Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in New Mexico

Struggling to open a checking account in New Mexico due to a negative ChexSystems listing?

While most banks use ChexSystems to review your banking history, there are some that don’t. Additionally, some banks offer second checking accounts.

Non-ChexSystems & Second Chance Banks in New Mexico

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of New Mexico banks and credit unions that allow anyone to open a checking account, regardless of their banking history.

U.S. Bank

Our Top Pick

Features & Benefits

  • Up to $400 bonus
  • Minimum opening deposit of $25
  • Monthly service fee: $0 or $6.95
  • Over 40,000 surcharge-free MoneyPass ATMs

The U.S. Bank 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.

SoFi

Our Second Pick

Features & Benefits

  • Sign-up bonus up to $300 with qualifying direct deposits
  • No monthly fee
  • Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings
  • Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs

The SoFi Checking and Savings account provides a multitude of benefits, including no overdraft fees, balance requirements, or monthly charges.

For a limited time, there’s an enticing sign-up bonus of up to $300 with qualifying direct deposits.

In addition, account holders can utilize 55,000 ATMs free of charge via the Allpoint® Network. Those establishing direct deposit are entitled to an annual percentage yield (APY) of 4.60% on their savings and 0.50% on checking accounts.

Direct deposit users also get the added benefit of early access to their paychecks – up to 2 days ahead, and they can earn up to 15% cash back at local businesses when they make transactions with the SoFi debit card.

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 checking account with a debit card, and a savings account, all with no credit check.

When you open a Chime Checking Account, you won’t have to worry about monthly maintenance fees, foreign transaction fees, or 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

  • 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

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.

With Current, your everyday purchases can now shape your financial future. Simply by swiping your debit card, you can build credit. No loans or credit checks needed. There are also no monthly or annual fees for this service.

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.

Chase

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.

1st Convenience Bank

1st Convenience Bank doesn’t utilize a ChexSystems record check so you may get approved for an account. The most basic option is the e-Account. You won’t be able to write checks, but you do get a MasterCard debit card, plus perks like online and mobile banking.

The monthly fee is $7 but you can get it reduced to $5 by signing up for e-statements. It’s free to use Gold Key ATMs, otherwise, you’ll be charged $2.50 for out-of-network ATMs.

There are many 1st Convenience Bank locations placed in Walmarts throughout New Mexico, including Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, and Roswell.

Bank of Albuquerque

If you’ve had banking mistakes in your past, Bank of Albuquerque offers a second chance with their Opportunity Banking account. It comes with a monthly fee of $14.95, but that goes down to $9.95 per month if you have direct deposit totally at least $300.

The account provides you with a free Visa debit card, plus the usual features like online and mobile banking. You also get free ATM access to over 24,000 ATMs across the country.

Another nice perk is that you can get one overdraft fee refunded each year, as long as you initiate the request. There’s an additional monthly fee or $1.50 if you want paper statements, but you can elect to receive e-statements for free.

Additionally, you’ll need $50 to open the account. As the name implies, there are branch locations in and around the Albuquerque area.

Bank of the Southwest

Bank of the Southwest offers less stringent approval guidelines when it comes to having a history in ChexSystems. You might be able to get approved for a checking account if you’ve paid any outstanding fees to financial institutions and don’t have any records less than a year old.

Bank of the Southwest offers just a single personal checking account, and you’ll need to talk directly to a customer service representative to get approved.

To visit a branch in person, you can choose from multiple locations. There are branches in Roswell, Hatch, Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences, Elephant Butte, Farmington, Kirtland, and Bloomfield.

First American Community Credit Union

You can get Second Chance Checking from First American Community. There are a few restrictions that come along with the account, but also some nice benefits.

First, there’s no minimum monthly balance. Plus, you get standard features like online and mobile banking, bill pay, and free e-statements.

The monthly fee is $10 and you must start with a $50 opening deposit. Also, you’re limited to just 50 free transactions each month; thereafter, you’ll be charged $0.20 for each one.

After managing your account well for 12 months, you can upgrade to another checking account with First American Community.

There’s a branch location in Tse Bonito where you can learn more, or you can apply directly online. Before accessing the Second Chance Checking, you’ll need to become a member.

Jemez Valley Credit Union

You may just need a valid photo ID to get approved for a checking account with Jemez Valley. But first, you’ll need to qualify for membership to the credit union.

You’re eligible if anyone in your family is already a member, or if you live, work, or own property in either the Jemez Valley or Rio Rancho School district.

To get started, you’ll need to first open a regular share savings account with a minimum deposit of $25. Then you can open up a draft checking account, which comes with no monthly fee and no minimum balance required.

If you keep at least $2,000 in your account, you’ll earn a modest 0.20% interest on your balance. There is one branch location in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

Lea County State Bank

Lea County State Bank offers Opportunity Checking which allows you to take advantage of a traditional bank account.

You’ll need to start with $100 to open up the account and there are a few different fees to be aware of. If you sign up for Check Safekeeping, there’s no monthly fee but you do pay $0.25 per check for the first ten checks, then $0.40 for each one thereafter.

If you don’t get Check Safekeeping, there’s a $4 monthly fee in addition to the same per check fees. Either way, you do get a Visa check card in addition to internet banking and bill pay. You can find Lea County State Bank branches in Hobbs and Lovington.

Wells Fargo

If Wells Fargo declines you for a standard checking account, you may still qualify for their “Clear Access Banking” account.

This second chance checking account has a monthly fee of $5. The only way to avoid it is if the primary account owner is 13 – 24 years old.

There’s a minimum opening deposit of $25. You get access to online bill pay, mobile banking, and over 13,000 ATMs free of charge.

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. The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.