Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Ohio

Struggling to open a checking account in Ohio 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 Ohio

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Ohio 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

  • 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.

Antwerp Exchange Bank

With locations in Antwerp, Payne, and Harlan, Antwerp Exchange Bank only requires a valid photo ID to open a checking account.

Most individuals will qualify for New Advantage Checking. The minimum amount to open is quite steep at $100, but there’s no monthly fee.

Online banking is included with any Account from Antwerp Exchange Bank. You can also access their mobile app, CardValet, which allows you to manage your debit card through your phone. When you need cash, you can visit any MoneyPass ATM to access your funds.

Buckeye State Credit Union

Buckeye State offers second chance checking account that comes with quite a few benefits including a free debit card, online banking, no minimum balance required, and up to $1,000 for overdraft protection.

In order to qualify, you first have to take a checking account management course. A $40 deposit is required to open the account and you’ll have to pay for checks to be ordered. You can only qualify for an ATM card once you’ve gone six months without a single overdraft.

They have a strong online banking presence and also branch locations in Akron, Canton, Alliance, and Shaker Heights.

Cardinal Credit Union

You can access Second Chance Checking at Cardinal with no minimum balance and a monthly fee of just $8.95. You get the usual perks, like free online banking and ATM transactions.

One key requirement is that you sign up for direct deposit. You also only get a debit card, but no checks with this account.

After a successful 12-month period, you can apply for traditional checking at Cardinal. Branch locations can be found in Ashtabula, Austintown, Mentor, Richmond Heights, Westlake, and Willoughby.

City National Bank

Bounce Back Checking from City National is available to people who need a second chance in the banking system. There are no minimum balance requirements, but there is a monthly service fee. If you sign up for direct deposit, the fee is $6.99 each month. Otherwise, it’s $8.99.

Another perk with this account is that you get two non-sufficient funds waived. You also get free access to the bank’s standard features, like online and mobile banking, bill pay, text banking, and mobile deposit.

They serve multiple states, including locations throughout Ohio.

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.

Eaton Family Credit Union

For $10 a month, you can sign up for an account with Eaton Family. There are a few restrictions to qualify.

You can’t have any charge-offs or unpaid collections to a financial institution on your credit report. You also can’t have any TeleCheck records that are less than three months old or any unpaid balances that are over $500.

To get the account, you must qualify for membership which can be achieved in a few different ways. One way is if you live, work, worship, or go to school in Lake County or Cuyahoga County.

Another way is if you’re employed by a Select Employer Group. There are branch locations in Euclid and Willoughby Hills.

Firelands Federal Credit Union

You can qualify an account at Firelands Federal with just a $25 initial deposit. After that, the monthly fee is only $5 and you can actually get it waived completely if you sign up for direct deposit.

The account also comes with unlimited check writing, free digital banking, and a free Visa debit card.

To become a member, you’ll need to deposit $5 into a share savings account. You also need to live, work, worship, or attend school in one of the following geographic areas:

  • Huron County, including the entire Village of Plymouth
  • Groton, Oxford, Milan, Berlin, and Florence Townships in Erie County
  • York Township in Sandusky, County, Ohio
  • Adams, Thompson, Reed and Venice Townships in Seneca County, including the village of Green Spring

There are branches located in Bellevue, Bucyrus, Galion, Monroeville, and Norwalk.

First Central National Bank

Located in St. Paris, First Central is a small community bank that only requires ID to open an account. Regular Checking is the most accessible because there’s no minimum balance. You’ll pay a small monthly fee, but you get unlimited check writing capabilities with this one.

They also offer free checking accounts for students and seniors, or you can choose from two interest-bearing accounts if you have either $1,000 or $2,500 for your minimum balance.

In addition to the St. Paris branch, they also have locations in Christiansburg and Rosewood.

First Federal Bank of Ohio

You can qualify for an account at the First Federal with just a photo ID. Their Thrifty Checking offers you mobile banking and a debit card.

It comes with a low fee of just $2.50 and you can even get that waived if you keep at least $150 in your account. Otherwise, there’s no minimum balance if you don’t mind the fee.

All First Federal Bank of Ohio’s accounts allow you to access the mobile app either through the Apple Store or the Google Play Store. To visit them in person, you can find branches in Galion, Mt. Gilead, Cardington, Mansfield, Shelby, Sandusky, and Tiffin.

First Federal Savings

First Federal Savings uses Telecheck rather than ChexSystems to review applications. Their Basic Checking includes all the standard features you’d expect, such as online and mobile banking, a debit card, bill-pay, and e-statements. It does cost $7 a month, but this fee can be waived if you meet one of the following requirements:

  • Maintain a minimum balance of $100
  • Sign up for at least one direct deposit
  • Are under 25 years old

There are two First Federal Savings branches in Newark, Ohio. The first location is downtown, while the second is in North Newark. Other branches are located in Granville, Heath, Pataskala, and Gahanna.

First Financial Bank

First Financial Bank has a second chance checking account called CLEANslate Checking. It offers a fresh start regardless of your checking history.

There’s a $50 opening deposit, but no minimum balance requirement moving forward. The monthly fee is $10 and you get quite a few perks along with it.

You’ll receive a debit card along with free ATM access and you even get a free gift when you open at a banking center. There are also plenty of digital features, including mobile deposits and online and mobile banking.

GenFed Financial Credit Union

GenFed Financial offers a second chance checking account called Clean Start Checking.

To be eligible, you can have no more than three records in ChexSystems with an outstanding total of less than $500.

There are no minimum balance requirements, and the monthly fee is $5. If you successfully manage your account for a year, you can bump up to GenFed’s Free Checking or Dividend Checking.

Hopewell Federal Credit Union

You can get a second chance account called Rebound Checking at Hopewell Federal. The monthly fee is $8 and you don’t get access to overdraft protection. But after a year of managing your account, you can upgrade to a regular account.

Hopewell has three branch locations: Heath, Newark, and Johnstown. You can start the membership application online to find out if you qualify.

IH Credit Union

You’ll have a credit report run when you apply with IH, rather than a ChexSystems review. You need just $25 to open an account and can choose from either Free Kasasa Cash or Free Kasasa Cash Back. Neither account has a monthly fee and you can earn rewards without a minimum balance.

They’re located in Springfield and Urbana. Membership requirements are broad, with the easiest criteria being if you live, work, worship, or attend school in the state of Ohio.

KEMBA Financial Credit Union

KEMBA Financial’s Fresh Start Checking is designed for people who’ve had banking complications in the past. You get unlimited check writing plus a debit card, and there’s no minimum balance.

The monthly fee is $10.95, but you can get that lowered to $8.95 if you have at least $500 in direct deposits scheduled each month.

You can switch to KEMBA’s Hassle Free Checking if you reach one of the following milestones:

  1. Go 12 months in a row of less than 12 non-sufficient funds notices, OR
  2. Go six months in a row with less than six NSF notices and take a money management course online.

Liberty Savings Bank

Liberty Savings Bank has a second chance checking account called Clean Slate Checking. To qualify, you can’t have more than three reports in your ChexSystems record.

There is no minimum balance requirement, and you’re eligible for a regular account after 12 months.

The account comes with a free debit card with access to 55,000 AllPoint surcharge-free ATMs. You also get free online and mobile banking, and you can write an unlimited number of checks per month.

LorMet Community Federal Credit Union

LorMet Community Federal offers an account that comes with a one-time setup fee of $25, plus use an additional $50 as your opening deposit. After that, the monthly fee is $9.95.

To qualify, your records in ChexSystems must be older than six months and you can only have one open record of no more than $500. Additionally, you can’t be suspected of fraud.

LorMet membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Lorain County, or in cities of Bay Village, Rocky River, or Westlake.

Members Trust Federal Credit Union

Designed for those with records in ChexSystems, Members Trust Federal offers TRUST and Alternative Checking.

You’ll have to contact their Member Service Department directly to find out if you qualify. Their main office is located in Mason.

Ohio University Credit Union

If you have a credit score of 620 or higher, you could qualify for an account with Ohio University CU. There’s a Free Checking option with no monthly fee and no minimum account balance. You can sign up with either a $25 opening deposit or by enrolling with direct deposit.

You can also take advantage of CheckRight, a self-study course that teaches you how to budget and manage your checking account.

Progressive Bank

Progressive Bank may run a credit report rather than pulling your ChexSystems report. There are multiple account options to choose from, with the most basic being Free Checking.

There’s no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance required. However, there’s a $100 initial deposit to open the account.

There are multiple Progressive Bank locations throughout Ohio, including branches in Crooksville, Cambridge, Zanesville, Frazeysburg, Heath, and New Concord.

Republic Bank

Republic Bank has a second chance checking account called Checking Builder Account. It requires a $50 deposit, a social security number, and government ID.

If you’re in ChexSystems, you may need to provide documentation that you have satisfied any debt you may have had with a former financial institution.

The monthly fee is $12.95 a month. However, this amount can be reduced if you sign up for direct deposit, or have at least 20 debit transactions a month.

Checking Builder doesn’t require a minimum balance, and comes with free internet banking, free bill pay, and unlimited check writing. You get free ATM transactions with Republic Bank, Presto, Sum, MoneyPass, or Allpoint ATMs.

Sharefax Credit Union

Sharefax has a Basic Checking option that comes with no monthly fee, no service charge for checks, and no minimum balance.

You also get 100 free checks each year. There are a few limits, though; for example, you can only use your card for $2,000 in purchases each day and only for $600 in ATM withdrawals each day.

They have branches in Batavia, Evendale, Mason, Milford, and Lebanon.

Sun Federal Credit Union

Sun Federal offers its members Fresh Start Checking. The monthly fee for this account is $10. After a year, you can upgrade to free Regular Checking if you meet the following criteria:

  • Maintain a positive balance
  • Have no more than NSF fees in 12 months
  • Complete the Check Right program

You can find branches in the following locations: Maumee, Oregon, and Toledo.

Superior Federal Credit Union

You can qualify for Fresh Start Checking at Superior Federal even if you have a history in ChexSystems. You get a debit card but no checks, courtesy pay, or ATM deposits with this account.

Despite these restrictions, the monthly fee is a low $5 and there’s no minimum balance that you’re required to maintain.

You also get free online and mobile banking and free access to withdrawals at MoneyPass and Alliance One ATMs.

After a year of solid performance, you can switch to the standard Superior checking account that does include checks.

They have branches in Kenton, Lima, Fostoria, Coldwater, and St. Mary’s.

Universal One Credit Union

Regardless of your past in ChexSystems, you could potentially qualify for Universal One’s Find Stability Checking. There’s a $15 monthly fee but you get a free Visa debit card and check abilities.

Membership is required to get the account. Branch locations can be found in Dayton, Kettering, Centerville, Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Sugarcreek Township, Miamisburg, Vandalia, Sidney, and Chillicothe.

Universal One also participates in shared branches and ATMs, getting you account access at thousands of locations across the country.

Vacationland Federal Credit Union

You may qualify for an account at Vacationland Federal with just a proper ID. If you do get approved, consider the Regular Checking option.

You get unlimited check writing in addition to a free debit card. Additionally, you get access to free online banking and bill pay. Some members may also qualify for overdraft protection.

To get the account, you must become a member and open a share savings account with a $25 deposit.

To become a member, you need to live, work, worship, or attend school in Erie County. You can find a branch in the following locations: Huron, Sandusky, Vermillion, and Norwalk.

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.