If getting denied for a checking account in Washington state has become a familiar story, you may not be applying at the right banks or credit unions. While many financial institutions only offer traditional accounts, there are some willing to cater to you even if you have a negative history in ChexSystems. They may check other sources (such as a credit report) when approving accounts, or that they offer second chance checking.
Non-ChexSystems & Second Chance Banks in Washington
Either way, don’t feel discouraged if you haven’t found a bank willing to give you a checking account. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of banks in Washington that don’t use ChexSystems or offer second chance banking near you. We’ve also included some great online options that allow you to open a bank account right now from the comfort of your own home.
Chime
on Chime's secure website
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 Spending Account is 100% free and has no monthly fees:
- no overdraft fees
- no monthly maintenance fees
- no foreign transaction fees
- no minimum balance fees
They’ll even spot you up to $200 on debit card purchases with no overdraft 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 60,000 fee-free MoneyPass® and Visa® Plus Alliance ATMs. Plus, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit. You can also deposit cash for free at over 8,500 Walgreens.
You can see why Chime is our #1 choice.
Current
on Current's secure website
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 banking account includes fee-free overdraft protection of up to $100. You 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.
Sable
on Sable's secure website
Sable allows you to open a bank account with a debit card and secured credit card in just 5 minutes.
There are no credit checks, no fees, and no minimum deposit required. You can also get an unsecured credit card in about 4 months after using your secured card. That’s 3x faster than what traditional banks offer.
The Sable credit card offers 2% cashback on your favorite brands.
To open a Sable account, you don’t need a social security number or U.S. credit history. You can also send money to 55+ countries and get multilingual customer support.
American Lake Credit Union
on American Lake's secure website
American Lake doesn’t use ChexSystems to screen new applications; instead, they use Telecheck. Applicants must first apply for membership before they can open a checking account. To be eligible, you must simply live in the state of Washington and make a minimum deposit of $5 into a shared savings account.
They offer a few different checking options for its members: Compass Checking, Regular Checking, Budget Checking, and Money Plus Checking. Compass Checking is free and doesn’t require a minimum balance if you enroll in eStatements.
It provides 24/7 access through both online and mobile banking, comes with a free Visa debit card, and overdraft protection options are available. Additionally, you get access to over 30,000 co-op ATMs and over 5,600 co-op branches.
They have branch locations in Tacoma and Lakewood.
Great Northwest Federal Credit Union
on Great Northwest FCU's secure website
Great Northwest Federal uses Telecheck to screen new applications. However, anyone interested in joining must do so in person and be able to provide a government issued ID with a current address on it. Additionally, you must make a minimum $5 deposit into a savings account.
To be eligible to join, you must live, work or worship in Gray’s Harbor or Pacific County or have a family member who does. Great Northwest has locations in Aberdeen, Long Beach, Raymond, and Ocean Park.
GNFCU offers several checking options:
- Regular Share Account
- Money Market Account
- Great Value Checking
- Regular Draft Account
- Platinum Plus CHecking
Great Value Checking is free if the account has a minimum of $100 in it. It comes with free online banking, free bill pay, a free Visa debit card, and earns dividends.
Homestreet Bank
on Homestreet's secure website
Homestreet Bank does not run a ChexSystems, Telecheck, or EWS report on new applications. In fact, they don’t even run a credit report or check your credit score.
Instead, Homestreet Bank just requires that you be able to provide two forms of identification, one of which must be issued by the government. As long as you don’t owe Homestreet Bank any money from an old account, you may be approved for membership.
Homestreet offers three checking options: Choice Checking, Select Checking, and Premium Checking. Choice Checking doesn’t have a monthly service charge or a minimum balance requirement, but it does require a minimum opening balance of $100.
It comes with free online and mobile banking, a free Visa debit card, and access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs through the MoneyPass ATM network.
Homestreet Bank has numerous locations both in and around Seattle.
MountainCrest Credit Union
on MountainCrest's secure website
MountainCrest offers a second chance checking account called Fresh Start Checking. You’ll pay a $10 monthly service fee, as well as a $25 minimum opening deposit requirement.
There are no minimum account balance requirements, and account holders get a host of perks with this account. These include:
- Free online banking
- Free bill pay
- Free mobile banking
- Free eStatements
- Free telephone banking
- Free Visa debit card
They have branches in Arlington and Everett. To become a member, you must deposit a minimum of $5 into a savings account and either work, live, or worship in Washington state.
Mountain West Bank
on Mountain West Bank's secure website
Mountain West Bank does not use ChexSystems, EWS, Telecheck, nor does it pull a credit report when reviewing applications. Instead, they only require two forms of ID (one of which must be government issued).
Mountain West offers four checking options: Totally Free Checking, Easy Interest, 50+ Interest Checking, and Premier Interest Checking.
Each account comes with a free Visa debit card, free online and mobile banking (which includes free remote deposit), free eStatements and free bill pay. Totally Free Checking, in particular, comes with unlimited check writing and doesn’t require a monthly service fee or a minimum balance.
They have locations in Spokane Valley and Ione.
Salal Credit Union
on Salal's secure website
Salal offers a second chance checking account for anyone looking to repair their ChexSystems checking history. Called Pathway Checking, this checking account requires a $25 minimum opening deposit and there’s a $10 monthly service fee. However, it is possible to get the fee waived if certain conditions are met each month. These include:
- 15 debit transaction per month reduces the fee by $5
- At least $250 directly deposited each month reduces the fee by $5
They have locations in Tukwila, Seattle, and Bellevue.
US Bank
on US Bank's secure website
US Bank may open an account for people with a negative ChexSystems history. However, there must not be any indication of fraud and you can’t owe any money to US Bank.
The minimum deposit is $25, and you get access to free bill pay, free online and mobile banking, and remote deposit. You also get free access to over 4,700 ATMs and 3,000 branches.
US Bank has multiple locations in Washington state but has a particularly strong presence in the western part of the state.
Wheatland Bank
on Wheatland's secure website
Wheatland Bank uses Early Warning Systems (EWS) instead of ChexSystems when screening new applications. They offer two types of checking accounts: Gold Checking and Free-Range Checking.
Free-Range doesn’t have any monthly service fees and comes with free online checking, free online bill pay, a free Visa debit card, and up to $10 in non-Wheatland ATM fee reimbursements.
Additionally, there aren’t any caps to the number of times you can use your debit card each month, and the first box of checks is free. To open an account only requires a low opening deposit of $100.
They have branch locations in Chelan, Davenport, Ellensburg, Moses Lake, Odessa, Pasco, Quincy, Ritzville, Spokane, Wenatchee, Wilbur, and Yakima.