Best Non-ChexSystems Banks & Credit Unions in North Carolina

You can apply for Fresh Start Checking at Alliance Federal, although you’ll need to stop by a branch to find out if you qualify.

The monthly service fee is $10 and you’ll need a $50 opening deposit. After that, though, there’s no minimum balance that needs to be maintained. In addition to your Visa debit card, you’ll also get free online banking, bill pay, text, and mobile banking.

Before you apply for the account, you need to qualify for membership with Alliance Federal. They require that you live, work, worship, or attend school in one of the following counties: New Hanover, Pender, or Brunswick.

Alternatively, you can be employed by one of 400 partner companies to qualify for membership or have a family member who is an existing member.

If you’ve been turned down by other banks, you could get approved for Pathway Checking from Bank OZK. The monthly service fee is $10 and the minimum opening deposit is $50. Once you’ve opened the account, you’re not required to keep a certain balance.

Pathway Checking comes with a Visa debit card, plus unlimited check writing, online banking, and mobile banking. You also get bill pay, with 15 free payments a month and each one costing $0.50 after that. You can also elect to use a mobile wallet through Bank OZK.

Branch locations include Raleigh, Lawndale, Forest City, Shelby, Lincolnton, Kings Mountain, Bessemer City, Gastonia, Cornelius, Belmont, Charlotte, Landis, Mocksville, Concord, Harrisburg, Advance, Lexington, Winston Salem, and Asheboro.

Carolinas Telco Federal uses a credit report check instead of ChexSystems, so you might be able to qualify for a checking account with them. There’s only one checking option available, but it doesn’t require any monthly fee or minimum balance requirement.

You can also qualify for Carolinas Telco’s checking rewards program and earn interest if you make 12 debit purchases each month, sign up for direct deposit or bill pay, and receive e-statements.

Who qualifies for membership at Carolinas Telco Federal? You or a family member must be employed in the telecommunications industry in either North Carolina or South Carolina.

It even counts if you’re self-employed or an independent contractor in the industry. Branch locations include Charlotte, Gastonia, Cornelius, and Raleigh.

Carter Bank & Trust also reportedly uses a credit check rather than ChexSystems. Their Lifetime Free Checking comes with no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirement. You also get unlimited check writing on top of your MasterCard debit card.

Branch locations throughout the state include Asheboro, Burlington, Eden, Fayetteville, Forest City, Greensboro, Greenville, Henderson, Hickory, Jonesville, Lincolnton, Louisburg, Lumberton, Mooresville, Morganton, Mount Airy, Reidsville, Roxboro, Sandford, Shelby, Siler City, Stoneville, Wilkesboro, and Wilson.

Instead of ChexSystems, Champion uses TeleCheck to evaluate new applicants. There are three checking options to choose from: Champion Checking with Rewards, Free Checking, and Senior Rewards Checking.

The most basic option is Free Checking, which gives you a Visa debit card with no monthly fee or minimum balance. Plus you get online banking with bill pay and mobile banking.

To qualify for membership, you must live, work, worship, or go to school in one of the following counties: Haywood, Buncombe, Henderson, Graham, Swain, Jackson, Madison, Macon, or Transylvania Counties. You must also keep at least $5 in your savings account.

Located in and around Charlotte, CMCU offers Fresh Start Checking. There is a monthly service fee of $10.95 but that drops to $7.95 if you sign up for direct deposit. You do, however, get overdraft protection to go along with your free Visa debit card. Also, there’s no minimum balance requirement to worry about either.

To qualify for membership at Charlotte Metro, you must live, work, worship, or attend school in Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, or Union Counties. There are 11 branches throughout the Charlotte area.

Fresh Start Checking from Corporate America Family Federal can help you rebuild a positive checking history in ChexSystems. To qualify, you’ll need to be a member of CAFFCU and keep at least $100 in your savings account there. There’s also a $10 monthly fee associated with Fresh Start Checking.

You can apply either over the phone or at a branch. They have a branch located in High Point.

F&M Bank uses Telecheck instead of ChexSystems, which could help you qualify for a checking account. There are five checking options available, with the most basic option being Simply Yours.

The minimum opening balance is $50 and the $3 monthly charge can be eliminated if you choose e-statements. You also get all the typical amenities like a debit card, online banking, mobile banking, and text alerts.

There are branches located in China Grove, Concord, Faith, Granite Quarry, Kannapolis, Rockwell, and Salisbury.

You might be able to avoid a formal checking history check when you apply with Fort Sill National Bank. Try the Basic Checking which requires a $50 opening deposit and has no credit check required. There’s a modest monthly fee of $5.50 but that can be eliminated if you keep your account balance above $75.

You get a free Visa check card, unlimited check writing, and free basic online banking. Your account could even earn interest if your balance reaches $500 or more.

Instead of ChexSystems, Members runs a credit report on new members. There’s only one checking option, but it offers everything you need, including a free Visa debit card, direct deposit, online and mobile banking, and online bill pay.

You also get unlimited check writing and overdraft protection if you choose. However, if you don’t have $25 in your account by the last day of the month, you’ll be charged a low balance fee.

To join, you must either work at a sponsor company or live, work, worship, or attend school in or around Hopes Mill, or in Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin, Sampson, or Duplin counties.

Wells Fargo offers Opportunity Checking to those who are having trouble getting approved for a traditional checking account. It comes with standard features such as a Visa debit card, checks, and bill pay. Plus, it only takes a $25 opening deposit to get started.

There’s a $10 fee each month, but you can easily get that waived by meeting just one of the following eligibility requirements:

• Posting 10 or more debit transactions each month
• Signing up for at least $500 in direct deposits each month
• Keeping a minimum daily balance of at least $1,500

Woodforest National Bank usually has its branches in Walmarts, with multiple locations throughout all of North Carolina. Their Second Chance Checking can get you back in the banking system while rebuilding your financial history.

The minimum deposit to open your account is $25 and you’ll also pay a one-time fee of $9. There’s also a recurring monthly fee. If you have direct deposit, it’s just $9.95; without direct deposit, you’ll pay $11.95. There’s also a monthly paper statement fee of $3 but that can be waived if you pick e-statements.