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ChexSystems is a type of credit reporting agency that works with banks. It's similar to credit reporting agencies like Experian and TransUnion that work with lenders. Banks can use your ChexSystem report as a basis for denying you a bank account if they don't like what they find on it. That's why it's especially important to avoid overdraft fees and other banking errors, as they can come back to haunt you later.
Unfortunately, a bad ChexSystems report is one of the primary barriers to accessing basic financial services for an estimated 6% of U.S. adults who don't have a bank account — felt heavily among low-income, disabled, and minority Americans.
The good news is that you can still open a bank account with a bad ChexSystems report, you just might be more limited in your options.
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Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Up to $300New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Minimum Opening Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Why We Like It
Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.00% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> on your money with eligible direct deposit
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
ChexSystems is a type of consumer reporting agency that is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Banks and credit unions usually check your ChexSystems report when you apply for a bank account.
A ChexSystems report only lists negative information (not positive information), but any marks disappear after five years.
You can check your own ChexSystems file once per year or after you've been denied a bank account, and you have the right to dispute any inaccurate information.
ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency that gives companies the scoop on whether you've had a rough time managing your bank account in the past. Over 80% of banks and credit unions in the U.S. use ChexSystems, or a rival agency like Early Warning Services, anytime someone wants to open a bank account.
There are a variety of fintech services and even some traditional banks, however, that don't use ChexSystems, so you've got options for avoiding it if you have a spotty banking history.
ChexSystems is very similar to credit reporting agencies that you might be familiar with — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. However, ChexSystems focuses on banking-specific information instead of lending-specific information.
ChexSystem also primarily lists negative account information, such as overdrafts and account closures for mismanagement, while credit reports contain both positive and negative information. So if you don't have a ChexSystems file, that's a good thing — it means no one has left a negative mark for misusing past bank accounts.
How do banks use ChexSystems?
Most banks and credit unions will check your ChexSystem report and/or the score generated from your file whenever you apply to open a bank account. They're looking to see if any other banks have left notes in your file indicating that you might not be a good customer. If they find anything they don't like, they can deny your application and must, by law, follow up with a letter explaining why and what your rights are.
Most bank account denials are due to a history of past overdrafts and non-sufficient funds fees (NSF) charged to your account. If you or your bank has closed a past account while it had an outstanding negative balance, this may also appear in your file as a debt and prevent you from getting approved for a bank account.
The good news is these things don't last forever. Anyone can still qualify for one of the best checking accounts if you wait long enough. Any negative marks on your file will only be listed there for five years. If the mark was made in error or you've taken steps to fix the problem like paying up on past debts, then you can dispute the mark on your file to get it changed or even removed.
How to check your ChexSystems report
You can get your ChexSystems report via two routes: after getting denied for a bank account and once per year for free.
If you've been denied when you apply for a bank account, the bank will send you a notice of "adverse action" explaining the specific reason why you were denied. You'll then have 60 days to check your ChexSystems report for free and make sure it's accurate or find ways to improve it.
Alternatively, as with your credit report, you get one free opportunity every year to check your ChexSystems report. Whether you're checking it after a bank account denial or during your annual free pass, you can easily see your ChexSystem report online.
How to improve your ChexSystems report
If you've gotten a copy of your ChexSystems report and spotted negative marks on it that aren't correct and could be hurting you, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute that information and try to have it removed. Here's a step-by-step approach to do it.
Fix any legitimate outstanding marks: If you owe money or have any similar negative marks on your credit report that you can fix, take the time to do it now. In cases of fraud, you may need to show a police report in order to remove this information from your file.
Gather evidence: You'll need some way to support your claim when reaching out to have your ChexSystems file cleaned up. Gather copies of your bank statements, letters, driver's license, or other proof of identity that you can use to bolster your case.
Dispute with ChexSystems: You can either mail a dispute letter to ChexSystems (here's a handy sample letter) or file a dispute online. ChexSystems is required to respond within 21 to 45 days.
Dispute with financial institution: In addition to ChexSystem, you should also contact the bank or credit union that listed the mark on your credit report. Ask them to fix the information on your file, which may include removing it or marking it as paid in full.
Add a statement to your file: If the above steps haven't helped and the mark is legitimate, you can add a short note to your file (subject to certain limits) to be displayed along with the mark whenever someone requests your report.
File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: You can also file an official complaint with the CFPB, who may be able to help you if filing a dispute hasn't resolved the situation.
Wait for information to fall off your file: If nothing else is successful, you can at least take comfort that the information isn't there forever, just for a very long time — five years.
Finally, some of the best banks and credit unions offer a "second-chance checking" account for people who are otherwise unable to qualify based on a bad ChexSystem file. Some come with steeper fees and limitations, but you'll generally be able to upgrade to a normal bank account after a year or so without any overdrafts or other mismanagement of your account.
Banks that don't use ChexSystems
Although about 80% of banks use a consumer reporting agency like ChexSystems, not all of them do. If you've been denied a bank account in the past, or if you just want to avoid ChexSystems entirely for whatever reason, consider opening an account at one of these banks that don't use ChexSystems.
SoFi®
SoFi® does not use ChexSystems. It offers a checking and savings account, and you receive both when you're approved for an account. We like SoFi®'s high savings APY of up to 3.30%6 <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p> and the potential to receive your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit.4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
SoFi® is a member FDIC.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
The Chime® Checking Account has no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirement, and no foreign transaction fees.7 <p class="">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. <br></p> 8 <p>There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.</p> You can access over 50,000 fee-free ATMs and get paid up to two days early with direct deposit if you qualify.9 <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.</p> 10 <p> Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We 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.</p>
Chime's banking partners, The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank, are both Members FDIC.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.00% APY on Savings (3.30% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer
When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.11 <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 1/21/2026.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank12 <p>Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p><p class="">Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p> without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.13 <p class="">Your balance is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement">terms and conditions</a>. </p> Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks14 <p>Your first deposit may take longer depending on your employer.</p>
ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency that banks use when deciding whether to approve your application for a new bank account. It's similar to the credit bureaus that lenders use when deciding whether to approve your application for a new loan or credit card.
How long does your information stay in ChexSystems?
Legitimate information on a ChexSystems account will stay there for five years. After that, it'll disappear. If the information was in error however (and you can prove it), then you can dispute the mark with both ChexSystems and the financial institution that added the note to your report.
How do I get off ChexSystems?
If you have a legitimate mark on your ChexSystems record, you cannot have your ChexSystems report deleted. The only way to get rid of your ChexSystems record is to not have any marks on any of your accounts for five years, after which time you won't have a report.
In the meantime, you can place a security freeze on your account and request that ChexSystems not share your data with financial institutions.
Bottom line
ChexSystems isn't something that factors into most people's lives very much, but when it does, it can be devastating. If you're not able to get a bank account, you'll find it difficult or impossible to get paid, save money safely, send money, and/or buy things.
In addition to checking your ChexSystems report and disputing any errors, we recommend reviewing our list of the best second-chance checking accounts if you're having trouble getting approved for a traditional checking account.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
High APY of up to 4.00% on Savings (3.30% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network15 <p>We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>
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