Second Chance Checking Accounts in Massachusetts

SoFi’s Checking and Savings account is designed to help you keep more of your money. There are no monthly maintenance fees, no overdraft fees, and no minimums to worry about.

Set up direct deposit, and you can unlock a sign-up bonus of up to $400, plus earn a competitive 3.30% APY on your savings. Checking accounts earn 0.50% APY as well.

You’ll also have access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs and the ability to get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

Current gives you a simple way to open a checking account without ChexSystems or credit checks. You can start building credit by using your debit card for everyday purchases, with no loans, hard inquiries, or interest involved.

There’s no minimum balance to maintain, no hidden fees, and access to thousands of fee-free ATMs across the U.S.

Current’s Premium account also includes early direct deposit and Savings Pods that earn up to 4.00% APY, helping your money grow without sacrificing flexibility.

Chime makes it easy to open a checking account, even if your banking history isn’t perfect. There are no monthly fees, no foreign transaction charges, and no minimum balance required.

You can also boost your credit with the Chime Credit Builder Visa®. It’s a secured card with no credit check, no annual fee, and no interest charges.

Chime gives you access to over 47,000 fee-free ATMs, early direct deposit, and cash deposit options at more than 8,500 Walgreens locations.

Stash offers a checking account with no ChexSystems review or credit check. This makes it accessible if you’ve had trouble opening accounts in the past.

Each time you use the Stash debit card, you earn Stock-Back® rewards in the form of small pieces of stock from the brands where you spend.

You can also receive your paycheck early through direct deposit. The account has no overdraft fees.

Everything is managed through the Stash mobile app, which also includes investing and budgeting tools.

Approval depends on your ChexSystems record, but if accepted, you’ll receive an ATM card, 50 free personalized checks, and access to online banking, bill pay, and notary services.

The account requires a $10 opening deposit and has a $7.50 monthly fee. Membership is open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Hampden or Hampshire County, or to family of existing members.

Branches are located in Belchertown and Chicopee.

To open an account, you must become a member by depositing $25 into savings and resolving any charged-off accounts.

Fresh Start Checking requires a $25 deposit and has a $9.95 monthly fee, reduced to $7.95 with direct deposit.

Membership is available to those who live, work, or attend school in Franklin, Hampshire, or Worcester County. Athol CU has one location in Athol.

It gives you a real path back to everyday banking without the features that tend to trip people up while they recover.

Opening one takes a $25 deposit. You get a debit card, online and mobile banking, and early direct deposit that can post your pay up to two days sooner.

The account leaves out paper checks and overdraft protection by design, so you spend only what you have, and GFA pairs it with free GreenPath financial counseling to help with budgeting and credit. Balances are federally insured by the NCUA.

In Massachusetts, GFA has branches in Ashburnham, Gardner, Hubbardston, Leominster, Rutland, and Winchendon.

The account runs $10 a month, but it automatically converts to Jeanne D’Arc’s Fee-Free Checking after 12 months of positive activity, dropping the fee entirely.

It includes direct deposit, mobile deposit, and free online and mobile banking, plus access to free financial counseling to help you rebuild.

Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts communities including the Merrimack Valley. Jeanne D’Arc has Massachusetts branches in Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, Methuen, Tyngsboro, and Westford.

It’s designed to give your credit a fresh start, and after 12 months of positive account history, you can request a transfer to a standard checking account.

It takes $10 to open and carries a $15 monthly fee, and it requires direct deposit. You get free online banking, online bill pay, and eStatements.

To qualify, any reported account closures on your record must total no more than $1,000. The account isn’t eligible for overdraft protection or remote deposit while you’re rebuilding.

Luso Federal Credit Union has branches in Ludlow and Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

It’s a fully digital account you open online, built to get you back into banking when past account history has been a barrier.

Once approved, you get an instant digital Visa debit card within 24 hours, with the physical card following.

The account includes early pay up to two days ahead of payday, money management tools, and access to more than 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. Because it’s digital, you can open and manage it from anywhere.

OneUnited is the largest Black-owned bank in the country and a certified community development financial institution.

It’s headquartered in Boston, with branch locations in Boston, and the account is available to customers nationwide online.

The account requires a $50 deposit and carries a $16.95 monthly fee, reduced to $11.95 with direct deposit.

You’ll receive a Visa debit card, free online banking, mobile banking, balance alerts, and no fees for writing checks.

Branches are located in Attleboro, Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Lexington, Needham, Newton, Quincy, and Taunton, with other locations statewide.