Have you been denied a checking account because you have a negative ChexSystems record? It can be frustrating to be turned away from a neighborhood bank in Missouri, especially when you have a solid job and are in no danger of overdrafting. To spare you the frustration of applying and being denied, we’ve compiled a list of banks that either don’t use ChexSystems or instead offer second chance checking accounts.
A second chance checking account is often a temporary checking account that you can open until you prove your financial situation is stable enough for a standard checking account. The wait time for a transfer is often six months to a year.
Not all banks use ChexSystems. Some banks use Telecheck, EWS, or simply run a credit report. Sometimes they’ll do none of these and instead simply request two forms of identification. Which option you choose will vary depending on where you live and what your nearby options are. You can also consider some online banking options.
Here’s the complete list of non-ChexSystems and second chance checking accounts in Missouri.
BBVA Compass ClearConnect Free Checking
BBVA Compass doesn’t use ChexSystems for new applications and it’s an online bank so you can apply no matter where you live in Missouri. There are no monthly fees for the ClearConnect Free Checking account, and no minimum balance either. To open your account, you’ll need just a $25 deposit. You can also sign up for overdraft protection and avoid the $3 paper statement fee by signing up for e-statements.
Alliance Credit Union
Alliance Credit Union offers a second chance checking account called FreshStart Checking. Designed to help people repair their ChexSystems’ checking history, FreshStart only requires a $5 opening deposit and has a $10 monthly fee. However, the monthly fee can be reduced to $5 if you enroll in direct deposit. FreshStart comes with free online banking and bill pay, as well as access to over 28,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
Alliance has locations in Fenton, St. Louis, Hazelwood, O’Fallon, and Wentzville. To join, applicants must live or work in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, and St. Louis City.
Armed Forces Bank
Armed Forces Bank does not uses ChexSystems to screen new applicants. Instead, they use an Equifax credit report as well as Certegy check services. They offer two checking accounts: Access Checking and Elite Checking. Access Checking requires a $25 opening deposit and has a $10 monthly service fee unless you sign up for direct deposit. It comes with free remote deposit, free bill pay, a free Visa debit card, as well as free online and mobile banking.
Armed Forces Bank has a location in Fort Leonard Wood. To open an account, you must either be actively enrolled or retired from the U.S. Armed Forces.
Arsenal Credit Union
Arsenal Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems to screen new applications, but instead uses Telecheck. They currently have four types of checking accounts: Totally Free Checking, Value Checking, Advantage Plus Checking and Business Checking. Totally Free Checking does not have any fees or balance requirements, and may not even have a minimum opening deposit requirement.
Arsenal Credit Union has locations in Arnold and St. Louis. To join, you must either live or work in Jefferson County, St. Louis County, or St. Louis City. You may also join if you have a family member who is already a member, or if you’re employed with select companies.
BancorpSouth
Bancorp offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their ChexSystems checking history. It comes with free online banking, a free debit MasterCard, and a budget app to help you reach your savings goals. To open an account only requires a $50 opening deposit. For more information, you’ll need to speak with a BancorpSouth customer service representative.
BancorpSouth has locations in Clayton and Springfield County, Missouri.
Bank of Kirksville
Bank of Kirksville doesn’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck or EWS and doesn’t even run a credit report. Only two forms of ID are required to open an account with Bank of Kirksville. They offer eleven types of checking accounts and three types of savings accounts, but to get more information, applicants need to speak with a Kirksville representative.
Bank of Kirksville has locations in Kirksville, La Plata, Downing, Memphis, Macon, Moberly, Novinger, Queen City, and Lancaster.
Cape Regional Credit Union
Cape Regional Credit Union does not run a ChexSystems, Telecheck or EWS scan. It also doesn’t run a credit report. Instead, they only require two forms of ID, one of which must be government issued.
Cape Regional currently has locations in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Cape Girardeau, has a family member who is already a member or works for select employee groups. You can also qualify if you’re a member of St. Ambrose, Chaffee, St. John’s, Leopold, Oran, or Guardian Angel.
Central Bank of Kansas City
Central Bank of Kansas City does not use ChexSystems to screen new applications. Instead, to open an account with Central Bank you must simply provide two forms of ID — one of which must be government issued.
Central Bank of Kansas City has two locations in Kansas City. There are currently three types of checking accounts offered by Central Bank: eBanking, Blue Basic, and Premier Checking. All require a $1,000 minimum balance if you don’t want to have a monthly service charge. Premier requires a $1,000 minimum deposit, but eBanking and Blue Basic only require $100. Depending on which account you have, the monthly service fee may be $7 or $10 if your account falls below $1,000.
Central Bank of the Midwest
Central Bank of the Midwest offers a second chance checking account called Fresh Start Checking. It requires an opening deposit of $50, and there is a monthly service fee of $8. If you sign up for direct deposit, the fee drops down to $6. It comes with unlimited check writing, free bill pay, as well as a free online and mobile access.
Central Bank of the Midwest has locations in Kansas City, Blue Springs, Oak Grove, Independence, and Lee’s Summit.
Central Communications Credit Union
Central Communications Credit Union does not use ChexSystems, Telecheck or EWS. Instead, CCCU runs a credit report and credit score check on all new applications. As long as you don’t have too many negative entries on your credit report and your credit score is at least a 549, CCCU may open an account with you.
To join Central Communications Credit Union, applicants must work for a participating employer or live or work in Jackson or Clay County. They have branch locations in Independence and Kansas City, Missouri.
Chester National Bank
Chester National Bank uses Telecheck instead of ChexSystems when screening new applications. They also run a credit report. To open a regular checking account with Chester National Bank only requires a $50 opening deposit. There’s also a monthly fee of $5 unless your account has a balance of at least $500. This fee can also be waived if you have at least $1,000 in a savings account.
Chester National Bank has a location in Perryville, Missouri, as well as three locations in Illinois.
Chime Bank
Chime Bank is an entirely online banking experience, and is one of the nation’s fastest growing banks. It does not use ChexSystems to screen new applications, nor does it even run a credit check. Many people who have bad credit are still able to open an account with Chime without a minimum deposit.
Chime doesn’t charge a monthly fee or charge any overdraft fees. Account holders signed up with direct deposit are able to get paid two days earlier than their coworkers, and each member gets a free Visa debit card, free online and mobile access, as well as free bill pay.
Community Bank and Trust
Community Bank and Trust doesn’t use ChexSystems to screen new applications. Instead, they only require two forms of identification. Currently, Community Bank and Trust offers five types of checking accounts: Prestige Checking, Preferred Free Interest Checking, Premier 50+ Free Interest Checking, and Absolutely Free Checking. Absolutely Free Checking doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement or a monthly service charge.
CB&T has Missouri locations in Riverton, Galena, Carl Junction, Neosho, Joplin, Carthage, Seneca, Anderson, Diamond, and Granby.
Concordia Bank
Concordia Bank offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history. It requires a minimum opening deposit of $100 but doesn’t have any minimum balance requirements. There’s a $10 monthly fee, but account holders may be able to transfer to a standard checking account after one year of maintaining a positive balance.
Concordia Bank has locations in Concordia, Laurie, and Odessa.
Electro Savings Credit Union
Electro Savings Credit Union offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history with ChexSystems. Called Fresh Start Checking, it doesn’t require an opening deposit or a minimum balance. There’s a monthly fee of $10, but account holders get every modern banking convenience that comes with standard checking accounts, including remote mobile deposit.
ESCU has locations in Maryland Heights, Wildwood, Manchester, and St. Louis.
First Community Credit Union
First Community Credit Union doesn’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS to screen new applications. Instead, they only require two forms of ID. One of these IDs must be governmentally issued.
First Community offers four types of checking accounts for its members to choose. None of them require a minimum balance, nor do any of them have a monthly service fee. First Rate Checking, however, allows members to earn high dividends on their balances and will pay back ATM fees.
First Community has numerous locations in and around the St. Louis area. To join, applicants must live or work in St. Louis, St. Louis City, St. Charles, Jefferson, Warren, or Franklin County.
First Missouri Credit Union
First Missouri Credit Union uses Telecheck in lieu of ChexSystems to approve bank account applications. They offer five types of checking accounts: Debit Rewards, High Interest Checking, E-Account, Interest, and Value. The E-Account costs only $7 a month, but this fee can be waived if you enroll in eStatements and pay three bills per month with your account.
First Missouri Credit Location is located in St. Louis, but members can access their account from numerous co-op locations across the state and nation. To join, you must live or work in Missouri’s Jefferson or St. Louis County.
First National Bank
First National Bank doesn’t run a ChexSystems scan on new applications, they only require a driver’s license and a social security number. As long as you don’t owe First National Bank any money, and you’re able to provide the necessary identification, you’ll likely be able to open an account.
FNB has a free checking account that only requires a $100 opening deposit. After that, there are no monthly fees or minimum account balance requirements. You’ll find numerous FNB branch locations across most of Missouri.
First State Community Bank
First State Community Bank offers a second chance checking account called New Opportunity Checking. It requires a $50 opening deposit and has a monthly fee of $9.95. This amount can be dropped down to $7.95 if you sign up for direct deposit. It comes with a free debit MasterCard, free online and mobile banking, as well as free bill pay.
FSCB has many locations across Eastern and Northern Missouri.
Focus Bank
Focus Bank offers a fresh start checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history with ChexSystems. Applicants must make a $50 minimum opening deposit, and there is a $7.95 monthly fee. This amount can be reduced to $5.95 a month if you enroll in eStatements. It comes with free mobile and online banking, as well as free bill pay.
Focus Bank has locations in Charleston, East Prairie, and Sikeston.
Great Southern Bank
Great Southern Bank offers a second chance checking account. It requires a minimum opening deposit of $25 to open and has a monthly service charge of $10. It comes with a free Visa debit card and does not require a minimum balance. Restrictions include no check writing and users may not cash a check against their account.
Account holders may be able to transfer to a standard checking account after they have maintained a positive checking account balance for 60 or more days and completed six FDIC Money Smart online classes.
Great Southern Bank has numerous locations in and around Springfield.
Goetz Credit Union
Goetz Credit Union uses Telecheck to screen new applications. However, even with negative Telecheck records, you may still be able to open an account with Goetz Credit Union provided there’s no history of fraud and you don’t owe GCU any money. If this is the case, GCU will only allow you to use a debit card, but won’t allow you to write any checks.
Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Buchanan, Andrew or Platte County. If you have a family member who is already a member, you may also join. GCU is located in St. Joseph.
Health Care Family Credit Union
Health Care Family Credit Union offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their ChexSystems checking history. Called Fresh Start Checking, it requires a $50 opening deposit and has a $10 monthly service fee. You must sign up for direct deposit, but after you have maintained a positive account balance for 12 months you may be able to transfer to a standard checking account.
To join HCFCU, you must first fill out a membership account agreement, which can be found online. Health Care Family Credit Union has two branch locations in Richmond Heights and St. Peters, Missouri.
Kansas City Credit Union
Kansas City Credit Union does not use ChexSystems to screen new applications. Instead, they use Telecheck. KCCU offers a free checking account to its members that comes with many online checking tools.
Kansas City Credit Union has four locations throughout Kansas City. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Jackson or Clay County. Anyone who is an employee of Kansas City, the Metro, KCATA, Truman Medical Centers or is a Missouri government employee is also eligible for membership. When you join, you must then make a deposit of $25 into a share savings account at any branch location.
Landmark Bank
Landmark Bank offers a second chance checking account called Rebound Checking. It comes with a monthly service fee of $9.99. Customers who are able to maintain a positive balance for over a year are eligible to transfer to one of Landmark Bank’s standard checking accounts, which includes Better Free Checking.
Landmark Bank has locations in Mountain View, Licking, Houston, Cabool, Willow Springs, West Plains, Columbia, Jefferson City, Birch tree, Ashland, and St. Louis.
Missouri Credit Union
Missouri Credit Union has a second chance checking account called Smart Start Checking. It requires a $25.00 opening deposit, but it doesn’t charge a monthly service charge or require a minimum balance. If you want to use mobile banking, there’s a $1 a month charge, and if you’d like a debit card, that also costs $1 a month.
Missouri Credit Union provides multiple routes to membership. One option is to live or work in Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Osage, or Randolph County. Another way is to have a family member who is already a member. A third option is to be employed by the State of Missouri or work for Branson, Camdenton, Canton, Kirksville, Marceline, Nevada, or Osage Beach City.
There are even additional pathways to membership, and they can be found on the MCU website. MCU has locations in Columbia and Jefferson City.
Mobank
Mobank (formerly the Bank of Kansas City) offers a second chance checking account called Opportunity Checking. Designed to help people improve and repair their ChexSystems history, Opportunity Checking requires a minimum opening deposit of $50. There’s a monthly service fee of $14.95, but you get a free Visa debit card, free bill pay, and free online and mobile banking.
Bank of Kansas City has locations in Kansas City, Prairie Village, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, and Lebanon.
Montgomery Bank
Montgomery Bank offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history with ChexSystems. Called New Start, it requires a minimum deposit of $20, but there isn’t a monthly service fee or a minimum account balance. It comes with free online banking, free check writing, and a free Visa debit card.
Montgomery Bank has locations in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Miner, Sikeston, Bridgeton, Chesterfield, Des Peres, Mid South, and South County.
Neighbors Credit Union
Neighbors Credit Union uses Telecheck to screen new applications instead of ChexSystems. They also use a credit report. If the report doesn’t have too many negative entries on it, and there’s not a record of fraud, NCU may open a new account for you.
To join Neighbors Credit Union, you must live in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Madison County, or Monroe County. Applicants may also join if they have a family member who is already a member with Neighbors Credit Union. NCU currently has branch locations in St. Louis, Ellisville, Fenton, Florissant, Hazelwood, Jennings, Manchester, and St. Peters.
Northland Teachers Credit Union
Northland Teachers Credit Union does not use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS, but instead runs a credit report on each application. As long as the report doesn’t have too many negative entries on it, Northland Teachers Credit Union may approve the application.
To open an account with Northland, applicants must live or work in Clay, Ray or Clinton County. NTCU is located on 6604 North Oak Trafficway in Kansas City.
Seymour Bank
Seymour Bank uses Telecheck to screen new applications instead of ChexSystems. Seymour Bank has locations in Marshfield, Seymour, and Rogersville, and offers four types of checking accounts and two types of interest-bearing accounts. They are:
- E-Checking
- Regular Checking
- Excel Club Checking
- Senior Citizen Checking
- Now Account
- Excel PLus Checking
Regular Checking requires a $200 daily balance if you want to avoid the $8 monthly fee. E-checking does not have a minimum balance requirement and is completely free if you opt for eStatements.
Sherwood Community Bank
Sherwood Community Bank does not use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS. They also don’t run a credit report. They only require that the applicant provide two forms of ID (one of which must be government issued). To qualify, you also must not owe any money to Sherwood.
To open a Free Green account with Sherwood only requires a $1 opening deposit. It doesn’t have a monthly service fee or a minimum balance requirement. Sherwood Community Bank has locations in Creighton, Urich, Garden City, Harrisonville, and Hume.
South Community Credit Union
South Community Credit Union requires applicants to provide two forms of identification. One of the IDs must be governmentally issued. South Community also uses OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) to screen new applications, but they don’t use ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS.
As a member, you can create both a checking account and a savings account, which can be linked for overdraft protection. South Community Credit Union is located in Sullivan County, but members gain access to thousands of union co-op branches across the nation.
St. Louis Community Credit Union
St. Louis Community Credit Union offers a second chance checking account called Freedom Checking. To open this account, you’ll need to open both a savings account and a checking account with St. Louis Community Credit Union. After six months of keeping your account in good standing, you may be eligible to transfer to a standard checking account.
St. Louis Community Credit Union has 17 locations in St. Louis County.
Town and Country Bank
Town and Country Bank has a second chance checking account called Opportunity Checking for anyone looking to improve their ChexSystems credit history. There is a $6 monthly fee if you sign up for direct deposit, but it goes up to $8 if you don’t. Town and Country also offers account holders the option to add an additional $5.99 a month to receive additional benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Identity protection
- Accidental death insurance
- Cell phone protection
- Hotel discounts
- Prescription discounts
- Shopping discounts
TCB has branch locations throughout Missouri.
United Consumers Credit Union
United Consumers Credit Union offers customers a second chance checking account to help them repair their checking history. It costs only $10 a month, and there is no minimum account balance requirement. A minimum opening deposit of $100 is required. After 12 months of maintaining a positive balance, you may switch to a standard checking account.
United Consumers Credit Union has locations in St. Joseph, Independence, and Raytown.
United Credit Union
United Credit Union offers a second chance checking account called Restore Checking. Restore Checking has a $10 monthly service fee, but comes with free online banking, a free debit card, and free bill pay. If you’re able to maintain a positive balance for six months or more, you may be eligible to transfer to one of United Credit Union’s standard checking accounts.
United Credit Union has locations Mexico, Vandalia, Moberly, Troy, Columbia, and Fulton. To join you must work or live in one of the following counties:
- Adair
- Audrain
- Boone
- Callaway
- Chariton
- Howard
- Lincoln
- Linn
- Macon
- Marion
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Pike
- Ralls
- Randolph
- Shelby
Wood & Huston Bank
Wood and Huston offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their checking history. Called StartFresh Checking, it requires a minimum deposit of $25 to open and has a $6.95 monthly fee. When first establishing the account, you must sign up for direct deposit. This account doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement, and after 18 months you may be able to transfer to a standard checking account.
Wood and Huston has locations in Marshall, Higginsville, Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, and West Plains.