Struggling to open a checking account in South 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 South Carolina
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of South Carolina banks and credit unions that allow anyone to open a checking account, regardless of their banking history.
SoFi
Features & Benefits
- Sign-up bonus up to $250 with qualifying direct deposits
- No monthly fee
- Earn up to 4.50% APY on savings
- Over 55,000 fee-free ATMs
Chime
Features & Benefits
- Over 14.5 million downloads
- No credit check or ChexSystems
- No minimum opening deposit
- Over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs
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
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
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
Caro
Previously named Carolina Collegiate Federal, Caro offers a second chance checking account called Rebound Checking.
It requires a one-time deposit of $25, but does not require a minimum balance thereafter. Instead, it does require direct deposit and has a monthly fee of $15.
Transferring to a standard checking account is possible after Rebound Checking has been kept in good standing for a predetermined amount of time. Caro has two locations in Columbia and one in Spartanburg.
Carolina Trust Credit Union
Carolina Trust offers a second chance checking account called Encore Checking. There is a monthly service fee. However, if you can keep a positive account for 12 months, you can then transfer to a free checking account. Moreover, after only six months, you can replace your ATM card with a Visa debit card.
Carolina Trust has seven locations in the following areas: Conway, Johnsonville, Surfside Beach, Lake City, Little River, and two in Myrtle Beach.
First Reliance Bank
First Reliance offers banking accounts to everyone, regardless of their credit report, ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS file. To open a Simple Checking account requires an initial deposit of $25, but it doesn’t have a monthly fee if you sign up for eStatements.
If you don’t select eStatements, then the fee is $5. It comes with free online and mobile banking, free automatic bill pay, as well as a free debit card. All account holders also get free access to thousands of worldwide ATMs.
First Reliance Bank has locations in Florence, Lexington, West Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Loris, Summerville, Winston-Salem, Greenville, Taylors, Simpsonville, Myrtle Beach, and Mooresville.
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.
Founders Federal Credit Union
Founders Federal uses credit reports in lieu of referring to ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS records. Additionally, each applicant must have a government issued ID.
Account holders get given a free Visa debit card, and there are no monthly fees. Founders has 18 locations throughout northern South Carolina.
To become a member, applicants must live, work, study, volunteer, or worship in Chester County, Chesterfield County, Laurens County, Town of Wellford, Town of Duncan, or Union County.
Eligibility can also be granted to applicants with family members who are already members, or if the applicant works, volunteers or retired at participating companies.
HopeSouth Federal Credit Union
HopeSouth offers a second chance checking account to people who have issues with their checking history. Called Fresh Start,
HopeSouth asks that anyone who is interested in this account contact a representative to discuss details concerning qualifications and monthly fees.
Though there’s a monthly fee, once the account has maintained a positive history for a set period of time, HopeSouth encourages all account holders to apply for a standard checking account.
Their basic checking account is free and does not require an account balance minimum. They have one branch location, which is at 807 West Greenwood Street in Abbeville.
Vital Federal Credit Union
Vital Federal offers a second chance checking account called Fresh Start. There is a monthly service charge of $15, but there is no minimum balance requirement.
Direct deposit is required, but transferring to a basic checking account is possible if the Fresh Start is kept in good standing for a predetermined amount of time. Each account is federally insured up to at least $250,000.
Vital has locations in Spartanburg and Duncan, South Carolina. To become a member, applicants must live, work, worship, or attend school in Spartanburg County, or have a family member who is already a member.
Woodforest National Bank
Woodforest offers a second chance bank account to members at over 700 branches in 17 states.
The minimum opening deposit is just $25 and you’ll also have to pay a one-time setup fee of $9.
It also comes with a monthly fee of $11.95. You can get it reduced to $9.95 by enrolling in direct deposit. Another small fee is a paper statement fee of $3 per month. It can be waived completely by signing up for e-statements.
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. To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
Non-ChexSystems Banks by State
Looking for more information and additional options available in your area? Select your state from the list below to explore your options.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming