Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in North Dakota

Struggling to open a checking account in North Dakota 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 Dakota

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of North Dakota 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.

American Federal Bank

To qualify for a checking account with American Federal Bank, you’ll need a credit score of 680 or higher, rather than a clean ChexSystems record.

There are quite a few different checking accounts to choose from, but the most basic one (with the least requirements) is called American Free Checking.

There is no monthly fee, plus you get a debit card and unlimited check writing. There’s also no minimum balance requirement, making it an easy account to maintain.

Other free features include direct deposit, online banking, bill pay, and 16 checks when you open your account. American Federal Bank has multiple locations, including Fargo, Grand Forks, Northwood, and Wahpeton.

Capital Credit Union

You could qualify for an account with Capital if you have a credit score of 600 or higher. Their Simple Checking account is free each month, plus requires no minimum balance.

Other free features include a debit card, online banking, mobile banking with check deposit, and bill pay.

CCU has locations across Bismarck, Mandan, Beulah, Hazen, and New Salem. To become a member, you must live within 50 to 75 miles of one of the branch locations.

Dakota Community Bank

Dakota Community Bank uses a credit report to approve new applications so you could potentially qualify. If not, you’re allowed to start with a savings account and then open a checking account six months later.

There are multiple checking account options, including Free, Now, Relationship, Relationship+, Student, and Money Market. For a simple account, check out Dakota Free Checking.

Once approved, you’ll get a free check card, plus you get unlimited check writing. There’s no minimum balance and you can even earn interest on the account.

They have branches in Bismarck, Bowman, Dickinson, Glen Ullin, Hebron, Lincoln, Mandan, New Leipzig, and Taylor.

Dakota Plains Federal Credit Union

Dakota Plains Federal uses Telecheck rather than ChexSystems to approve new applications so you could potentially qualify. There are two checking options: Kasasa Cash and Kasasa Cash Back.

The Cash Back account comes with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Plus, as the name implies, you earn 3% cash back on your debit card purchases (up to $7.50 per month). You can also link the account to a Kasasa Saver savings account.

To join, you must live within a 75-mile radius of their home office in Edgeley. You can also qualify if you’re an immediate family member of an existing member of Dakota Plains.

First Community Credit Union

Instead of ChexSystems, First Community accesses your Experian credit report to determine your eligibility for an account. There are five checking options to select from Kasasa Cash, Kasasa Cash Back, E-Z Checking, Reward Checking, and Progressive Checking.

E-Z Checking is ideal if you pay your bills online and want to avoid a monthly service fee and minimum balance. Plus, there’s no minimum opening deposit required to get started.

In order to be eligible to become a member, you must reside in certain areas. Here are the location parameters:

  • 75-mile radius of Jamestown, Devils Lake or Portland
  • 50-mile radius of Valley City, Oakes, Napoleon, Steele, Bismarck, Wahpeton, and Wishek
  • 40-mile radius of Bisbee and Larimore
  • Anywhere in Marshall County or Kittson County

Flasher Community Credit Union

Flasher Community relies on a credit report review rather than ChexSystems in order to approve new accounts holders. They offer a single share draft checking account, which includes overdraft protection.

Membership is available to anyone who lives within a 50-mile radius of Flasher. They have one branch location on Main Street in Flasher.

Gate City Bank

To verify the identity of new account holders, Gate City Bank uses Choice Point, making it a non-ChexSystems bank. There are several checking accounts available, but the easiest account to maintain is Totally FREE Checking.

It takes a $50 deposit to open your account, but from there you won’t need a minimum balance or pay a monthly fee. The account comes with several free features, including an instant debit card, online and mobile banking, Popmoney, and a money management tool.

They will pay you up to $25 when you bring in your check card and unused checks from another financial institution.

You also receive a free gift when opening your account and any time you refer a friend. They have 36 branch locations across North Dakota and west central Minnesota.

Hometown Credit Union

You’ll need a proper ID to qualify for an account at Hometown, and they may also pull your credit report. To open a checking account, you must first open a member share savings account and maintain a $5 balance. You’ll receive a Visa debit card with your checking account.

To become a member, you must live within a 75-mile radius of their Kulm office, or within a 50-mile radius of their Hazelton office. There are also branches located in Ashley and Lincoln.

Town and Country Credit Union

You’ll need a credit score of 600 or higher to qualify for an account with Town and Country. If you do, you’ll choose from Perks, Progress, or Premium Checking, which are tiered by your average daily balance.

Perks Checking is the one you want when you have less than $300 in your account on a daily basis. You could qualify for courtesy pay and overdraft protection with credit approval.

Everyone with this account receives a free debit card and online banking with bill pay. Plus, there’s no monthly fee or minimum balance.

You can qualify for membership if you live in one of the following areas:

  • Within a 75-mile radius of Minot, ND
  • Within a 50-mile radius of Kenmare, ND
  • Within a 50-mile radius of Fargo, ND / Moorhead, MN

Branch locations are in Fargo, Kenmare, Minot, Ryder, Stanley, and West Fargo.

United Savings Credit Union

You’ll have your credit report pulled rather than your ChexSystems record when you apply with United Savings. You can choose from Basic Checking or Advantage Checking.

Both accounts include no minimum balance, unlimited check writing, online bill pay, and a MasterCard debit card. Advantage Checking costs $3.95 a month and adds identity theft protection to your account.

To become a member, you must live within a 75-mile radius of United Savings’s Fargo branch.

Western State Bank

You’ll get a credit check when you apply with Western State Bank, rather than going through ChexSystems. There are four checking accounts available, including Free Checking.

This option has no monthly fee or minimum balance requirements. You get a debit card and check writing, plus online and mobile checking. All accounts even come with free identity theft protection.

Branch locations include Fargo, West Fargo, and Devils Lake.

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.