Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems in Washington

Struggling to open a checking account in the state of Washington 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 Washington

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Washington 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.

American Lake Credit Union

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

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.

MountainCrest Credit Union

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

Mountain West Bank does not use ChexSystems, EWS, Telecheck, nor does it pull a credit report when reviewing applications.

To open a checking, you’ll need a minimum opening deposit of $50.

Mountain West Bank offers four types of checking accounts: Totally Free Checking, Easy Interest, 50+ Interest Checking, and Premier Interest Checking.

Each account comes with a host of free features, some of which include:

  • Free online banking
  • Free bill pay
  • Free mobile banking
  • Free remote deposit
  • Free Visa Debit Card
  • Free eStatements

Salal Credit Union

Salal offers a second chance checking account 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.

Wheatland Bank

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.

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.