Financial mistakes happen. As unintended as they may be, bounced checks, unpaid overdraft fees, and excessive NSF charges are a few banking mishaps that can end up sticking to you like glue.
A negative banking history plays a major role in preventing you from opening a checking or savings account.
Second chance banking gives people an opportunity to get finances back on track along with restoring banking privileges. Most banks and credit unions use a checking account reporting company to screen new accounts.
There are several checking account reporting companies you may have never heard of until you get denied for a checking account.
ChexSystems and Early Warning Services (EWS) are the two largest checking account reporting companies, but banks and credit unions may also use Telecheck and even pull a credit report to open checking accounts.
10 Second Chance Banking Options
With second chance banking, negative checking account reports are overlooked and people are approved for real bank accounts. These are second chance checking accounts accessible to anyone in the U.S., even if the bank does not have local branches in your city.
1. OneUnited Bank
OneUnited Bank’s Online Checking Account is available to people in ALL STATES. We like OneUnited Bank because customers can add cash to the OneUnited Bank Debit Card at over 90,000 locations across the country through a partnership with Green Dot®.
OneUnited Bank offers the Black Wall Street Checking account with no monthly fee. However, if you don’t qualify, they offer the U2 E-Checking Account specifically designed for bad credit.
To get started go to the “Get the Card” button, enter your name, email address and cell phone number. Choose the Black Wall Street Checking account option along with the opening deposit ($25.00 minimum), then complete your identification details (name, address, SSN, and employer).
Black Wall Street Checking Account Features
- Minimum opening deposit of $25 (can be funded with a credit card).
- No monthly fee.
- Get paid up to 2 days early with early direct deposit.
- Free Online & Mobile Banking.
- Obtain Cash, Surcharge Free at Over 35,000 ATMs Nationwide.
- Deposit checks through the mobile app.
- Free Bill Pay
- OneUnited also offers a secured credit card that reports to the major credit bureaus.
2. Upgrade Rewards Checking
The Upgrade Rewards Checking Account offers up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses at grocery and drug stores, gas stations, monthly subscriptions, restaurants, and cell phone utilities. Plus, account holders get unlimited 1% cash back on all other debit card charges. This account takes less than 10 minutes to open, the process is simple and easy.
Upgrade Rewards Checking Features
- No ATM fee, no account fee, no monthly, and no overdraft fee.
- 2% cash back on common everyday expenses and recurring payments and unlimited 1% cash back on every other debit card charge.
- Use your Rewards Checking card wherever Visa® is accepted.
- Upgrade will rebate ATM fees charged by another institution up to five times a month when you meet certain conditions.
- As an added bonus, Rewards Checking customers can receive discounts on new loans and cards through Upgrade.
- FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
Rewards Checking is offered by Upgrade Inc, a nonbank financial services provider founded in 2016 and based in San Francisco, CA. It is made possible by a bank partnership with Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. Upgrade VISA ® Debit Cards issued by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Rewards Checking is available in 50 states (and Washington, DC).
3. SoFi Bank – Welcome Bonus up to $325
The Checking Account at SoFi offers no overdraft fee and no monthly fees. Members can use their SoFi debit card to access 55,000+ fee-free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network. Members with direct deposit can earn 1.25% APY on their balances. Plus, get up to 15% cash back at local establishments when you pay with your SoFi debit card.
$25 Welcome Bonus. Earn a $25 Welcome Bonus when you open your account with at least $10 from an existing Visa or Mastercard Debit Card.
Additional Bonus up to $300. Earn an additional bonus up to $300 for setting up a qualifying direct deposit from an employer, payroll, retirement pension, or benefits provider like state unemployment via ACH deposit.
Here’s how to earn the additional bonus (A member may only qualify for one bonus tier):
- To earn the $50 bonus tier you must set up a qualifying direct deposit of $1000 – $1,999
- To earn the $100 bonus tier you must set up a qualifying direct deposit of $ 2,000 – $4,999
- To earn the $300 bonus tier you must set up a qualifying direct deposit of $5,000 or more
SoFi Checking Account Features
- No monthly maintenance fee.
- Minimum opening deposit of $10.
- Earn 1.25% APY on all your cash with direct deposit. Without direct deposit, you will earn 0.70% APY.
- 55,000+ fee-free ATMs.
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit.
- No-fee Overdraft Coverage with qualifying monthly direct deposit.
- Organize your money, set savings goals, and save your change with Vaults and Roundups.
- Deposit checks, get real-time alerts, freeze or unfreeze your card, change your pin, and more—all from your phone.
- FDIC insured.
4. Acorns Checking Account – $10 Bonus
The Acorns Checking Account is the first checking account with a debit card that saves, invests, and earns for you. With the Acorns Checking Account, customers enjoy no monthly or overdraft fees, a debit card, and free ATM access nationwide. The Visa debit card is made with an impressive tungsten metal with a matte green finish and your signature custom-engraved.
Acorns Checking Account Features
- $5 minimum opening deposit.
- No overdraft fees.
- Unlimited free or fee-reimbursed ATM withdrawals nationwide.
- Rounds up purchases made with your debit card and invests the spare change.
- Digital direct deposit and mobile check deposit and check sending.
- Free bank-to-bank transfers.
- Automated bill pay.
- FDIC-protected checking account up to $250,000 plus fraud protection.
5. Sable Banking
The Sable account is a no credit check, no fee account that earns unlimited 1% cash back on everyday purchases. Get a debit card in your digital wallet and start using it instantly.
Sable Account Features
- Open your account with as little as $25.00
- Get a dollar-for-dollar match on all cash back at the end of your first year with Sable’s Double Cash Bonus.
- Earn 1% cash back on everyday purchases at Amazon, Uber, Uber Eats, Whole Foods, Netflix, Spotify, and more!
- No credit check or US credit history required and no SSN required for non US citizens.
- Open a restricted account before you step foot in the U.S or have a U.S address.
- Zero hidden fees—no annual fees, no additional ATM fees, no overdraft fees, no card replacement fees, and no minimum deposit.
- Premium benefits like extended warranty where Sable will double the warranty for eligible items purchased with your Sable card, and satisfaction guarantee where Sable will cover most purchases if you become dissatisfied with a new product within 60 days of purchase, and much more!
6. Current – Banking for modern life
Current Account does not use ChexSytems or a credit report to open accounts. One unique feature Current offers is their no-holds on debit card gas purchases. Some gas stations may apply a hold of up to $100 when you use a debit card. These holds lock the amount being held, making it unavailable for spending. The Current debit card will immediately refund the hold so that you don’t have available funds locked for days.
Current Account Features
- $10 minimum opening deposit.
- No overdraft fees when you overdraw by up to $200 with Overdrive™.
- Get your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit.
- Earn points for unlimited cashback at participating retailers.
- Gas station holds immediately credited to your account.
- Send money instantly for free.
- 24/7 member support.
7. Go Further Checking – 200 Welcome Bonus
Go Further Checking is designed for people that need to re-start a checking relationship. GTE wants to provide a second chance checking account. After one year, if you meet basic qualifications, your account is automatically upgraded. Membership is open to people in ALL STATES that are 18 years or older.
You must use Referral Code E599076ICB and use the Promo Code JOIN2000 in order to get the $200 welcome bonus.
Go Further Checking Account Features
- Access to 30,000 free ATMs.
- 24/7 Virtual Banking (Online, Mobile or Telephone).
- Get paid up to 2 days early with early direct deposit for a $3 fee.
- Bill Pay, Zelle®, and Friends & Family Transfers.
- Unlimited check writing.
- Account Balance Alerts.
- Free Bill Pay
- Remote Deposit – with the GTE Mobile App and Deposit2Go.
- Note: To get the $200 Bonus you must use referral code E599076ICB and use the Promo Code JOIN200 during the application process. You’ll get an opportunity to insert the referral code during the application process once you get to “Lastly, here’s an awesome member benefit.”
8. Chime Spending Account
Chime is a no credit check checking account with no monthly bank fees. The Chime Spending Account is similar to a second chance checking with no opening deposit that practically anyone at least 18 years old and a US Citizen can open.
Plus, if you need a credit card for bad credit, Chime will offer you a no credit check Visa credit card that reports to the three major credit bureaus, has no interest fees and no annual fee.
Chime Spending Account Features
- Chime will spot you up to $200 on debit card purchases with no overdraft fees. Eligibility requirements apply.¹
- Get paid up to 2 days earlyˆ with direct deposit.
- Chime Visa® Debit Card.
- Transfer money, send and deposit checks and pay bills.
- 60K+ fee-free ATMs˜ at locations like Walgreens, 7-Eleven, CVS, and more.
- An optional savings account earns 0.50% (APY).
- Leniency for people with previous checking account problems.
- No monthly or overdraft fees.
- Daily balance updates.
9. ACE Flare™ Account by MetaBank®
The ACE Flare™ Account by MetaBank® doesn’t use ChexSystems or run a credit check to verify new accounts. The account offers a convenient banking experience with the tools you need to manage your money.
The account has two options: the first option is $9.95 per month if no direct deposit is set up; the second option is $5.00 if you set up a direct deposit of at least $500 each month.
ACE Flare® Account by MetaBank® Features
- Get Paid Up to 2 Days Faster with Direct Deposit.
- No minimum balance requirement.
- No overdraft fees.
- Get the details on account transactions and more with Anytime Alerts.
- Earn 0.01% APY on funds in your Flare Account.
- Activate special offers in the Mobile App and earn credits to your Account when you use specific offers.
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000.
Benefits of second chance banking
Financial stability requires access to resources. Second chance banking gives unbanked people access to resources not offered by check cashing stores, prepaid debit cards or money orders. Say you need a safe place to save money. A bank is the most logical place for most people. However, the unbanked don’t have that option and it can cost them in many ways.
In the wake of California’s most deadliest and destructive fire in Butte County (Camp Fire, Nov. 2018), some unbanked residents found it difficult to get federal assistance because they did not have a bank account. One resident even reported he lost $20,000 in cash savings that burned in the fire.
Second chance banking offers financial stability by removing barriers to banking and promoting wealth building among unbanked people.
Another option for people who have been denied a checking account is to find banks that don’t use ChexSystems to open checking accounts. Second chance banking might include pulling a ChexSystems report but the bank doesn’t hold past mistakes against you.
What to watch out for with second chance banking
Second chance banking accounts are specifically designed for people who messed up their bank accounts but want to get back into banking. The banking industry varies when it comes to second chance banking accounts.
Here are several things to watch out for when researching second chance banking options:
- Second chance banking accounts may come with more limitations than standard checking accounts.
- Checking writing privileges may be limited or non-existent.
- Fees are likely to come with second chance checking accounts.
- Some banks offer upgraded, standard accounts after 12 months of good account management, so avoid overdrafts.
- Direct deposit may be required to open some second chance checking accounts. But the good news is that setting up direct deposit can lower or completely eliminate a monthly fee requirement.
Second chance banking can help your credit profile
While bank accounts are not reflected in your FICO scores, many lenders will ask if you have a checking or savings account when applying for home, car, business or personal loans. Having open and positive accounts is important because it reflects favorably on your ability to manage finances.
A positive checking account shows you know how to manage your money properly. A positive savings account shows lenders that you are saving for your future and have an emergency fund. Even if you have bad credit, lenders that offer second chance loans will require you have an active checking or savings account.
Overdraft protection should be part of your second chance banking option
Get overdraft protection when you open a second chance checking account, it can save your account from being reported to ChexSystems excessive NSF (nonsufficient funds) charges.
Banks are required to ask customers whether they want to “opt-in” for overdraft protection for their checking accounts. If you “opt-in” the bank will pay the amount and charge you an overdraft courtesy fee. This can get expensive if you frequently overdraw your account.
But with NSFs you can be charged multiple fees by your bank, along with a fee from the depositor’s bank in addition to a returned check fee charged by the person to whom you owe the payment, these fees can easily add up to well over $100 per NSF item.
Benefits of overdraft protection:
- If you lack sufficient funds, overdraft protection covers the transaction for a fee.
- Prevents embarrassment when you are checking out so your debit card is not declined.
- You don’t have to worry about situations where you have a payment due on a certain date but may be short on the funds to cover the full amount.
While overdraft protection can be helpful but unless you have a linked account to draw from you should not make it a habit to frequently overdraw your account, as the fees can start to add up.
The best way to avoid fees associated with NSFs and overdrafts is to monitor your account balance and keep track of your spending.
Overhaul your finances
Opening a second chance bank account is the first major step to get financially fit! The next step is to understand your credit score and ensure your credit reports are accurate. A healthy credit score means you’re more likely to be approved for mortgage, car, personal, student, or business loans. Healthy credit scores also improve the terms and rates on those loans.
Empower your finances by ordering your credit report and scores. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the major credit three credit bureaus once every 12 months and during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can get weekly free credit reports. But free credit reports will not come with free credit scores.
Many people subscribe to free sites to get their credit scores but don’t realize they are not getting access to the credit scores used by 90 percent of banks and lenders. To first understand your credit score you should get your real FICO scores. Experian gives you access to a credit report and FICO score for $1. You can also get FICO scores for the 3 major credit bureaus at myFICO.com.
How to Remove Credit Report Errors
Once you get your credit report and scores, it’s time to look for possible errors. The reason you want to spot and correct or delete errors is the impact an error could have on your credit scores. Remember, credit scores are a major component to financial fitness just like having a bank account.
Credit bureaus are required by law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, to only report accurate information on your credit reports. However, it is up to you to spot errors on your credit reports. Once you spot an error on your credit report, take steps to dispute it.
Start saving money with your second chance bank account
The key to getting financially fit is saving money. Whether you’re saving for your first house or investment property or a major purchase, maintaining a healthy savings goes a long way. Most bad credit is a result of not having an emergency fund to rely on when life happens — job loss, illness, major repairs, you name it.
Good techniques for effective saving include:
- Put your savings on automatic with direct deposit from your employer. Allocate a portion of your income to go directly to a savings account. What you don’t see, you don’t miss.
- Keep track of your spending. Online banking offers tools and alerts giving you 24/7 access to your accounts. Download a mobile app that keeps track of your spending. Know where your money goes.
- Get the family involved. It is easier to save when everyone is excited and working towards the same goal.
- Get the most for your money with a high-interest savings account.
Use your new bank to become a homeowner or investor
You may already own a home, but if not, once you open a second chance bank account make homeownership your number one goal. Your home may be your greatest asset. Now that you’re saving money start to prepare your credit files for homeownership. Homeownership is a dynamic experience that requires a tremendous amount of care and attention.
Some things you can do immediately to prepare for owning a home are the following:
- Reduce your debt. If your debt-to-income ratio is too high, your bank will likely not consider you for a mortgage loan; or, any type of loan. High debt, even when it’s paid on time, is considered high risk. In fact, mortgage lenders say high debt, not credit scores is the number one factor in denying mortgage loans.
- Save a downpayment. It’s tough to save money when using a check cashing store or piggy bank. A second chance bank gives you access to a safe place to store your money while earning interest. The down payment is one of the most significant components to purchasing a home. It used to be that a 20% downpayment was required to purchase a new home but times have changed.
- Homebuyers can buy a home with as little as three to five percent down. If you do put less than 20% down, you will probably have to purchase private mortgage insurance, which will cost you between .5% to 1% of the loan amount until your equity reaches the full 20%. Keep in mind that the more you put down, the less your mortgage payment will be.
- Don’t take on new credit obligations. Don’t aggressively open new credit accounts while preparing to purchase a home. The last thing your bank wants to see is that you are taking on new debt. Unless you have no positive credit accounts reporting in your credit files, refrain from opening new accounts. If you need to open new credit cards make sure you keep the balances to less than 30% of your available credit. In fact, for the best credit scores consider keeping your balances at 10% or less of your available credit.
- Consider FHA Mortgage Loans. Your second chance bank may offer FHA loans. FHA loans are easier to qualify for when people have less than perfect credit. Credit scores can be as low as 500 for FHA loans, however, most banks will want you to have at least a 620 credit score. Most banks require that total housing costs not exceed 28% of gross monthly income, and total debt payments per month (including the mortgage) not surpass 36%.But FHA has is less stringent requirements. FHA requires that total housing costs not exceed 31% of gross monthly income, and total debt payments not exceed 43%. But there are exceptions to FHA general guidelines. Total debt payments can be as high as 50% for certain borrowers, particularly those with good credit and other “compensating factors.
Here is a sample chart of required credit scores for FHA Mortgage Loans and Compensating factors for high debt.
Image: Compensating factors for debt ratios in manual underwriting. Source: HUD Handbook 4000.1
Final thoughts
As you can see there are many benefits to building a banking relationship. Access to credit is one of the unique benefits of establishing an account at a second chance bank. Access to credit and homeownership is not part of banking at a check-cashing store or using a prepaid debit card.
During this pandemic scammers have been patrolling the internet looking for unsuspecting and innocent Senior Citizens. If you fall prey to scammers instead of the bank assisting you they will close your account because you are high risk. There should be a way to have banks protect their clients from scammers
Hi Anthony,
I definitely agree with you that banks should protect their customers against scammers. But banks are risk-averse meaning they will do what they have to first to mitigate risk, then ask questions later. Unfortunately, it’s up to you to call, write and make complaints if a bank has unfairly closed your account due to scammers.
Plus, if fraud has occurred and money was taken from your account from a debit card or electronic transaction, you have rights. You are not responsible for any unauthorized charges made after you notify the bank.
Here are two major protections:
1. Debit cards transactions
For a lost or stolen debit card, your losses will be limited depending on how quickly you report the loss or theft of the card:
If your physical debit card itself is not lost or stolen, you are not liable for any fraud charges using your debit card number if you report the fraud within 60 days after your statement is sent.
2. Electonic Funds Transfer Act
The Electronic Funds Transfer Act requires banks to follow specific “error resolution” procedures to resolve these disputes.
This protection allows you to dispute errors involving your debit card or other electronic transactions such as a direct deposit from your employer or a monthly electronic withdrawal to pay your mortgage. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act requires banks to follow specific “error resolution” procedures to resolve these disputes.
Under the law, you must dispute an error within sixty (60) days of the first bank statement with the error. You may raise the dispute either in writing or orally, but the bank can ask that you send a written confirmation of the dispute within 10 days of an oral dispute. It may be a good idea to submit a dispute in writing so that you have a record of it.
Here are some examples of what you can dispute:
Your dispute letter or email should include:
Thanks for putting together this list. I know firsthand that second chance banking isn’t as accessible as it should be, especially for people whose life circumstances have changed.