ChexSystems collects and distributes consumer banking activities and account history. A ChexSystems freeze will prohibit banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions from accessing your banking history.
When you place a ChexSystems freeze, it becomes more difficult for an identity thief to open a checking or savings account in your name.
ChexSystems Freeze: 5 Need To Know Facts
1. ChexSystems Freezes are not a workaround
A ChexSystems freeze is not a workaround if your ChexSystems report contains negative banking information. If you attempt to open a checking account at a bank that uses ChexSystems, they may ask you to “unfreeze” your ChexSystems report or just simply deny you.
2. Prevent bank fraud
A ChexSystems freeze can help protect against bank account opening fraud.
3. Prevent identity theft
Adding a ChexSystems freeze provides another layer of protection against identity theft.
4. Banks can use other check account reporting companies
Not all banks use ChexSystems, so a freeze won’t totally eliminate the risk of fraud or identity theft. There are multiple checking reporting companies like:
- TeleCheck Services screens check-writers for retailers, financial institutions and other businesses along with screening customers at banks and credit unions when opening checking accounts.
- Early Warning Services screens new customers to detect and prevent fraud associated with bank accounts and payment transactions.
- Certegy Check Services collects check writing histories and provides check screening services primarily for retail merchants and gaming establishments who accept checks as payment.
5. ChexSystems freezes are not permanent
You can at any time request a temporary or permanent lift of the freeze for banks or businesses that require access to your ChexSystems file.
How to freeze my ChexSystems report?
You must go to the ChexSystems website to initiate a ChexSystems freeze. Once at the site complete the following steps:
- Complete a form with your basic information such as your Name, Birthdate, Current Address and Social Security Number.
- ChexSystems will place a security freeze on your file.
- In a few days you should receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by mail.
- Your unique PIN will assist you in managing the freeze, such as applying a temporary lift, or removing or changing personal identifying information.
When you submit a security freeze request to ChexSystems, it will only be applied to your ChexSystems consumer report. If you want to freeze your credit reports at the major credit bureaus, you must contact them directly.
How do I unfreeze my ChexSystems report?
There are three options to unfreeze your ChexSystems report:
- Temporarily lift the freeze: Allows a financial institution to check your ChexSystems report for a set period of time then refreezes your report.
- Permanently remove the freeze: Leaves your ChexSystems report open unless you request another freeze.
- Remove your temporary lift: Allows you to reinstate a ChexSystems freeze.
Freezing your ChexSystems report largely prohibits ChexSystems from releasing information about you without your consent. Many banks won’t open an account if they can’t review your banking history unless you find a bank that does not use ChexSystems.
5 Banks that don’t use ChexSystems
1. SoFi Bank Checking & Savings
The joint Checking and Savings Account at SoFi comes with no overdraft fee and no monthly fees. New members can earn a $25 welcome bonus by making an opening deposit of $100. Earn an additional bonus up to $250 by setting up a qualifying direct deposit from an employer, payroll, retirement pension, or benefits provider.
- Monthly fees: $100
- Minimum opening deposit: $100
- Interest earned with direct deposit: 4.50% APY on savings balances and 1.20% APY on checking balances
- Interest earned without direct deposit: 1.20% APY on all account balances in checking and savings
- Free ATMs: 55,000+ fee-free ATMs.
- Early paycheck: Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit.
- Free Overdraft: No-fee Overdraft Coverage with qualifying monthly direct deposit
- FDIC insured: Yes
2. Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
The Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus is best for debit card spending. Customers get up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for active accounts with a monthly $1,000 direct deposit 1 plus many features including the following:
- $0 Minimum Opening Deposit.
- Up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for active accounts with monthly $1,000 direct deposit, and up to 1% cash back for other purchases2.
- Optional savings account that earns 5.21% APY3.
- Customers with direct deposit can get paid up to two days early4.
- No monthly fees, no overdraft fees5, and get reimbursed for ATM fees with an active account.
- FDIC-Insured Up to $250,000.
Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Checking and savings accounts provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
3. Consumers Credit Union
Consumers Credit Union is a credit union based in Illinois with membership open to anyone regardless of where they live or work. Financial products and services include checking, savings, CDs, personal, auto and mortgage loans, small business banking, investments and financial education. The monthly free checking account is called Rewards Checking with the following features:
- Unlimited reimbursement for any and all ATM fees**
- Over 30,000 ATMs & over 5,000 shared branches
- Online & mobile banking plus bill pay
- Get paid as much as two days early with early direct deposit**
- No monthly maintenance fees, for anything
4. Albert Banking
With Albert, there is no minimum deposit requirement to open an account. The Albert Genius feature analyzes your income and spending to find extra dollars to save automatically. All funds are insured up to $250,000 through federally backed FDIC protection. Albert will spot you up to a $250 cash advance with no credit check, interest or late fees.
- Monthly fees: $0
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Cashback: Earn cashback on gas, groceries, delivery, and more.
- Early direct deposit: Receive pay up to two days earlier with direct deposit
- More Albert Features: Save and invest right in the Albert banking app
- FDIC insured: Yes
Albert is not a bank. Banking services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC
5. Go2bank
Go2bank provides a range of financial services, including a checking account, savings account, and debit card. Go2bank also offers various features like early access to paychecks, cashback rewards on certain purchases, and the ability to deposit checks remotely using your mobile device.
- Monthly fees: No monthly fees with eligible direct deposit, otherwise $5 per month¹
- Other fees: No hidden fees²
- Overdraft protection: Overdraft protection up to $200, with opt-in and eligible directs³
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Early paycheck: Get your pay up to 2 days early with direct deposit⁶
- ATM Access: Free nationwide ATM network⁷
- FDIC insured: Yes
How can I get my ChexSystems report?
Order your ChexSystems report online instantly, directly on their website. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires ChexSystems to provide you with one free copy of your ChexSystems report each year.
You also have the right to pull a free copy of a ChexSystems report used in a decision to deny your application for a new account or a job.
Your ChexSystems score is separate from the ChexSystems report. The score can also be ordered online.
Upgrade Disclaimers
1 Active Accounts with a monthly direct deposit of $1000 are eligible for additional benefits on Rewards Checking Plus such as additional cash back rewards, ATM fee reimbursement, and more. See the Active Account page for more information.
2 Rewards Checking Plus customers who set-up monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more earn 2% cash back on common everyday expenses at convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants and bars – including deliveries – and gas stations, as well as recurring payments on utilities and monthly subscriptions including phone, cable, TV and other streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other debit card purchases. 2% cash back is limited to $500 in rewards per calendar year; after $500, customers earn 1% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases for the remainder of the year. Rewards Checking Plus accounts with less than $1,000 in monthly direct deposits 60 days after account opening will earn 1% cash back on common everyday expenses and 0.50% cash back on all other eligible debit card purchases. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.
3 The 1.5% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for the Performance Savings account is effective as of June 1, 2023. The APY for the Performance Savings account is variable and may change at any time. Active Accounts qualify for 5.21% APY with monthly $1000 direct deposit. The APY for Active Accounts is effective as of September 1, 2023, is variable, and may change at any time. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Performance Savings Deposit Account Agreement and Truth in Savings Disclosure. To earn APY, you must open and fund a Performance Savings account. Rewards Checking Plus accounts do not earn APY.
4 Early direct deposit requires set up of recurring electronic direct deposit from your employer, payroll, or benefits provider and is limited to direct deposits under $5000. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing in which we receive notice of impending direct deposit, which is generally up to two days before the scheduled deposit date.
5 There are no overdraft fees or annual fees associated with Rewards Checking Plus accounts. Rewards Checking Plus charges no ATM fees, but third-party institutions may charge you a fee if you use their ATM/network or if you use your Upgrade VISA® Debit Card internationally. For Active Accounts, Upgrade will rebate ATM fees charged by another institution for debit card withdrawals in the United States, up to five times per calendar month. To be eligible to receive third-party ATM fee rebates in any calendar month for eligible ATM withdrawals made during that month on a Rewards Checking Plus account, the account must be an Active Account in the prior calendar month. See the Active Account page for more information. As a courtesy to new customers, Upgrade will provide third-party ATM fee rebates for 60 days after account opening regardless of account user status. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Checking Deposit Account Agreement and Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.