Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in South Carolina

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 debit card, and a credit builder Visa® credit card, all with no credit check.

The Chime Checking Account is 100% free and has no monthly fees:

• no monthly maintenance fees
• no foreign transaction fees
• no minimum balance fees

You can also start building your credit with the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. It’s a secured credit card with no annual fees, no credit checks, and no interest charges.

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.

You can see why Chime is our #1 choice.

Features & Benefits

• No credit check or ChexSystems
• No minimum balance or hidden fees
• Fee-free overdraft up to $200 with Overdrive
• 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
• Get paid up to 2 days faster

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.

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.

Features & Benefits

• No minimum balance requirement
• No monthly fees
• No overdraft fees
• Visa debit card, iOS and Android mobile app
• Up to 2% cash back

Upgrade doesn’t pull your ChexSystems report, but they do look at your credit report.

The Upgrade Rewards Checking account has no monthly fees and no ATM fees. You’ll also get up to 2% cash back on everyday debit card purchases.

Upgrade reimburses up to five out-of-network ATM fees per month if you meet certain conditions.

Upgrade is partnered with Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, and your funds are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. With an Upgrade checking account, you can also get up to 20% lower rates on Upgrade loans and credit cards.

Aspiration’s Spend & Save Account is a hybrid checking and savings account that is entirely online. There’s a $10 minimum opening deposit to get started.

With an Aspiration debit card, you get unlimited fee-free withdrawals at over 55,000 ATMs and one out-of-network ATM reimbursement per month. You can also get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.

You can earn up to 5.00% APY when you spend $1,000/month and deposits are FDIC insured.

Axos Bank doesn’t use ChexSystems or pull your credit report.

The Rewards Checking account from Axos Bank has no monthly maintenance fees, unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements, and it comes with cash back rewards.

You get unlimited free mobile deposits and your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000. Plus, there are no overdraft fees or non-sufficient fund fees.

There are no minimum balance requirements, and you’ll only need a $50 deposit to open the account.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.