Colorado Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems
Updated on : December 8th, 2021
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Are you among the 3.3% of Colorado residents that don’t have a bank account? If so, it may be because of ChexSystems, a credit reporting agency that stores information about your banking history.
Most banks in the US look at your ChexSystems history when you apply for a new checking or savings account. If you are deemed too high-risk, they could deny you on the spot. It can be very discouraging if this happens to you bank after bank.
If you’re still in search of a bank account, we have good news. While most banks do use ChexSystems, there are many options in Colorado that do not use ChexSystems, or are willing to approve you for an account even if you have bad ChexSystems history.
In this article, we’ll share the best non-ChexSystems and second chance banks in Colorado. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about ChexSystems and how you can best manage your new checking account once you’ve been approved.
The Best Non-ChexSystems Banks in Colorado
For Colorado residents, we recommend starting with either Chime or BBVA (now PNC Bank). These banks are nationally recognized as some of the best banks, while also being friendly to those with poor ChexSystems records.
Chime®
Chime’s mission is to make banking helpful, easy, and free for everyone. As a result, they do not run your credit or check your ChexSystems report when you apply to any of their checking and savings accounts.
Chime is technically not a bank. Instead, they are a relatively new financial technology company that offers banking services provided through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., meaning that their products are still FDIC insured. Here’s why you should consider their Chime Checking accounts and Chime Savings accounts.
BBVA (PNC)
BBVA (now PNC Bank) offers a variety of checking and savings accounts to Colorado residents. They do use ChexSystems when you submit an application, but tend to be more lenient about past mistakes.
One great product that you can easily apply for online is their VirtualWallet. Most clients like that VirtualWallet contains a checking and savings account together in a bundle: VirtualWallet contains a Spend account for regular checking, and a Growth account to store your long-term savings. If you only need a checking account, VirtualWallet offers that option as well.
VirtualWallet also comes with special banking features that you should definitely take advantage of. For example, their Low Cash Mode feature allows you to set up alerts and control activity when your account drops below a certain threshold.
Top 8 Local Colorado Non-ChexSystems Banks
Chime and BBVA (PNC Bank) are larger national banks with accounts that you can easily apply for online. However, if you prefer a local bank with more personalized experience, here are 8 top options within the state of Colorado.
5Star Bank
5Star Bank is a local bank with a handful of locations around Colorado Springs, Greenwood Village, and Trinidad. They offer a variety of second chance personal and business checking and savings accounts.
5Star Bank offers two personal checking accounts, the 5Star Checking and E-Checking account. If you only need digital checking, the E-Checking is a better option since it comes with no monthly fees. The 5Star Checking has a $7 monthly fee, but it’s waived if you maintain an average daily balance of $1,000.
Contact Information:
- Address: 104 S Cascade Ave Suite 102, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
- Phone: (719) 475-7827
Bank of the West
Bank of the West is a larger bank that’s well-established in the western half of the US. They have many locations all over Colorado, and dozens of branches within Denver.
Bank of the West offers their Any Deposit Checking account as a second chance to anyone with ChexSystems records that are older than one year. We recommend this account because it has no minimum balance requirements and $0 monthly charges if you make at least one deposit of any amount.
Contact Information:
- Address: 1965 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
- Phone: (303) 218-2545
BOK Financial
BOK Financial is a bank with locations in Arizona and Colorado. They offer second chance checking accounts that you can apply for even if you’ve had a troublesome ChexSystems history. Their Aurora location has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 among 40 Google reviews.
BOK Financial’s Opportunity Checking account is specifically designed to give you a fresh start to your finances. The account is checkless, meaning you won’t be able to order or write checks, but you do get free access to over 32,000 ATMs nationwide and a free Visa debit card.
Contact Information:
- Address: 14575 E Alameda Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
- Phone: (720) 858-6918
Equitable Savings & Loan Association
Equitable Savings & Loan Association was first established in 1954 and is currently based in northeastern Colorado. As they specialize in both banking and loans, they don’t use ChexSystems, but will look at your credit report.
Their Value Checking is a simple account that offers a great opportunity for you to rebuild your banking history. It requires a $100 minimum deposit, but there are no monthly service charges after that. You also get free Bill Pay and a free debit card.
Contact Information:
- Address: 222 S Main St, Yuma, CO 80759
- Phone: (970) 848-2341
Navy Federal Credit Union
If you’re an active or retired member of the military, Navy Federal Credit Union has great second chance banking options for you. They have a handful of locations scattered around Colorado.
We like their Free Easy Checking account for retired veterans. The account comes with no monthly service fees, no minimum balance requirements, and extra dividends on your balance. For active military, the Free Active Duty Checking account offers all these benefits, and you’ll be able to access your military pay one day earlier.
Contact Information:
- Address: 10860 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial, CO 80112
- Phone: (888) 842-6328
NuVista Federal Credit Union
For those in western Colorado, NuVista Federal Credit Union can help you get your finances back on track. They have two branches, one in Montrose and one in Gunnison.
NuVista’s Last Chance Checking was made specifically for those with bad ChexSystems records. The account does have a $10 monthly fee attached to it, but you get free online and mobile banking and unlimited check writing. To open an account with NuVista, you must also open a Membership Share Savings account with a minimum $25 deposit.
Contact Information:
- Address: 2711 Commercial Way, Montrose, CO 81401
- Phone: (970) 249-8813
US Bank
Chances are, you’ve already heard of US Bank. They are one of the largest national banks in the country, with many locations all over Colorado.
For those with negative ChexSystems records, consider the Safe Debit account. It comes with a monthly fee of $4.95, but you get a free debit card along with overdraft protection benefits. In addition, the account gives you free access to your VantageScore so you can also keep tabs on your credit score.
Contact Information:
- Address: 600 Court St, Pueblo, CO 81003
- Phone: (719) 545-0104
White Crown Credit Union
White Crown Credit Union is a local credit union in Denver. While they may view your ChexSystems history when you apply, they will still approve your membership if you need a second chance account.
Their Free Checking account is open to anyone living or working in the Denver metropolitan area. With the account, you pay no monthly service fees and get access to over 30,000 ATMs nationwide.
Contact Information:
- Address: 2001 Lincoln St #100, Denver, CO 80202
- Phone: (303) 534-4448
Why Do I Keep Getting Denied For a Checking Account?
If you’re continually getting denied for a checking account, it’s probably due to your bad ChexSystems history. This can be due to a number of negative banking items, including:
- Overdrafting
- Bounced checks
- Accounts closed with an outstanding balance
- Account, card, or ATM abuse
Banks report all of these items to ChexSystems, who add these to your ChexSystems report. When you apply for a checking account at another bank, they will pull your ChexSystems history. If you’re deemed too high-risk, the bank will immediately deny your application.
Can I Dispute Errors on My ChexSystems Report?
If you suspect you have errors on your ChexSystems report, disputing them is one way to be able to get a bank account again. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), ChexSystems must look into any disputes that you submit within a reasonable time frame. The general process for disputing a ChexSystems error is as follows:
- Obtain your ChexSystems report. You are allowed to request a free copy of your ChexSystems report once every twelve months under the FCRA. Review the Reported Information section carefully for errors.
- Submit a dispute. ChexSystems has an online form designed to help you easily explain your dispute and provide supporting evidence. You can submit multiple disputes per form.
- If unable to remove, consider paying off debts. If ChexSystems cannot remove the error, you can still reach out to your old bank and pay off your outstanding debts with them. Once you do that, you can write back to ChexSystems and have them update your file.
Disputing a ChexSystems error is a great way to improve your banking history. However, it can be very time-consuming, and removing your error isn’t guaranteed.
You’ll find that in many cases, you’re able to get approved for a non-ChexSystems or second chance bank account even if you have a bad ChexSystems history. This is often a faster and more practical solution for most people.
What Is The Difference Between Non-ChexSystems Banks and Second Chance Banking?
Simply put, non-ChexSystems banks do not look at your ChexSystems report when considering your application. However, they may still use other reporting agencies, such as Telecheck, or pull your credit report to determine eligibility.
On the other hand, second chance banks might still look at your ChexSystems history. However, rather than using that as a “make it or break it” part of your application, they’ll acknowledge your past banking mistakes and offer you an account anyway.
Often, second chance bank accounts have greater limitations placed on them compared to regular accounts. For example, there might be a monthly fee that can’t be waived, or a maximum number of transactions you’re allowed to make per month. The good news is that most banks will upgrade you to a regular checking account after a period of good standing.
Both non-ChexSystems and second chance banks can be very beneficial if you need a bank account. These accounts provide an opportunity for you to have a fresh start with your banking.
Do Bank of America, Liberty Savings Bank, and Other Popular Colorado Banks Use ChexSystems?
Yes, unfortunately Bank of America, Liberty Savings Banks, and most other popular Colorado banks do use ChexSystems during their screening process. This is why it can be hard for many Colorado residents to get access to accounts at larger commercial banks.
Sometimes, these larger banks do offer second chance programs. For example, Liberty Savings Bank does have a Clean Slate Checking account. You can consider this account if you prefer a larger bank.
However, the accounts in our top 10 recommendations above are handpicked as some of the best non-ChexSystems and second chance accounts available to Colorado residents. In particular, the Chime Savings offers a full list of features plus an interest yield that few others can compete with.
Do Banks Require a Credit Check to Open an Account?
No, banks usually do not require a credit check. The notable exception to this is if you’re working with a credit union instead of a bank.
When you sign up with a credit union, they usually pull your credit once during your membership application. Once you become a member, they may or may not pull your credit again when you apply for a checking or savings account.
Best Practices For Managing Your Checking Account
If you want the most out of your new checking account, we recommend following these best practices.
- Check your balance often. You’re much less likely to overdraft or over budget if you always have a sense of your current balance.
- Review your bank statements. Your bank statements provide a clean overview of all your monthly transactions. If you notice anything suspicious, report it to your bank immediately.
- Use banking alerts. We recommend setting up an alert every time you have a transaction on your account. This can help detect when your account is being misused. It can also help you keep track of your balance.
- Keep an eye on that upgrade. If you currently have a second chance account, be sure to check in regularly with your bank to see when you can upgrade to a regular account. This will unlock more useful banking features that you can take advantage of.
Conclusion and Next Steps
If you’re struggling to open a bank account in Colorado, there are many other banks and credit unions that are willing to help you out. In this article, we’ve introduced 10 of these non-ChexSystems and second chance banks to get you started with your research.
If you’re unsure where to begin, we highly recommend starting off your new banking journey with Chime. In particular, their Savings account tops the list of non-ChexSystems accounts on the market, since it provides free online and mobile banking as well as an industry-leading interest yield.
Our Top Pick for Banks that Don't Use ChexSystems is Chime.
When doing research, Credit Help Info relies on credible and authoritative sites. These research sources are provided so that you can see exactly where we get our information.
- https://www.economicinclusion.gov/
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/consumer-reporting-companies/companies-list/chex-systems/
- https://www.fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/understanding-deposit-insurance/
- https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/consumer-reporting-companies/companies-list/tele-check-services/
Disclosures:
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
1. 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 Account.
2. Chime SpotMe is an optional service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month. All qualifying members w overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime Ac deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to may change at any time, at Chime's discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won't c transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
*The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of November 17, 2022. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
The average national savings account interest rate of 0.21% is determined by FDIC as of November 17, 2022 based on a simple average of rates paid (uses annual percentage yield) by all insured depository institutions and branches for which data are available. Visit National Rates and Rate Caps to learn more.
About the Author
Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan is a credit expert and founder of Credit Help Info. He has been featured in Addition Financial, GOBankingRates, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, and many other publications. He has read hundreds of books and resources on finance and the credit industry. Because he did this, you don’t have to. As a school teacher for over 20 years, Chris enjoys taking complicated material and breaking it down into manageable information that’s easy to understand.
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