Struggling to open a checking account in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Massachusetts 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
Alden Credit Union
No Boundaries Checking is a second chance checking account from Alden for people who want to rebuild their financial history. There are some restrictions, presumably with the type of record you have with ChexSystems.
If you’re approved, however, you’ll get an ATM card along with 50 free personalized checks. You can also use Alden’s online banking, bill pay, and notary service. It takes $10 to open your account and $7.50 for a monthly service fee.
There are two branch locations you can go to, one in Chicopee and one in Belchertown, Massachusetts.
To become a member, you simply need to live, work, worship, or attend school in Hampden and Hampshire Counties in Massachusetts. Alternatively, you can also qualify if a family member is a current member.
Athol Credit Union
For a simple checking account regardless of your past issues with insufficient funds at other financial institutions, try Athol’s Fresh Start Checking.
To get started, you’ll first need to become a member and deposit $25 into a savings account. You’ll also need to pay off any charged off accounts at other financial institutions.
Once you’ve completed these two steps, you can make your opening deposit of $25. The monthly fee is $9.95, which will be reduced to $7.95 if you sign up for direct deposit.
Membership to Athol CU is open to anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Worcester County, Franklin County, or Hampshire County in Massachusetts.
Greylock Federal Credit Union
While Greylock Federal may utilize ChexSystems, they won’t pull a credit report unless you’re applying for a loan. The Free Checking option requires just $15 to open, then there’s no monthly fee.
There’s also no minimum balance necessary to maintain. You get a free Visa debit card, online and mobile banking, and remote deposit capture.
Greylock FCU has branch locations in Western Massachusetts. To join, you need to have some kind of connection. You must live or work in Berkshire County, Westfield, Southwick, Granville, Montgomery, or Russell Massachusetts; Columbia County, New York; Bennington County, Vermont.
North Easton Savings Bank
North Easton doesn’t use ChexSystems to screen applications so you have a better chance of qualifying. Check out the Totally FREE Checking, branded as a free account for everyone.
The opening deposit is a little above average at $50, but you don’t have to worry about any monthly fees. Plus, you get free access to the usual banking services, like direct deposit, bill pay, and mobile banking.
If you’re located in Southeastern Massachusetts, it’s definitely worth giving it a try.
Rollstone Bank and Trust
There’s no ChexSystems check or credit report check when you apply for an account with Rollstone Bank and Trust.
The Free Checking account comes with basic services with no monthly fee or monthly balance requirement. You do, however, have to add on extra services such as online banking, bill pay, and a debit card.
Rollstone Bank and Trust has several branch and mortgage center locations throughout North Central Massachusetts.
Washington Savings Bank
Washington Savings Bank offers the Online Rewards Checking account, which has less strict requirements for ChexSystems and no credit requirements whatsoever.
You can’t have any fraud or criminal activity in your banking history and former account charge-offs must be less than $2,000. You’re also required to have a direct deposit either from a payroll or government source.
The monthly fee for Online Rewards Checking is $9.95 and you can upgrade to a free checking account after a year of responsible account management.
Washington Savings Bank has branch locations in Dracut and Lowell, Massachusetts.
Webster Bank
Consider Opportunity Checking from Webster Bank for a second chance checking account in Massachusetts. The minimum opening deposit is $50 and the monthly fee is $16.95.
The fee can be reduced to $11.95 per month if you enroll in direct deposit. You’ll get a Visa debit card and no per check charge. Webster Bank also provides free online and mobile banking, plus balance alerts.
Webster Bank has locations around the Boston area, as well as Cambridge, Wellesley, Attleboro, Brockton, Lexington, Needham, Seekonk, New Bedford, Brookline, Taunton, Fall River, Mattapoisett, Somerset, Quincy, Stoughton, South Dartmouth, and Newton.
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