Online checking accounts with no ChexSystems offer unbanked people the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of a bank account.
There's no reason for U.S. consumers to be unbanked with access to online and digital banking options.
5 Best Online Checking Accounts, No-ChexSystems
These online banks that don't use ChexSystems can be opened instantly giving you access to an account and routing number.
- Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus: Best for Cash Back Rewards
- SoFi Checking & Savings: Best for Bank Bonus up to $325
- Axos Rewards Checking Account: Full-Service Bank
- Albert Banking: Best for $1,000 Cash Advance
- Current: Best for earning 4% APY up to $6,000
A Closer Look At The Best Online Checking Accounts, No-ChexSystems
- $0 Opening Deposit
- No monthly fees
- Up to 2% cash back on purchases1
- Get paid up to 2 days early
- Add Performance Savings to earn up to 4.02% APY
- Deposits are FDIC insured
- No monthly account fee
- Welcome bonus up to $300 (direct deposit and $50 opening minimum opening deposit required)
- Access 55,000+ fee-free ATMs
- Earn more with 0.50% APY
- FDIC insured (up to $3M with opt-in to SoFi Insured Deposit Program)
- Early access to direct deposits
- Tools to help you track savings goals
- $10 Opening Deposit.
- No minimum balance fees. No overdraft fees.
- Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit.
- Access a network of over 95,000 fee-free ATMs.
- Cash deposits at participating ATMs nationwide or by using the Green Dot Network at retailers like Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens for a fee of up to $4.95.
- FDIC-insured up to $250,000
- Option 1: Your Axos ONE® Checking account has received monthly qualifying direct deposits of at least $1,500 in total. The average daily balance of your Axos ONE® Checking account is at least $1,500.
- Option 2: Your Axos ONE® Checking account has received monthly qualifying deposits of at least $5,000 in total. The average daily balance of your Axos ONE® Checking account is at least $5,000.
- Offers no-credit check cash advances up to $1,000.
- 55,000+ fee-free AllPoint ATMs.
- Earn up to 20% cash back on gas, groceries, and more.
- Early direct deposit paycheck
- Start building your investment portfolio with as little as $1.
- FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
- Build credit with every swipe if you set up direct deposit.
- Earn 4% APY up to $6,000.
- Get paid up to 2 days faster.
- Get fee-free overdraft.
- Earn points on swipes for cash back.
- No credit checks or history required.
- FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
Things to Consider About No-ChexSystems Banks
Overall anyone unable to open a bank account due to ChexSystems, EWS, or bad credit needs a second chance at banking. However, there are a few things to consider about banks offering online checking accounts – no ChexSystems:
- Cashier's checks. Online banks do not typically issue money orders, certified checks, or cashier checks.
- Paper statements. Most online banks only offer statements via online where customers can download and view PDF statements by month and year.
- Bank transfers through Zelle. Zelle is compatible with nearly all major banks, but some fintechs like Upgrade, may offer alternative transfer mobile banking apps.
- Check writing. Writing checks may not be available at all banks that don't use ChexSystems.
- High-interest savings rate. Banks online often feature higher savings interest rates than traditional banking institutions, however, your money may not be accessible with a debit card or ATM card. Withdrawals are typically through transfer, unless you have a connected checking account with a debit card like SoFi Bank.
Why ChexSystems Exists
ChexSystems is designed to help banks identify fraudulent activity. It allows banks to report consumer banking activity that's considered negative as well as consumer banking habits and activities, for example:
- You fail to pay an overdraft fee for as little as $5, can end up in ChexSystems.
- Any banking account closures including bank closures with negative balances.
- Any returned (bounced) checks.
- Number of inquiries that have been made when you apply for a bank account and in what time frames.
- How many check orders you have placed and how often.
ChexSystems Removal Strategies
ChexSystems removal should be considered because even if you pay the bank in full, the bank must update ChexSystems but ChexSystems is under no obligation to remove the record.
ChexSystems is consumer reporting company. If you find information in your consumer report that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the legal right to dispute the report’s content with the consumer reporting company and the bank that shared the information to ChexSystems.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), ChexSystems or the bank that reported you has to verify the negative mark within 30 days or delete it from your ChexSystems report.
Here are several ChexSystems removal strategies:
1. Dispute directly with ChexSystems. Request verification from ChexSystems:
- Gather the facts and include specific information as to what you are disputing and an explanation of the basis for your dispute.
- Request that ChexSystems validate the information being reported, by contacting the bank. If the bank provides ChexSystems with any documentation connected to your signature, request that ChexSystems send you copies.
- Let ChexSystems know if the bank cannot furnish documentation with your signature, request that ChexSystems remove the account being reported.
2. Dispute directly with the bank. Request debt validation from the bank.
- Request validation per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
- Ask the bank to provide full validation under the law, to include copies of completed and signed documentation indicating you have a contractual obligation to pay.
- Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, any debt which cannot be properly validated may not be reported to a consumer reporting company.
- Failure to remove inaccurate information will be documented as a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act for the purpose of pursuing legal remedies under consumer laws.
3. Negotiate a pay for deletion. The bank or credit union may be open to negotiating a pay off to clear your records. If they will not agree to remove you from ChexSystems, ask the bank to update the information in ChexSystems indicating that the debt has been paid. Be sure to keep copies of all the paperwork documenting the payoff.
4. Bankruptcy. If you have filed bankruptcy, ChexSystems will remove your records.
5. Make complaints. File complaints with one or several of the banking regulators:
- Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
- Your State's Attorneys General Office
- Your State Banking Commission
How to get your ChexSystems report online
You are entitled to request a copy of your ChexSystems Report at your request, once every 12 months. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, you can get your ChexSystems report online for free request 3 times per every two-week period.
Final thoughts
It’s become clear that consumers enjoy smart, safe, and convenient ways to bank. Digital banking can be a means by which consumers without a bank association can begin to bank again. Digital banking is not just apps and sites, it's full-service banking that offers customers the best of both worlds.
Benefit from new technology to open an online checking account – no ChexSystems. A ChexSystems record, paid or unpaid, can remain up to 5 years and millions of people are unbanked because they have been flagged as high risk.
Upgrade Disclaimers
*Checking accounts are insured up to $250,000 in FDIC insurance through Cross River Bank. Deposits to Performance Savings and/or Secured OneCard Savings Accounts are eligible for FDIC and/or NCUA deposit insurance up to $250,000 through Cross River Bank, Member FDIC and Participating Institutions. Learn more about the Custodial Program and Participating Institutions for Performance Savings or Secured OneCard Savings Account. Cross River Bank may place some or all of the funds held in your savings account(s) into an account at one or more other Participating Institutions. Each Participating Institution is either (1) a FDIC-insured depository institution that only covers the failure of insured banks, or (2) a credit union that is eligible for insurance through the NCUA Share Insurance Fund if the credit union fails. Funds are insured up to $250,000 per ownership category and per institution. Certain conditions must be satisfied for FDIC deposit insurance coverage to apply to any funds held at a FDIC-insured depository institution. Upgrade is not a bank and is not FDIC insured. You are responsible for monitoring where your deposits are held (available in your Upgrade dashboard) to determine the extent of FDIC and/ or NCUA insurance coverage available to you.
1 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.
