Can I Get a Checking or Bank Account With Bad Credit?

Short answer: usually yes. Most banks and credit unions don’t look at your credit score when you open a checking or bank account. Credit scores track loans and credit cards, not your past bank account activity, so instead they check a separate report on your banking history, like past overdrafts or accounts closed with a negative balance.

A checking account is the cornerstone to financial success of, but it’s an especially important tool for people who are trying to rebuild their credit. However, many people with poor credit scores don’t have bank accounts. They’re either afraid that their bad credit history will prevent them from getting one or that they won’t be able to afford the fees that come with opening a checking account.

Do Banks Check Your Credit to Open a Checking Account?

For most people, having a poor credit score won’t affect their ability to open a checking account. This is because your credit score only tracks things like your loan payment history and the amount of money you owe to creditors. It does NOT keep track of your banking behavior, such as how many times you’ve overdrawn your account, when you’ve owed a financial institution money or how many checks you’ve bounced.

Instead of your credit score, most banks and credit unions request a checking account report from a specialty reporting company when you apply. This report tracks things like accounts closed with a negative balance, unpaid fees, and bounced checks. If it shows too many negatives, a financial institution might not let you open an account.

The good news is that you can see what’s in your report. You’re entitled to a free copy from each checking account reporting company once every 12 months, and if you’re ever denied an account, the bank or credit union must tell you which company’s report it used. If you spot an error, you can dispute it with both the reporting company and the institution that supplied the information.

“Second Chance” Checking Accounts

If you have had problems with banking in the past, though, you shouldn’t feel discouraged. You still have options. One option is a “second chance” checking account, which many financial institutions offer as a way to help people with a bad banking history get on the right track.

While these “second chance” checking accounts can help you rebuild your credit score and demonstrate your trustworthiness to financial institutions, many of them do have more stipulations than regular checking accounts. For instance, you might have to keep a minimum balance in your account, or you might have to have your paycheck directly deposited to your account.

“Second chance” checking accounts also tend to have less features than traditional checking accounts. You might not be able to get a debit card, for instance, or you might not be able to use online banking to pay your bills. These restrictions can be inconvenient, but they also force you to think about each purchase you’re going to make, whether you’re withdrawing cash from your account or writing a check to pay a bill.

You should also know that many "second chance" checking accounts come with fees. If money is already tight, this can be an extra expense you don’t need.

These stipulations might seem unfair, but they’re designed to help curb the risk for financial institutions and help you develop good spending habits. They’re also not permanent. Most financial institutions will let you graduate to a regular checking account if you use your “second chance” checking account responsibly for a certain period of time, usually one or two years.

How to succeed with a second chance account

• Turn on low-balance and deposit alerts.

• Keep a small buffer to avoid overdrafts.

• Use direct deposit to keep the account active.

• Review your statement weekly.

What to Look for in a Bank Account for Bad Credit

If you’re comparing banks for bad credit, the right account is the one that approves you and helps you rebuild without piling on fees. Here’s what to look for:

• No credit check to open: Choose a bank or credit union that bases approval on your banking history, not your credit score.
• Low or no monthly fees: Fees add up fast when money is tight, so look for an account with no monthly service charge.
• No minimum balance: You shouldn't have to keep a set amount in your account just to avoid fees.
• A debit card and online banking: These make it easier to pay bills on time and keep track of your spending.
• Low-balance alerts: Alerts help you avoid overdrafts, which are one of the fastest ways to damage your banking history.
• A path to a regular account: If you start with a second chance account, ask how long it takes to upgrade.

Credit unions are often a good fit, since they’re member-owned and tend to focus on helping members rather than maximizing profit.

Talk With a Credit Union Employee

If the idea of a “second chance” checking account doesn’t thrill you, you might want to visit your local credit union and talk with one of the member advisors. Credit unions are more focused around helping their members than making a profit, which means that a credit union employee will look at more than just your credit score and your banking behavior history. Instead, they’ll want to know your story, and if you can prove your case to the employee, they’ll help you open up a regular checking account.

Repair Your Credit With First Alliance Credit Union

Having bad credit might not affect your ability to open a checking account, but your past banking behavior will. Even if you’ve had problems in the past, though, you can still have options.

If you need help rebuilding your credit, become a First Alliance Credit Union member. We’ll help you get set up with a checking account and savings account, and from there you can start paying bills by using our electronic bill pay service on our online banking platform and mobile app to start rebuilding your credit. You can even apply for a debt consolidation loan to combine your high-interest debt payments into one convenient low-interest monthly payment.

Bad credit? You’re still welcome. Open your First Alliance checking account.