Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Michigan

Features & Benefits

• Sign-up bonus up to $250 with qualifying direct deposits
• No monthly fee
• Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings
• Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs

Features & Benefits

• Over 14.5 million downloads
• No credit check or ChexSystems
• No minimum opening deposit
• Over 60,000 fee-free¹ ATMs

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

Features & Benefits

• No ChexSystems or credit check
• 4.50% APY on savings
• Over 19,000 fee-free ATMs
• $5 monthly fee can be waived

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

Copoco Community uses Telecheck instead of ChexSystems to screen all new members. To avoid all monthly fees, Copoco members must have at least $300 in their account or be signed up for direct deposit.

If you do neither, a low $2 monthly fee is imposed on your account. Members get access to free Powerline Audio Teller, as well as free online access and free check images.

To create an account with Community First Federal, you’ll need to provide your ID and consent to having your credit report pulled. As long as your credit is in good standing, it won’t matter what ChexSystems has on file for you. Membership at CFFCU has several benefits.

Members are not responsible to pay any monthly fees and can write as many checks as they want. There are also no minimum balances. Dividends are also possible if you maintain a daily balance of $1,000.

Dividends are compounded monthly and are credited back into your account at the tail end of each month. They also offer account monitoring to help borrowers keep track of their accounts with real-time updates.

Consumers does not use ChexSystems, but rather looks at each member’s credit report prior to membership. They offer two types of checking accounts, Simple and Interest Checking. Simple Checking is best for most members.

It’s completely free if you sign up for e-statements, and comes with both online and mobile 24/7 account access.

Interest Checking is great for members who can keep a balance greater than $1,000. Another perk is that each member gets a free box of checks once per year.

Central Savings Bank uses credit reports for all applicants instead of ChexSystems. A decent credit history, therefore, is all you need to qualify for an account with CSB.

CSB offers two types of accounts for you to choose from. The first is a non-interest bearing account called No Charge Checking Account, and it doesn’t require a minimum balance, nor are there ever any service charges.

The second option is called Personal Now Checking Account and it is an interest-based account. Interest is compounded monthly and there is no service charge if your balance is above $1,000. If it’s below, you’ll be charged $0.10 per debit transaction and $5 a month maintenance charge.

Instead of referring to ChexSystems, Covantage uses your credit report for screening prior to membership. There are no monthly service fees or required minimum balance. You get unlimited check writing every month, and free access to over 30,000 ATMs nationwide.

Overdraft protection is available to all members and you can earn a dividend if you maintain a daily balance of $500 or more. Remote deposit and free online and mobile banking are also available to all members.

Community Wide uses credit reports to screen all new applicants prior to membership. If your credit is in good standing, an account with Community Wide CU may be an option. It has everything you’ve come to expect with a modern checking account, including:

• Non-surcharge ATMS
• Overdraft protection
• Free online and mobile banking
• Mobile remote deposit
• Text alerts
• Direct deposit
• ID theft protection
• Free bill pay

Opening an account can be done entirely online, and only takes a few minutes to complete.

Credit Union One offers a second chance checking account called Basic Checking. It’s designed to help members build a positive banking history.

Basic Checking only requires a $25 deposit to open and members may be eligible to open a standard checking account after only 12 months.

Members can access over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide, and monthly fees can be waived or reduced with direct deposit and a minimum balance of $500.

Automatic bill pay is also available to all members, and you can sign up for email and text alerts if your balance gets too low or if there is unusual account activity.

Eaton Community Bank uses Telecheck instead of ChexSystems to screen all new applicants. This is good for those who have been denied membership because of ChexSystems information.

Eaton offers many services to members, but its checking service is on par with large banks.

They offer secure online and mobile banking, text message banking, telephone banking, remote direct deposit, and e-statements for those looking to go green.

If you need ATM access, Eaton has partnered with MoneyPass, so members can access thousands of non-surcharge co-op ATMs across the country.

Family First checks your credit report instead of screening you through ChexSystems prior to membership. If you’ve been denied membership to other banks because of past ChexSystems financial history, you may be able to get an account with FFCU if your credit is in good standing.

FFCU offers all the same perks as other banks, some of which include:

• Free online and mobile banking
• Free bill pay
• Free debit card
• Overdraft protection

Members can also wire money, take out personal loans, and open up savings accounts, interest accounts, and Christmas accounts.

Farmers and Merchants State Bank offers a second chance checking account to help members rebuild a positive checking account history.

There is no minimum balance requirement and the monthly fee is only $9.95 a month. However, if you sign up for direct deposit the fee goes down to $7.95.

An account with Farmers and Merchants gets you unlimited check writing, free online and mobile banking, and access to thousands of ATMs nationwide.

Once your account is in good standing you may be able to upgrade to other Farmers and Merchants checking account options, such as Ultimate Checking, Pure Checking, or Secure Checking. These accounts offer non-co-op ATM reimbursements and don’t charge a monthly fee.

Horizon Bank offers a Fresh Start Checking Account that doesn’t require a minimum opening balance. It comes with unlimited check writing and also offers free online and mobile banking. It only costs $5 a month, plus you get a free debit card once you join.

Fresh Start Checking is much the same as any other banking account, and you can use it to pay your bills online and make deposits 24/7.

Once you get back on track, Horizon Bank will let you cross over to their standard checking account options, where there isn’t a monthly service fee.

Marshall Community offers Fresh Start Checking to those who may have a strained history with other banks. MCCU is still a traditional bank but offers its Fresh Start Checking as a way for members to rebuild their financial history.

The monthly fee is only $8 a month, but it is possible to lower that amount to $5 if you sign up for e-statements and direct deposit. An account with MCCU does not require a minimum balance and is both online and mobile friendly.

A free debit or ATM card is given to all members and they can also utilize its bill pay features free of charge.

Members First does use ChexSystems when approving new accounts. However, unlike most credit unions and banks, they’re ok with a negative entry or two.

As long as there isn’t a history of fraud and all previous accounts have been paid, Members First may approve your application.

Members First currently has three types of checking accounts for members to choose from. They are Kasasa Cash, Kasasa Cash Back, and Everyday Checking.

Each account is free, and none of them require a minimum account balance. All accounts come with every modern banking tool on the market. These free features include:

• Online, mobile, and text banking
• Bill pay
• eStatements
• Debit card
• Phone banking
• First Pay (get paid two days early with automatic deposit)

Michigan First offers Classic Checking for those in need of a second chance account. It’s a regular bank account geared towards people who want to rebuild a positive relationship with standard banks. Monthly fees are $20 a month, but there is no minimum balance.

Use the mobile app to make deposits, pay all of your bills online, get unlimited checks, gain access to over 30,000 surcharge-fee ATMs, and one free withdrawal a month with a non-co-op ATM.

Maintain a positive relationship with MFCU through this account and you can switch to Premier Checking after only six months, which has a $0 monthly fee.

Michigan State University Federal offers a Rebuild Checking Account, which is an account designed for members who need to repair their financial history. It costs $10 a month but offers direct deposit and free bill pay services.

Members can also gain access to their account 24/7 through its online portals or numerous shared branches nationwide, of which there are 5,000 and counting.

Write checks from your account and do everything you need while also building a positive banking history with this second chance checking account.

Portland Federal uses your credit report to screen you before opening your account. This is a great option if you’ve maintained a good credit score, but have had some hiccups with past banks.

With PFCU, there’s no minimum deposit to open an account. Automatic bill pay and 24/7 online access are also features of this member-owned credit union.

Public Service uses Telecheck instead of ChexSystems to screen all new applicants. A checking account with PSCU has a host of benefits, some of which include:

• Free debit card
• Free mobile banking
• Free online banking
• Free telephone banking
• Free bill pay
• Free ID theft protection

They don’t require a high minimum balance to have a free checking account with them. Only $250 is required to have all monthly fees waived, but should your account dip below that amount, the monthly fee is only $8.95.

Provide a government-issued ID to apply for a checking account with Settlers Federal. If you live, work, go to school, or worship in Ontonagon or Gogebic County, you may qualify for an account.

With SFCU, members can transfer money between Settlers FCU accounts, make payments on loans, and use bill pay to pay all of your bills in one place.

Instead of using ChexSystems, SAFCU requires prospective account holders to provide a form of government-issued ID. This ID is run through their system, and if no red flags pop up they may open an account with you.

A checking account with Straits Area Federal does not have any monthly fees. Additionally, you can access your money through over 28,000 co-op network ATMs free of charge.

All accounts also get free checking, free bill pay, and free transfers from savings to checking.

TBA uses your credit report instead of ChexSystems to approve you for membership. A checking account with TBA doesn’t require a minimum balance or monthly service fee.

Members get free access to over 30,000 surcharge-free nationwide ATMs and can access their account both online and via mobile devices.

Each member gets free $2,000 accidental death insurance and can receive bonuses on share certificates if they sign up for direct deposit.

Team One CU uses your credit report to screen and accept your application. This is a great option if you’ve had some past banking misfortunes but always stayed on top of all of your monthly payments.

If your credit score is in good standing, Team One CU may open an account with you. On top of being able to design your debit card, Team One has a few things going for it:

• Free online and mobile access
• ID theft protection
• No minimum balance
• Dividends on balances over $1,000
• No per check fees
• Overdraft protection
• Courtesy pay coverage
• Unlimited checks written

United Bay CCU doesn’t use ChexSystems. Instead, they use Telecheck. If you’ve been turned down because of financial history that has been logged and shared by ChexSystems, you stand a good chance of opening account with United Bay CCU.

Each account is insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration and you only need a $5 minimum balance.

An account with United Bay opens up additional savings accounts opportunities, such as the Christmas Club account, an IMMA account, and youth accounts.

Vibe pulls your credit report instead of screening you through ChexSystems. VCU members don’t have to worry about minimum balance requirements, monthly or per check fees.

VCU also offers $2,000 in overdraft protection, which means if you overspend on your account, VCU will cover you up to $2,000.

They have a free mobile banking app, which allows you to make deposits any time of day by simply using your smartphone. They also offer a fraud protection app which you notifies you any time there is any account activity on your card.

West Michigan uses your credit report to approve you for a new account. Checking accounts with WMCU don’t require a minimum balance and, upon approval, are eligible for overdraft protection.

Register your account and you can also get shopping rewards at select vendors. Other perks involve identity theft protection, credit monitoring, cell phone protection, and 24-hour accidental death or dismemberment insurance.