Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in North Carolina

Struggling to open a checking account in North Carolina 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 North Carolina

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of North Carolina 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.

Alliance Federal Credit Union

Alliance Federal offers a Fresh Start Checking account, but 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. There’s no minimum balance requirement. 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.

Bank OZK

Bank OZK offers a second chance checking account called Pathway Checking. There’s a $50 minimum opening deposit, but no minimum balance requirement.

The monthly service fee is $10 and you won’t earn interest like some of Bank OZK’s other checking accounts.

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. 

Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union

Carolinas Telco Federal does a credit 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

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.

Champion Credit Union

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.

Corporate America Family Federal Credit Union

Members of Corporate America Family Federal can apply for Fresh Start Checking. You’re required to keep $100 in your Regular Share Account and the monthly fee is $10.

You can also sign up to take an online class called Get In Balance. Use it to learn the most effective ways to become a successful account holder.

F&M Bank

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.

FSNB

FSNB doesn’t use ChexSystems or credit checks for new applicants. The minimum opening deposit is $5.

You’ll need to maintain a $75 balance to avoid paying the monthly $5.50 statement fee. Account holders get a Visa check card and free online banking.

Members Credit Union

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.

Skyla Credit Union

Located in and around Charlotte, Skyla Credit Union 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 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 Skyla Credit Union, 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.

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.