Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Minnesota

Have you tried to open a checking account in Minnesota, but can’t get approved? It’s probably because you have a negative listing in ChexSystems. Most banks in Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Take a look at this comprehensive list of banks and credit unions in Minnesota that either don’t use ChexSystems, or offer second chance checking accounts.

Chase

Our Top Pick

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

Chase offers a checking account called Chase Secure Banking. The account comes with a Chase debit card that gets you access to over 16,000 fee-free ATMs.

Some features of this checking account include free online bill pay, free money orders and cashier’s checks, no overdraft fees, and no minimum opening deposit. However, there is also a monthly service fee of $4.95.

When you open a Chase Secure Banking account and make 10 qualifying purchases within 60 days, you’ll get a $100 cash bonus.

Account approval is immediate, and the debit card typically arrives within days.

U.S. Bank

Our Second Pick
  • $600 sign-up bonus
  • Minimum opening deposit of $25
  • Monthly service fee: $0 or $6.95
  • Over 40,000 surcharge-free MoneyPass ATMs

U.S. Bank is now offering the Bank Smartly™ Checking account, which is currently available in 26 states across the United States.

If you live in one of the following 26 states where this account is available, you can apply online: AR, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY.

You can earn up to $600 when you open a new Bank Smartly™ Checking account, and complete qualifying activities. This offer is valid through April 11, 2023.

The Smartly™ Checking account comes with a free debit card and the option to lock or unlock the card if it’s ever lost or stolen.

Plus, you’ll never have to worry about ATM transaction fees at U.S. Bank ATMs or surcharge fees at over 40,000 MoneyPass Network ATMs.

U.S. Bank uses ChexSystems, but it has a history of being more lenient with records than most banks.

As long as you don’t have a history of fraud, or you don’t owe any money to U.S. Bank, you may be able to open a checking account with them.

The minimum opening deposit for this account is just $25, and the monthly service fee is $6.95. However, you can avoid the monthly fee by maintaining a minimum balance of $1,500 or by having a minimum monthly Direct Deposit of $1,000.

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.

With this account, you can earn up to 3.30% APY and enjoy up to a $100 welcome bonus. Additionally, you’ll have access to unlimited free mobile deposits and your funds will be FDIC insured up to $250,000.

There are no overdraft fees or non-sufficient fund fees to worry about, and no minimum balance requirements.

All you need is a $50 deposit to open the account, and Axos Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems or pull your credit report to open your account.

Chime

Features & Benefits

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

With Chime®, bad banking history is not an issue. They offer an award-winning financial app, a debit card, and a credit builder Visa® credit card, all with no credit check.

The Chime Checking Account has no monthly fees:

  • no monthly maintenance fees
  • no foreign transaction fees
  • no minimum balance fees

You can also start building your credit7 with the Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. It’s a secured credit card with no annual fees, no credit checks, and no interest charges1.

Chime has over 60,0001 fee-free MoneyPass® and Visa® Plus Alliance ATMs. Plus, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit2. You can also deposit cash for free at over 8,500 Walgreens.

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

Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. The company does not use ChexSystems or pull your credit report, and they have a lot to offer.

A Current mobile bank account includes fee-free overdraft protection of up to $200. Account holders also get access to over 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs with your Current debit card, and there is no minimum balance or hidden fees.

You can also get paid up to two days early with direct deposit with a Current Premium account. Plus, Current offers up to 4.00% APY with Current Savings Pods.

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

GO2bank is a neobank offered by Green Dot, a well-established financial technology company. Customers can open a checking account featuring subaccounts known as vaults without a minimum balance requirement.

GO2bank provides an attractive 4.50% APY on savings accounts for balances of up to $5,000. Access to funds is made easy through cash deposits at 90,000 retail locations and fee-free ATMs at 19,000 locations.

Additionally, customers can receive their pay up to 2 days in advance and government benefits up to 4 days early via direct deposit.

You can also opt for overdraft protection up to $200 with eligible direct deposits.

GO2bank offers the GO2bank Secured Visa Credit Card, which can assist customers in building their credit over time through responsible use.

The $5 monthly fee is waived when you receive payroll or government benefits through direct deposit.

American Federal Bank

You may be able to get a checking account with American Federal Bank because they reportedly run a credit check rather than a ChexSystems review.

Their American Free account is truly free with no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirement. However, you’ll need to make a relatively steep opening deposit of $100. Unlimited check writing comes with this account, as does either a cash card or ATM card.

American Federal Bank has locations in both Minnesota and North Dakota. Their Minnesota branch and ATM locations include Ada, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Fergus Falls, Fosston, Hallock, Moorhead, and Warren.

Gate City Bank

Instead of ChexSystems, Gate City Bank uses Choice Point to verify your identity. Checking account options include Totally FREE Checking, Benefit Interest Checking, 50+ FREE Checking, VIP FREE Interest Checking, and Premium Interest Checking.

Totally FREE Checking is the easiest to qualify for, regardless of age. As its name implies, this account has no monthly fee or balance requirement. However, you do need to open the account with $50 or more.

You’ll instantly receive your free ATM and check card, plus you get free access to online and mobile banking, include remote check deposit. There’s also a free money management tool you can use.

A final perk is that you’ll receive a “Thank You” gift for opening a new account, and also up to $25 when you bring in your check cards and unused checks from another bank or credit union. Gate City Bank has locations throughout West Central Minnesota.

Marine Credit Union

The Credit Builder Checking account from Marine is a flexible second chance account in Minnesota. The monthly fee is a mere $5 and there’s no minimum balance needed.

To open the account, you must first become a member of the credit union and deposit $5 into your Regular Savings account. Then you must deposit $50 into your Credit Builder Checking account and sign up for direct deposit.

You can upgrade to a different account after keeping your account in good standing for 12 months.

With the Credit Builder Checking account, you get a free debit card plus your first box of checks for free. There’s no per check fee and you also get the usual benefits like online banking, e-alerts, and bill pay.

Minnesota branches are located in Rushford and Winona.

Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union

You can get a Second Chance Checking account directly through Minnesota Valley Federal. You do need to maintain a minimum balance of $100; otherwise, you’ll be charged a $2 monthly fee.

You can also get overdraft protection from your savings account. Other than those requirements, you get the same perks as any other checking account at Minnesota Valley FCU.

To become a member, you must live, work, worship, attend school, or volunteer in Blue Earth, Nicollet, or Le Sueur counties. There are two branches located in Mankato, one uptown and one downtown office.

United Savings Credit Union

United Savings reportedly uses a credit check instead of ChexSystems. In addition to their Basic Checking account, there’s also Advantage Checking, and Cha Ching Checking (which is interest-bearing).

Both Basic and Advantage Checking include no required minimum balance and unlimited check writing. The only difference is that Advantage Checking includes identity theft protection services.

To become a member of United Savings, you must live within a 75-mile radius of their home office in Fargo, North Dakota. They have a Minnesota location in Dilworth.

Westconsin Credit Union

Despite the name, Westconsin services the following Minnesota counties: Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Isanti, Ramsey, Wabasha, and Washington.

Apply for their Foundations Checking account, which is more lenient for approvals but does come with some restrictions.

There’s an $8 monthly fee and you get a debit card, but no checks issued with the account. On the plus side, there’s no required minimum balance and no per item charges.

To find a Westconsin branch, you will have to cross the border into Wisconsin if you ever need in-person assistance.

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.