Checking. It comes with several benefits, including no monthly fees, no minimum deposit, and no balance requirements.
You get your first order of checks for free, in addition to unlimited check writing. However, there are some limitations, including no overdrafts allowed.
Your debit card is limited to a $100 daily ATM withdrawal and $1,000 a day through transactions. Check deposits are also held for an extended period of time.
Infinity Federal has locations in the Bangor and Portland areas of Maine. To become a member, you must live, work, worship, or attend school in Cumberland and York Counties, and in the City of Bangor, Maine.
Midcoast Federal Credit Union
Midcoast Federal offers Compass Checking to those who have fallen off track with their finances. It’s a proactive account that provides support through money management tools, budgeting guides, and e-alerts.
There are no minimum deposits or minimum balance requirements, nor is there a monthly fee. You get a free debit card, plus access to Midcoast Federal’s e-services.
To open a Compass Checking account, you must become a member, provide a government-issued ID, and a social security number or individual tax identification number.
This is open to anyone who lives, works in, worships, or attends school in certain rural communities in Maine. It includes all communities within Sagadahoc, Lincoln, and Knox Counties, plus select communities within Androscoggin and Cumberland Counties.
New Dimension Federal Credit Union
New Dimension Federal may approve you for a checking account if your ChexSystems records are limited and minor.
Their Regular Checking account is free and doesn’t come with any minimum balance requirement or per check fees. You’ll get a Visa debit card for free, plus online and mobile banking access.
How can you become a member of New Dimension Federal? You must have some connection to either Kennebec or Somerset County.
To get started, you must open a savings account first and make a $25 deposit there.
Saco Valley Credit Union
You could get approved for a checking account with Saco Valley with just a valid photo ID. Their checking account comes with no minimum balance requirement and no monthly service fee.
In addition to a debit card, you also get unlimited check writing. Saco Valley offers mobile and online banking as well.
To become a member of Saco Valley, you must live, work, attend school, or worship in Maine’s Cumberland or York County. You can apply in person at their branches in Saco or Waterboro.
Town & Country Federal Credit Union
Town & Country Federal is said to check your credit rather than your ChexSystems record. There are a couple of different checking account options, with Better Checking being the most basic.
It comes with numerous perks, including no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirements. You don’t even need any specific deposit amount when opening your account.
Before you can open an account with Town & Country Federal, you have to become a member. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Cumberland or York County, Maine.
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. To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
Non-ChexSystems Banks by State
Looking for more information and additional options available in your area? Select your state from the list below to find out all your options for banking.
- 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