Second Chance Banking Across the U.S.

Locked out of traditional banking due to past mistakes? Don't give up on financial freedom. Discover second chance banking options designed to help you rebuild.

What is Second Chance Banking?

If you've ever had an unpaid overdraft, ACH transaction or bounced check; or, the bank reported your account as fraud, you're probably familiar with ChexSystems or Early Warning Services.

Serious banking issues often end up getting reported to one or both of these consumer reporting agencies. When you apply for a new bank account, most banks and credit unions will review your banking history to determine account approval.

Banks that offer “second chance” checking accounts will approve new customers with past banking issues but these accounts may have some limitations like no checking writing or come with a monthly service fee.

Second Chance Banking In States Near You

Alabama 

1. Azalea City Credit Union: Opportunity Draft  
2. Family Security Credit Union: Give Me a Break Checking  
3. First National Bank: On Us Account  
4. Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union: MyOpportunity Checking  
5. United Bank: Gateway Checking 

Alaska

1. True North Federal Credit Union: True Options Checking

Arizona

1. Banner Federal Credit Union: Opportunity Checking
2. Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union: Mission Checking

Arkansas

1. Diamond Bank: Encore Checking
2. Red River Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
3. River Valley Community Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

California

1. Befit Financial Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
2. Foothill Credit Union: Rebound Checking
3. North County Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
4. Premier America Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
5. Priority One Credit Union: New Leaf Checking
6. Self-Help Federal Credit Union: Access Checking

Colorado

1. Liberty Savings Bank: Clean Slate Checking
2. NuVista Federal Credit Union: The Last Chance Checking

Connecticut

1. Finex Credit Union: Second Chance Checking
2. Hartford Federal Credit Union: Take 2 Checking
3. Tobacco Valley Teachers Federal Credit Union: myChance Checking

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

1. Central Credit Union of Florida: Fresh Start Checking
2. Compass Financial Federal Credit Union: Restart Checking
3. First American Bank: Fresh Start Checking
4. First Florida Credit Union: Smart Track Checking
5. Gold Coast Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
6. Gulf Winds Credit Union: MyOpportunity Checking
7. JetStream Federal Credit Union: Restart Checking Account
8. Liberty Savings Bank: Clean Slate Checking
9. McCoy Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
10. Members First Credit Union of Florida: Second Chance Checking
11. Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union: A New Leaf Checking
12. Priority Credit Union: Restart Checking
13. San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union: Checking Rebuilder
14. South Florida Federal Credit Union: Aspire Checking
15. United Bank: Gateway Checking

Georgia

1. Georgia's Own Credit Union: Resolution Checking
2. Peach State Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Hawaii

Idaho

1. Latah Credit Union: Level Up Checking

Illinois

1. Catholic & Community Credit Union: Rebound Checking
2. First American Bank: Fresh Start Checking
3. First National Bank and Trust Company: Renew Checking
4. Marquette Bank: ReStart Checking

Indiana

1. Centra Credit Union: Opportunity Checking
2. Diamond Valley Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
3. Liberty Federal Credit Union: Opportunity Checking
4. Horizon Bank: Fresh Start Checking
5. Park Community Credit Union: Brightside Checking Account
6. Regional Federal Credit Union: First Step Checking

Iowa

1. Collins Community Credit Union: Take2 Checking
2. Federation Bank: Fresh Start Checking
3. Greater Iowa Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
4. North Iowa Community Credit Union: Fresh Start Debit

Kansas

1. Central National Bank: New Opportunity Checking
2. United Consumers Credit Union: Second Chance Checking

Kentucky

1. The Cecilian Bank: Choice Opportunity Checking
2. Central Bank: Clean Start Checking
3. Liberty Federal Credit Union: Opportunity Checking
4. FNB Bank: Start Again Checking
5. Hearthside Bank: Square One Checking
6. Park Community Credit Union: Brightside Checking Account

Louisiana

1. Pelican State Credit Union: Horizon Checking
2. Southwest Louisiana Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Maine

Maryland

1. Central Credit Union of Maryland: Renew Checking
2. Clear Mountain Bank: StartFresh Checking
3. Market USA Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
4. Security Plus Federal Credit Union: Revive Checking

Massachusetts

1. Alden Credit Union: No Boundaries Checking
2. Athol Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Michigan

1. Credit Union One: Basic Checking
2. Horizon Bank: Fresh Start Checking
3. Marshall Community Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
4. Members First Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
5. Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU): Rebuild Checking

Minnesota

Mississippi

1. Citizens National Bank: CleanSlate Checking
2. Gulf Coast Community Credit Union: New Chance Checking
3. MUNA Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Missouri

1. Columbia Credit Union: Fresh-Start Checking
2. Electro Savings Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
3. First State Community Bank: New Opportunity Checking
4. Health Care Family Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
5. Montgomery Bank: Montgomery New Start Checking
6. St. Louis Community Credit Union: Freedom Checking
7. United Consumers Credit Union: Second Chance Checking
8. United Credit Union: Restore Checking
9. Wood & Huston Bank: StartFresh Checking

Montana

1. Clearwater Credit Union: SmartSpend Checking

Nebraska

1. Central National Bank: New Opportunity Checking

Nevada

1. Clark County Credit Union: CheckAgain 2nd Chance Checking
2. WestStar Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

New Hampshire

1. GFA Federal Credit Union: New Start Checking

New Jersey

1. Credit Union of New Jersey: Right Turn Checking
2. Jersey Shore Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
3. United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union: United New Start Checking

New Mexico

1. Bank of Albuquerque: Opportunity Banking
2. Lea County State Bank: LCSB Second Chance Checking

New York

1. Adirondack Regional Federal Credit Union: New Beginnings Checking
2. Alternatives Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
3. Centra Credit Union: Opportunity Checking
4. Financial Trust Federal Credit Union: 2nd Chance Checking
5. Fulton Savings Bank: New Opportunity Checking
6. Genesee Valley Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

North Carolina

1. Skyla Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
2. Excite Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

North Dakota

Ohio

1. Buckeye State Credit Union: Empowerment Checking
2. Eaton Family Credit Union, Inc.: Refresh Checking
3. Hopewell Federal Credit Union: Rebound Checking
4. KEMBA Financial Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
5. Members Trust Federal Credit Union: Trust and Alternative Checking

Oklahoma

1. Allegiance Credit Union: Second Chance Account
2. Bank of Oklahoma: Opportunity Banking
3. Citizens Bank of Edmond: Fresh Start Checking
4. Oklahoma Educators Credit Union (OECU): Fresh Start Checking
5. TTCU Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
6. Western Sun Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Oregon

1. Point West Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Pennsylvania

1. Utilities Employees Credit Union (UECU): Green Light Checking
2. West Branch Valley Federal Credit Union: Back on Track Checking

Rhode Island

South Carolina

1. Caro Federal Credit Union: Rebound Checking
2. Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union: Encore Checking
3. HopeSouth Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
4. Market USA Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
5. Peach State Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
6. Vital Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

South Dakota

No accounts found at state-based financial institutions. Check for national options.

Tennessee

Texas

1. 4U Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
2. Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union: Restart Checking
3. Associated Credit Union of Texas: 180 Checking
4. Bank of Texas: Opportunity Banking
5. Baptist Credit Union: Draft Builder Checking C
6. hocolate Bayou Credit Union: Clean Slate Checking
7. Diamond Bank: Encore Checking
8. First Service Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
9. Kelly Community Federal Credit Union: $mart Choice Checking
10. MemberSource Credit Union: Select Checking
11. Members Trust of the Southwest Federal Credit Union: New Start Checking
12. Memorial Credit Union: New Path Checking
13. Neighborhood Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
14. East Texas Professional Credit Union: Priority Checking
15. Peoples Bank: Second Chance Checking
16. Premier America Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking P
17. restige Community Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
18. Red River Employees Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
19. Select Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
20. Southside Bank: Next Checking
21. Tarrant County's Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
22. United Heritage Credit Union: Choice Checking
23. Unity One Credit Union: Clean Start Checking

Utah

1. American United Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
2. Cyprus Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Vermont

Virginia

1. Central Virginia Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
2. Healthcare Systems Federal Credit Union: Renew Checking
3. Member One Federal Credit Union: Smart Choice Checking

Washington

1. MountainCrest Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

West Virginia

1. Clear Mountain Bank: StartFresh Checking
2. West Virginia Federal Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking

Wisconsin

1. Brewery Credit Union: Fresh Start Checking
2. First National Bank and Trust Company: Renew Checking
3. Crossbridge Community Bank: Fresh Start Checking

Wyoming

No accounts found at state-based financial institutions. Check for national options.

Second chance banking is available in all 50 states. It's a great option for people denied a bank account due to bad credit, Early Warning Services or ChexSystems.

Benefits of second chance banking

If you're conducting financial transactions without a bank account, you can rebuild your banking history with second chance banking. Having a bank account can be taken for granted until you don’t have one.

The hassle of a check-cashing store, loading money onto a prepaid card, the fees; not to mention the lack of access to financial products like personal, mortgage, or auto loans can impede you from making major purchases.

Rebuild your banking history with second chance banking

ChexSystems maintains negative banking history for 5 years while EWS, Telecheck, and credit bureaus keep negative information for 7 years.

Mistakes happen. You deserve a second chance at banking to get a fresh start. The banking industry varies when it comes to second chance banking accounts. Second chance banking accounts may come with more limitations than standard checking accounts.

Second chance banking accounts are specifically designed for people who have struggled with a checking account in the past but want to get back into banking.

Some banks and credit unions offer second chance banking with limited or no check writing privileges while other financial institutions allow most features of a regular checking account but tack on a monthly fee.

Another option for people denied a checking account is to find non ChexSystems 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.

Avoid negative banking habits

Once your new account is open, avoid habits that contribute to a negative banking history like overdrafts and depositing personal checks from individuals. With online banking tools, you can always pay attention to checking account balances, keep track of all transactions to avoid overdrafts, and monitor your bank accounts.

Participation in a financial management workshop, often online for 60-90 minutes, might be required by some banks and credit unions prior to opening a second chance banking account. These workshops offer good tips on managing a checking account and avoiding actions that can get you in trouble.

Second Chance Checking has Pros and Cons

Pros of a second chance checking account:

• Restore a good standing banking history. A second chance checking account helps you rebuild your banking history, but you still need to practice good money management.
• Avoid excessive financial fees. Prepaid debit cards, money orders, cashier's checks, and check cashing services have one thing in common, FEES! Some Second chance checking accounts may have a monthly service but it will be insignificant compared to the above-mentioned alternative banking services.
• Reestablish your banking relationship. A good banking relationship can open opportunties for future financial products like a mortgage, car, business or student loan at competitive interest rates. Opening a second chance account is the first step in rebuilding your relationship with the bank.

Cons of a second chance checking account:

• Monthly maintenance fees. Many second chance checking accounts come with monthly maintenance fees. Over time, these can add up. While you might be able to avoid monthly service fees in some cases, most second chance banks will only waive these charges if you maintain a certain balance or set up a specific number of direct deposits.
• Lack of overdraft protection. Most second chance checking account do not offer overdraft protection.
• Won't rebuild credit. Banks do not report good banking habits to the credit bureaus so while a second chance checking account will do wonders for establishing a banking relationship, the account will not do anything to help repair bad credit. If you have bad credit, you'll need to take separate steps to improve it.

Challenge Mistakes with ChexSystems or EWS

Just like creditors report inaccurate information to credit bureaus, banks and credit unions make mistakes too. Challenge errors and inaccurate information reported to ChexSystems and EWS if you think you should have a clean record.

Order your ChexSystems and EWS report for free, once every 12 months. If you’ve been denied a bank account within the last 60-days you are entitled to a free report. Otherwise, there may be a fee.

Final thoughts

When a shaky banking record prevents you from traditional banking, you can't go wrong with banks that offer second chance checking accounts, even if a monthly fee is required.

Take comfort in knowing there are tools to help you restore your banking privileges and, if you have to pay a monthly fee, it will not last forever. Start enjoying all the benefits and conveniences of banking again.