Second Chance Checking Accounts in Pennsylvania

SoFi’s Checking and Savings account is designed to help you keep more of your money. There are no monthly maintenance fees, no overdraft fees, and no minimums to worry about.

Set up direct deposit, and you can unlock a sign-up bonus of up to $400, plus earn a competitive 3.30% APY on your savings. Checking accounts earn 0.50% APY as well.

You’ll also have access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs and the ability to get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

Current gives you a simple way to open a checking account without ChexSystems or credit checks. You can start building credit by using your debit card for everyday purchases, with no loans, hard inquiries, or interest involved.

There’s no minimum balance to maintain, no hidden fees, and access to thousands of fee-free ATMs across the U.S.

Current’s Premium account also includes early direct deposit and Savings Pods that earn up to 4.00% APY, helping your money grow without sacrificing flexibility.

Chime makes it easy to open a checking account, even if your banking history isn’t perfect. There are no monthly fees, no foreign transaction charges, and no minimum balance required.

You can also boost your credit with the Chime Credit Builder Visa®. It’s a secured card with no credit check, no annual fee, and no interest charges.

Chime gives you access to over 47,000 fee-free ATMs, early direct deposit, and cash deposit options at more than 8,500 Walgreens locations.

The account has no minimum balance requirement, a $4.95 monthly fee, and includes a debit card and digital banking tools. After 12 months of good standing, you may qualify for a standard account upgrade.

Branches are located in Cranberry Township, McKeesport, Penn Hills, Pittsburgh, and Wexford.

The $9.95 monthly fee drops to $7.95 with direct deposit. Both accounts offer unlimited ATM access at Clearview machines and digital banking.

Fresh Start Pro also includes unlimited check writing. After 12 months, members may upgrade to standard checking.

Clearview has locations in Butler, McKeesport, Monroeville, Moon Township, Pittsburgh, and Wexford.

This account gives you a way to open a new checking relationship even if a past account caused problems. It is meant to help you move forward, rebuild a better account record, and get back to using regular banking services.

Fresh Start Checking can be a fit if you want to stop relying on money orders, prepaid cards, or check-cashing services. It gives you a local credit union option while you work toward better financial footing.

Corry Federal Credit Union has branches in Corry, Spartansburg, and Union City.

This account gives members a way to rebuild their banking history while still having access to a checking account for everyday money management. It can be helpful if past account issues have made it harder to qualify for a standard checking account elsewhere.

Cross Valley also gives members a path toward free checking. To qualify for an upgrade, your Second Chance Share Draft account must keep a positive balance for 12 straight months and have no NSF activity during that time.

Cross Valley Federal Credit Union has branches in Forty Fort, Hazleton, Mocanaqua, Mountain Top, Shavertown, and Wilkes-Barre.

This account is designed to help you return to traditional banking without relying on check-cashing services. It gives you a more affordable way to manage deposits, payments, and everyday spending while you work toward a better banking record.

The Opportunity Account can be useful if past account issues have made it harder to qualify for a standard checking account. It gives you a place to start over with a local bank and build a more stable relationship over time.

The Dime Bank has branches in Carbondale, Damascus, Dingmans Ferry, Greentown, Hawley, and Honesdale.

To qualify, your account history must show no more than one non-fraud charge-off from another financial institution, and that charge-off must be $500 or less.

Opportunity Plus does not include Courtesy Pay or ATM/one-time debit access. That structure can help you stay closer to your actual account balance and avoid surprise overdraft problems.

Discovery Federal Credit Union is based in Wyomissing.

The account is designed to help members regain access to checking and check-cashing services.

Elliott doesn’t clearly publish the monthly fee in the source details provided, so it is worth confirming the current fee before publishing exact cost language.

Elliott Community Federal Credit Union has branches in Cranberry Twp, Greensburg, Jeannette, and Murrysville.

The account includes everyday banking essentials such as a debit card, bill pay, digital banking, surcharge-free ATM access, and no minimum balance requirement.

Members also get access to certified financial counselors and financial tools.

First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union has branches in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Fogelsville, Kutztown, Lehighton, and more.

The account requires a $50 deposit to open, no minimum balance, and provides debit card access, mobile banking, and unlimited check writing.

After 18 months in good standing, you may qualify for an upgrade to idLOCK Checking.

JVB has branches in Burnham, Coudersport, Lewistown, Lillibridge, Liverpool, McAlisterville, Mifflintown, Millerstown, Port Allegany, and Port Royal.

The account is designed to give members a practical way back into everyday banking. It can help you manage deposits, payments, debit card spending, and bills while you work on rebuilding a stronger account history.

Fresh Start Checking requires a $25 opening deposit and direct deposit. It has a $5 monthly service fee, making it a relatively low-cost option compared with many second-chance checking accounts.

MC Federal Credit Union has branches in Bloomsburg, Danville, Lewisburg, and Mount Carmel.

The account is designed to help customers re-establish a deposit relationship. Orrstown requires financial literacy certification before opening this account.

Growth Checking includes debit card access. Orrstown also says debit card transactions will round up to the nearest dollar and move the extra amount into a Momentum Savings Account, unless the customer opts out.

Orrstown Bank has branches in Camp Hill, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Shippensburg, York, Chambersburg, and more.

The account includes a debit card, check writing, eStatements, and mobile and online banking. It has a $7 monthly fee.

After 12 months of responsible use and completing the BalanceTrack Program, members can upgrade to Regular Checking.

Penn East has branches in Clarks Summit, Factoryville, Scranton, and Tunkhannock.

Instead of automatically denying applicants based on ChexSystems, PSBT says it reviews applications individually. That makes Empower Checking a strong option for people who need a fresh start.

The account is also designed to help you avoid common banking setbacks while rebuilding a stronger account history.

Peoples Security Bank & Trust has branches in Covington Twp, Dickson City, Dunmore, Exeter, Hazleton, Honesdale, Moosic, and more.

The account is designed for people who have been denied a checking account in the past and want to rebuild their financial history.

It gives members a path back into regular banking while keeping the focus on responsible account management.

Propell Credit Union has branches in Glen Mills, Havertown, Ridley Park, and West Chester.

This account is designed for people looking to regain financial strength and avoid costly check-cashing fees.

It’s also a good fit for customers who do not need checks or automatic electronic debits, since those are not permitted with the account.

QNB Bank has branches in Allentown, Colmar, Coopersburg, Dublin, Horsham, Limerick, Pennsburg, and more.

The account is designed for people who want a safer way to bank without paper checks or overdraft fees. It has no minimum daily balance requirement and no paper statement fee.

Easy Banking includes access to digital banking tools, a debit card, and everyday banking features without the risk of traditional overdraft charges.

S&T Bank has a broad Pennsylvania footprint, with branches in Altoona, Greensburg, Indiana, Pittsburgh, State College, Washington, York, and more.

The account requires $25 to open and has no monthly minimum balance requirement. It has a $4.99 monthly fee until the account meets the requirements to become a regular checking account.

Direct deposit is required. After 12 months in good standing, you can request a review to move into a regular checking account. Service 1st says there is no Visa debit card for the first six months, and overdraft protection is not offered at first.

Service 1st Federal Credit Union has branches in Bloomsburg, Danville, Elysburg, Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Milton, Muncy, and more.

The account has a $10 monthly fee, includes debit card access, online banking, and bill pay.

After 12 months of good standing and completing the CheckRight program, members may upgrade to Regular Checking.

Sun Federal has branches in Philadelphia, St. Davids, and West Lawn.

The account requires a $25 opening deposit and a $12 monthly fee. Members receive free credit counseling, a cash card for ATM use, and $8 in monthly ATM surcharge reimbursements.

After six months without NSF fees, members can upgrade to Advantages Checking.

Membership is available to employees and families in the utility or energy industries. UECU is based in Wyomissing.

The account includes a debit card, ATM access, and online banking tools. As long as there’s no history of fraud, you may qualify.

Membership is available to those who live, work, worship, volunteer, or attend school in Lycoming County. The branch is located in Williamsport.

The account is designed for people with past credit issues or negative checking account history reported through Efunds, ChexSystems, or other reporting agencies.

It gives eligible members a way to start over with a local credit union instead of relying on prepaid cards, money orders, or check-cashing services.

Fresh Start Checking can help you get back to everyday banking while you rebuild a better account record. It may be a good fit if past account problems have made it harder to open a regular checking account elsewhere.

Wheatland Federal Credit Union has branches in Elizabethtown and Lancaster.

The account gives members access to White Rose’s services at a lower cost than relying on check-cashing services.

White Rose also provides a path for members dealing with ChexSystems-related issues.

White Rose Credit Union has branches in Dallastown and York.

The account requires a $25 opening deposit, a $9 setup fee, and an $11.95 monthly fee, reduced to $9.95 with direct deposit.

Paper statement fees of $3 can be avoided with e-statements. The account includes a debit card and online banking.

Woodforest operates in Beaver Falls, Bechtelsville, Butler, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Coal Township, Cranberry Township, Delmont, Dickson City, Duncansville, and other locations across Pennsylvania.