Struggling to open a checking account in Maryland 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 Maryland
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Maryland banks and credit unions that allow anyone to open a checking account, regardless of their banking history.
SoFi
Features & Benefits
- Sign-up bonus up to $250 with qualifying direct deposits
- No monthly fee
- Earn up to 4.50% APY on savings
- Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs
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
- 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
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
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
Central Credit Union of Maryland
CCU of Maryland offers members Renew Checking, which is specifically designed for those who have had already had trouble opening a checking account. You could potentially qualify for the account even if you have a ChexSystems record.
To open the account, you must sign up for direct deposit and there’s a monthly fee. After you’ve responsibly managed your account for 12 months, you can upgrade to free Central Checking.
To qualify for membership, you must be an employee of an affiliated business. There are two branch locations, one in Baltimore and one in Perry Point.
Clear Mountain Bank
StartFresh Banking from Clear Mountain Bank is another way to get a checking account despite your financial past. There are two options to choose from: StartFresh First Step and StartFresh Checking.
First Step doesn’t allow check writing, but it does come with a debit card. There’s a $9.95 monthly fee, which is reduced to $6.95 if you sign up for direct deposit.
The minimum opening deposit is $50. There is no minimum balance requirement. After 12 months in good standing, you can apply for StartFresh Checking.
This account is similar to First Step, but you also get unlimited check writing. After 18 months of successfully managing this account, you can apply for a traditional account. The bank is headquartered in West Virginia, but has a Maryland branch in Oakland.
Greenbelt Federal Credit Union
Greenbelt Federal is a non-ChexSystems Bank that instead uses Telecheck. They’re located in Greenbelt, Maryland and to qualify for membership you must live, work, worship, or attend school there.
For checking, Greenbelt FCU offers a convenience share draft checking account that doesn’t require a minimum balance. You’ll also need a share savings account, which does come with a minimum balance requirement of $25.
Security Plus Federal Credit Union
Security Plus Federal offers second chance checking called Revive Checking. The monthly fee is $5, but that can be waived entirely as long as you receive at least one electronic ACH deposit into the account each month.
To open the account, you’ll need to make a deposit of at least $25. You’ll receive a Visa debit card 30 days after you open your account, plus you’ll get your first order of checks for free. Revive Checking comes with online and mobile banking features.
Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in the city of Baltimore. You can also be an employee of a select employer or be a family member of an existing SPFCU member. Branches are located in Baltimore and Owings Mill.
Tower Federal Credit Union
Tower Federal Credit Union is the largest federal credit union in Maryland. They serve DOD employees, contractors, and their families.
TFCU offers a free checking account with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement. Plus, account holders can use up to 30,000+ unlimited fee-free ATMs.
TFCU has locations in Annapolis, Annapolis Junction, Columbia, Ellicott City, Gambrills, Hanover, Laurel, Millersville, Owing Mills, and Pasadena.
United Bank
United Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems or a credit report to approve applicants. They offer three different checking accounts: United Free Checking, Platinum Checking, or United Rewards Checking.
United Free Checking has no minimum balance requirement and doesn’t charge a monthly fee. You will need a $50 deposit to open your account.
Woodforest National Bank
Woodforest offers a second chance bank account to members at over 700 branches in 17 states.
The minimum opening deposit is just $25 and you’ll also have to pay a one-time setup fee of $9.
It also comes with a monthly fee of $11.95. You can get it reduced to $9.95 by enrolling in direct deposit. Another small fee is a paper statement fee of $3 per month. It can be waived completely by signing up for e-statements.
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 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