Can I open bank account with bad credit?
Some banks will deny your application for a new account if you have a bad score on your ChexSystems report. Other banks will direct you to open a secured account instead, which requires a deposit.
Don't worry—while it can be more difficult, it is not impossible to get approved for a new bank account with bad credit. A bad credit score is considered a VantageScore® of 600 or lower and a FICO® score of 670 or lower.
If you have a poor credit score, you're unlikely to be able to open a mainstream current account online, but you should be able to open a basic bank account online. You'll need ID and proof of address, including a photo. Banks will have their own lists of what they'll accept.
You don't need a credit score to open a bank account because banks don't check your credit when you apply for an account. Instead, they'll take a look at your ChexSystems report, which contains information about your banking history. Here's what to know before applying for a new bank account.
Banks don't look at your credit score when you open a checking and/or savings account, but they may screen your banking history.
Reasons You Can Be Denied a Checking Account
Excessive overdrafts or nonsufficient funds incidents. Unpaid fees or negative account balances, whether from an active or closed account. Suspected fraud or identity theft. Applying for too many bank accounts over a short period of time.
Account | Approximate time to complete application | Minimum opening deposit |
---|---|---|
SoFi Checking and Savings Account: Best for Member Perks | 1 to 3 minutes | $0 |
Wise: Best for Non-Residents | 1 to 3 minutes | $0 |
Chime® Checking Account: Best for Bad Credit | 3 to 4 minutes | $0 |
Chime is an online-only fintech company that offers banking services through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. Its Second Chance Banking option boasts no monthly fees and no credit or ChexSystems check. Although it has no physical branches, you can deposit cash for free at Walgreens locations.
Second chance bank accounts are designed for individuals whose banking history prevents them from opening a regular checking account. This may include individuals who have been denied an account due to too many overdrafts or unpaid fees.
Bank / Credit Union | Forbes Advisor Rating | LEARN MORE |
---|---|---|
Capital One 360 Checking Account | 4.5 | |
Chime® Checking Account | 4.4 | Learn More On Chime's Website |
LendingClub Bank Rewards Checking | 4.2 | Learn More Read Our Full Review |
Varo Bank Account | 4.1 | Learn More Read Our Full Review |
Do all banks do credit checks to open an account?
If you have bad credit or no credit at all, it may be difficult to open a bank account. Traditional banks often run credit checks on applicants, and those with poor credit or no credit history may be denied. However, there are a number of banks that offer no-credit-check bank accounts.
A bank or credit union may make a soft inquiry on your credit when you open a new checking account to check for a history of fraud. These soft checks do not affect your credit score. However, in some cases, a bank may perform a hard credit check, which does affect your credit score.
You don't need a certain credit score to open a Chase checking or savings account, as there is no credit score requirement. Chase does not require a credit score for these accounts because they are deposit accounts, not loans or lines of credit.
Opening a bank account is easier than applying for a credit card, but consumers should be aware that they can still be denied — likely because of negative actions found on their ChexSystems or Early Warning Services report.
When you apply for a checking or savings account, the bank or credit union may use your credit report to verify your identity. Depending on the institution, you don't necessarily have to remove your freeze. With PNC, for example, a freeze may only prevent you from opening an account online.
When you apply for a new account, many banks use ChexSystems to see if a previous bank has flagged you for unpaid balances such as overdraft fees. If you are in ChexSystems, it can impact their decision to approve you for an account.
Chase bank doesn't require a credit check to open a checking account. However, they will pull your ChexSystems file.
Most anyone can apply to open an account. But it's up to individual banks if they want to let you open an account with them. That means some banks might deny applications from people with a history of unpaid negative balances, involuntary account closures or suspected fraud issues.
Account | Time To Apply | Monthly Fee |
---|---|---|
Discover Cashback Debit Account Open Account | 5 minutes | $0 |
Ally Spending Account Open Account | 5 minutes | $0 |
Betterment Checking Open Account | A few minutes | $0 |
Chime® Checking Account | 2 minutes | $0 |
Digital Savings Account- Open Savings Account Digitally in Minutes. YES BANK.
What bank gives the most for opening a checking account?
BANK | BONUS AMOUNT | MONTHLY MAINTENANCE FEE |
---|---|---|
CHASE | $300 | $12.00 |
CIBC | $200 | $0.00 |
CITIBANK | $300 | $5.00 |
HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK | $400 | $10.00 |
While Wells Fargo doesn't require a specific credit score to open an account, they will likely check to see if you have an existing ChexSystems report. ChexSystems is like the credit reporting agencies, but for bank accounts.
Banks usually decline to advertise internal methodologies for determining creditworthiness, but Wells Fargo confirms it pulls reports from all three major credit bureaus. A representative with the bank also confirmed the financial institution reports credit activity to all three major consumer reporting agencies.
How lenders assess what a good candidate is. A lender or card issuer will assess how reliable you are as a potential borrower by looking at the overall picture: your credit history, your credit score, your income and your various cash and investment assets.
Reasons You Can Be Denied a Checking Account: Involuntary account closure. Excessive overdrafts or non sufficient funds incidents. Unpaid fees or negative account balances, whether from an active or closed account.
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