Nevada’s unbanked population is on the rise, causing more individuals to rely on prepaid debit cards. If you can’t get approved for a bank account, it may because of your record in ChexSystems. Similar to a credit report, your ChexSystems record is viewed by most banks as part of the application process. When you have negative items on there based on your past account management, you could be denied.
Red-flag items include too many overdrafts, non-sufficient funds, or unpaid fees at past banks. But just because you’ve had financial mistakes in your past doesn’t mean you can’t qualify for a bank account and get rid of inconvenient tools like prepaid debit cards.
With a checking account, you can take advantage of perks like a debit card, check writing, online banking, and mobile check deposit. It’s worth taking the time to find a bank that offers checking accounts to individuals regardless of banking history.
Non-ChexSystems & Second Chance Banks in Nevada
Take a look at our full list of second chance checking accounts and credit unions or banks that don’t use ChexSystems in Nevada.
Chime
on Chime's secure website
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 Spending Account is 100% free and has no monthly fees:
- no overdraft fees
- no monthly maintenance fees
- no foreign transaction fees
- no minimum balance fees
They’ll even spot you up to $200 on debit card purchases with no overdraft fees.
You can also start building your credit with the Chime Credit Builder Visa Credit Card. It’s a secured credit card with no annual fees, no credit checks, and no interest charges.
Chime has over 60,000 fee-free MoneyPass® and Visa® Plus Alliance ATMs. Plus, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit. You can also deposit cash for free at over 8,500 Walgreens.
You can see why Chime is our #1 choice.
Current
on Current's secure website
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 banking account includes fee-free overdraft protection of up to $100. You 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.
Sable
on Sable's secure website
Sable allows you to open a bank account with a debit card and secured credit card in just 5 minutes.
There are no credit checks, no fees, and no minimum deposit required. You can also get an unsecured credit card in about 4 months after using your secured card. That’s 3x faster than what traditional banks offer.
The Sable credit card offers 2% cashback on your favorite brands.
To open a Sable account, you don’t need a social security number or U.S. credit history. You can also send money to 55+ countries and get multilingual customer support.
Clark County Credit Union
on Clark County CU's secure website
Clark County offers second chance checking called Check Again. There’s a $12 monthly fee, but it comes with all the usual banking perks you’d expect from a regular account, including a debit card, online and mobile banking, and monthly e-statements.
To get the account, you have to deposit and maintain $50 in a savings account. You’ll need another $50 as an initial deposit in your checking account.
After 12 months of successfully managing your account, you can upgrade to a fee-free account. There are a number of ways to qualify for membership by either working or supporting specific non-profit organizations in Clark County, Henderson, Las Vegas, or North Las Vegas.
Idaho Central Credit Union
on Idaho Central's secure website
Don’t let the name fool you: if you live or work in Jackpot, Nevada, you can qualify for membership with Idaho Central.
They do not use ChexSystems but instead pull your credit report to approve new accounts.
Their checking options include Free Checking, Go Green! Checking, Money Market Checking, Starter Checking, and Classic Checking.
Free Checking truly is fee-free and you don’t have to worry about maintaining a certain minimum balance in your account. You can get an instant-issue Visa debit card, so you can start using your account right away after applying in a branch. The account also comes with online banking and free Mobile Wallet for Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay.
Nevada State Bank
on Nevada State Bank's secure website
Nevada State Bank offers flexible checking called OnBudget Banking. There are a few restrictions, including no check writing or overdraft protection available. You can, however, take advantage of a debit card, Pop Money, online banking, and mobile check deposit.
To open an OnBudget Banking account, you’ll need a $50 opening deposit, plus pay a monthly fee of $5. There’s a $2.50 monthly fee for paper statements, but that drops off when you enroll in online banking and receive e-statements. You can apply for this account online or in person. Nevada State Bank has branches throughout the state.
Wells Fargo
on Wells Fargo's secure website
For second chance checking from a national bank, you can apply for Opportunity Checking from Wells Fargo. The account is made for people who have been denied a regular checking account because of their ChexSystems record.
It comes with all the perks of a regular account, including a debit card, check writing, online bill pay, and mobile banking.
Start with a $25 initial deposit for your account. Then, you’ll pay a $10 monthly fee, unless you get it waived with one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Use your debit card for 10+ transactions a month
- Receive $500+ in direct deposits each month
- Maintain a $1,500+ minimum daily balance.
They have branches located throughout much of Nevada, plus you can manage your account almost entirely online or through the mobile app.
WestStar Credit Union
on WestStar's secure website
You can apply for Fresh Start Checking from WestStar. There’s no minimum deposit required to open the account, but the monthly fee is a fairly steep $16.50 a month.
You do, however, get access to several benefits, including unlimited check writing, a debit MasterCard, direct deposit, online and mobile banking, plus overdraft protection. After you’ve kept a positive balance for 12 consecutive months, you can upgrade to Simple Checking which is a free account.
To become a member, you must be an employee of a qualifying company or any company that is licensed for Gaming by the State of Nevada. Branches are located in Las Vegas and Reno.