Best Bank Accounts for People with No Credit (2025)

bankseermain on December 28, 2025

28% of Americans are “unbanked” or “underbanked.” If you have no credit history, bad credit, or issues with ChexSystems, traditional banks make it nearly impossible to open an account.

The good news: Several banks don’t check credit at all. I’ve researched every no-credit-check bank to find your best options.

Why Traditional Banks Reject You

ChexSystems Checks

What is ChexSystems?

  • Banking “credit report”
  • Tracks bounced checks, overdrafts, account closures
  • Banks check it when you apply
  • Negative marks stay 5 years

Common reasons for rejection:

  • Previous account closed for overdrafts
  • Bounced checks
  • Unpaid negative balances
  • Too many account applications
  • Identity theft/fraud flags

CLICK HERE for No-ChexSystems Banks!

The Good News

These banks DON’T check ChexSystems or credit:

  • Chime
  • Cash App
  • Varo
  • Current
  • PayPal
  • GO2bank
  • LendingClub (formerly Radius Bank)
  • Revolut

8 Best Bank Accounts (No Credit Check)

1. Chime – Best Overall

CLICK HERE for a Chime Bank Review

Why it’s #1: Zero fees, no credit check, 60,000+ free ATMs

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0
  • Minimum balance: $0
  • Overdraft: $0 fee (SpotMe up to $200)
  • ATMs: 60,000+ fee-free (Allpoint, MoneyPass, Visa Plus)
  • Direct deposit: Get paid 2 days early
  • Savings: 2.00% APY (as of Jan 2025)
  • Credit Builder: Build credit with secured card

Real Costs:

  • Month 1-12: $0 in fees
  • Year 1: $0 total
  • Savings vs traditional bank: $144/year (avg bank charges $12/month)

Requirements:

  • SSN or ITIN
  • Age 18+
  • US address
  • Phone number
  • Email

Approval: Instant (no credit or ChexSystems check)

Open Chime Account →

What you get:

  • Spending account (like checking)
  • Savings account
  • Debit card (Visa)
  • Mobile app
  • Free credit score
  • Credit Builder option

Best for: Anyone wanting simplest, zero-fee banking

2. Cash App (by Block/Square) – Best for P2P Transfers

Why choose this: Already use Cash App? Add banking features

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0
  • Minimum balance: $0
  • Overdraft: Not available
  • Cash Card: Free Visa debit card
  • Boosts: Discounts at merchants (save 10%+ at restaurants)
  • Bitcoin: Buy/sell crypto in app
  • ATMs: 40,000+ free (Allpoint network)

Instant transfers: Send money instantly to other Cash App users

Real Costs:

  • Year 1: $0 in fees
  • Out-of-network ATM: $2.50 per transaction
  • Instant deposit: 1.5% fee (standard deposit is free)

Requirements:

  • SSN
  • Age 18+
  • US address

Approval: Instant

Get Cash App Card →

Unique features:

  • Stock investing ($1 minimum)
  • Bitcoin buying/selling
  • Direct deposit bonus (varies)
  • Referral bonuses ($5-15)

Best for: People who already use Cash App for P2P payments

3. Varo Bank – Best Interest Rate

Why it stands out: Up to 5.00% APY on savings (highest of any checking/savings combo)

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0
  • Minimum balance: $0
  • Savings APY: Up to 5.00% (with qualifying direct deposit + positive balance)
  • Overdraft: Varo Advance up to $250
  • ATMs: 40,000+ free (Allpoint)
  • Early direct deposit: Get paid up to 2 days early

Real Earnings:

  • $1,000 in savings at 5% APY = $50/year
  • $5,000 in savings at 5% APY = $250/year
  • Compare: Traditional bank pays 0.01% = $0.10/year on $1,000

Requirements:

  • SSN or ITIN
  • Age 18+
  • US address
  • Direct deposit for highest APY

Approval: Usually instant

Open Varo Account →

How to get 5% APY:

  1. Open account
  2. Receive direct deposit of $1,000+ per month
  3. Keep positive balance
  4. Earn 5% on savings up to $5,000 balance

Best for: People with regular direct deposit who want to earn high interest

4. Current – Best for Teens/Young Adults

Why it’s different: Parents can open for teens (age 13+)

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0 (free version) or $4.99/month (Premium)
  • Teen accounts: Age 13+ with parental controls
  • Overdraft: Up to $200 with qualifying deposits
  • Faster direct deposit: Get paid up to 4 days early (industry best)
  • ATMs: 40,000+ fee-free
  • Savings Pods: Organize money into different goals
  • Cash back: Up to 15% at select merchants

Premium features ($4.99/month):

  • 4% APY on savings (up to $6,000)
  • Larger overdraft ($200 vs $100)
  • Higher cash back rates

Requirements:

  • SSN
  • Age 18+ (or 13+ with parent)
  • US address

Get Current →

Best for:

  • Teens building financial literacy
  • Young adults wanting early pay
  • People needing overdraft protection

5. PayPal – Best for Online Sellers

If you sell online: Seamlessly integrates with PayPal payments

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0
  • Cash Card: Free Mastercard debit
  • Savings: 4.40% APY (as of Jan 2025)
  • ATMs: 4,000+ fee-free (not as many as competitors)
  • Online shopping: PayPal checkout everywhere

Instant access: Money from PayPal sales available immediately on debit card

Real Use Case:

  • Sell on eBay, get paid to PayPal
  • Instantly available on PayPal debit card
  • No waiting for bank transfer
  • Earn 4.40% on balance

Requirements:

  • Existing or new PayPal account
  • SSN
  • Age 18+
  • US address

Get PayPal Debit Card →

Best for: Online sellers, freelancers, gig workers paid via PayPal

6. GO2bank – Best for Cash Deposits

Need to deposit cash regularly? GO2bank has 90,000+ retail locations

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $5/month (waived with $100+ direct deposit)
  • Cash deposits: At Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, 7-Eleven (90,000+ locations)
  • ATMs: 40,000+ fee-free
  • Overdraft: Up to $200
  • Savings: 4.50% APY
  • Secured credit card: Available

Real Costs:

  • With direct deposit: $0/month
  • Without direct deposit: $5/month = $60/year
  • Cash deposit: $3-5 per deposit

Why it’s unique: Most neo-banks don’t accept cash deposits. GO2bank does.

Requirements:

  • SSN or ITIN
  • Age 18+
  • US address

Open GO2bank →

Best for: People paid in cash, need to deposit cash regularly

7. LendingClub Bank – Best for High Balances

If you keep larger balances: Higher APY tiers

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0
  • Minimum balance: $0
  • Checking APY: 0.15% (rare for checking)
  • Savings APY: 4.75%
  • ATMs: 37,000+ fee-free
  • Reimbursed ATM fees: Up to $8/month for out-of-network

Real Earnings:

  • $10,000 in savings at 4.75% = $475/year
  • $5,000 in checking at 0.15% = $7.50/year

Unique: One of few banks paying interest on checking AND savings

Requirements:

  • SSN
  • Age 18+
  • US address

Open LendingClub →

Best for: People with higher balances ($5,000+) who want maximum interest

8. Revolut – Best for International

If you travel or send money abroad: Best international features

Key Features:

  • Monthly fee: $0 (Standard) or $9.99/month (Premium)
  • Foreign exchange: Real exchange rates (no 3% markup)
  • International transfers: Send money globally
  • Multi-currency accounts: Hold 28+ currencies
  • Crypto: Buy/sell Bitcoin, Ethereum
  • ATMs: 55,000+ in-network

Why it’s different: Built for people who travel or have family abroad

Real savings:

  • $500 international transfer
  • Traditional bank: $45 fee + 3% markup = $60 total
  • Revolut: $0 fee + real exchange rate = $0-5 total
  • Savings: $55 per $500 sent

Requirements:

  • SSN
  • Age 18+
  • US address
  • Government ID

Get Revolut →

Best for: Immigrants sending money home, frequent travelers

Quick Comparison

Bank Monthly Fee Savings APY Overdraft ATMs Cash Deposits
Chime $0 2.00% $200 60,000+ No
Cash App $0 None No 40,000+ No
Varo $0 5.00%* $250 40,000+ No
Current $0-4.99 4.00%* $200 40,000+ No
PayPal $0 4.40% No 4,000+ No
GO2bank $0-5** 4.50% $200 40,000+ Yes
LendingClub $0 4.75% No 37,000+ No
Revolut $0-9.99 Varies No 55,000+ No

*With qualifying direct deposit
**Waived with $100+ direct deposit

How to Choose

Choose Chime if:

  • You want simplest option
  • Need $0 fees guaranteed
  • Want overdraft protection (SpotMe)
  • Like largest ATM network

Choose Cash App if:

  • Already use Cash App
  • Send money to friends often
  • Want to buy stocks/Bitcoin
  • Like merchant discounts (Boosts)

Choose Varo if:

  • Have regular direct deposit
  • Want highest savings rate (5%)
  • Keep $1,000+ in savings

Choose Current if:

  • Under 25 years old
  • Need money days before payday
  • Want teen account options
  • Like organizing with Pods

Choose PayPal if:

  • Sell online (eBay, etc.)
  • Already have PayPal account
  • Want instant access to sales

Choose GO2bank if:

  • Paid in cash
  • Need to deposit cash regularly
  • Work near Walmart/CVS/Walgreens

Choose LendingClub if:

  • Keep higher balances ($5,000+)
  • Want interest on checking
  • ATM reimbursement important

Choose Revolut if:

  • Send money internationally
  • Travel frequently
  • Want multi-currency accounts

What About ChexSystems?

What Is ChexSystems?

Banking “credit report”:

  • Tracks bank account history
  • Records overdrafts, bounced checks
  • Stays on file for 5 years
  • Banks check before approving accounts

no-ChexSystems banks

How to Check Your ChexSystems Report

Free once per year:

  1. Go to ChexSystems.com
  2. Request consumer report
  3. Review for errors
  4. Dispute inaccuracies

Common errors:

  • Paid-off overdrafts still showing
  • Identity theft
  • Accounts you didn’t open
  • Incorrect amounts

Clearing ChexSystems

If report is accurate:

  • Wait 5 years (marks fall off)
  • Pay all negative balances
  • Use second-chance bank meanwhile

If report has errors:

  • File dispute with ChexSystems
  • Provide proof (bank statements, receipts)
  • Usually resolved in 30 days

Banks That Don’t Check ChexSystems

All banks in this guide DON’T check ChexSystems:

  • Chime ✓
  • Cash App ✓
  • Varo ✓
  • Current ✓
  • PayPal ✓
  • GO2bank ✓
  • LendingClub ✓
  • Revolut ✓

Opening Your Account (Step-by-Step)

What You Need

Required for all:

  • Social Security Number or ITIN
  • Government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, state ID)
  • US address (can’t be P.O. Box)
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Date of birth

For some banks:

  • Selfie/photo verification
  • Proof of address (utility bill, lease)

Application Process

Step 1: Choose bank from list above

Step 2: Download app or visit website

Step 3: Start application (10 minutes):

  • Personal information
  • Address
  • SSN/ITIN
  • Take photo of ID
  • Selfie for verification

Step 4: Get decision:

  • Instant approval: Most common (95%+ approval rate)
  • Pending: May need additional verification (rare)
  • Denied: Very rare; usually identity issues

Step 5: Fund account:

  • Direct deposit setup
  • Transfer from another bank
  • Mobile check deposit
  • No initial deposit required for most

Step 6: Receive debit card:

  • Ships in 7-10 business days
  • Some offer virtual card immediately

Features Comparison

Early Direct Deposit

How it works:

  • Traditional banks: Get paid Friday
  • These banks: Get paid Wednesday or Thursday

Banks offering this:

  • Chime: 2 days early
  • Varo: 2 days early
  • Current: 4 days early (best)
  • Cash App: 2 days early

Why it matters: Pay bills before official payday, avoid overdrafts

Savings APY (Interest Rates)

Ranked by rate:

  1. Varo: 5.00% (with direct deposit)
  2. GO2bank: 4.50%
  3. LendingClub: 4.75%
  4. PayPal: 4.40%
  5. Current: 4.00% (Premium)
  6. Chime: 2.00%

Compare: Traditional banks pay 0.01-0.05%

Real difference:

  • $5,000 at 5% = $250/year
  • $5,000 at 0.01% = $0.50/year
  • Difference: $249.50/year

Overdraft Protection

Banks with overdraft:

  • Chime: SpotMe up to $200
  • Varo: Advance up to $250
  • Current: Up to $200
  • GO2bank: Up to $200

How it works:

  1. Opt-in to overdraft protection
  2. Build eligibility with direct deposits
  3. Spend slightly more than balance
  4. No fee, must repay next direct deposit

Traditional banks: Charge $35 per overdraft

ATM Networks

Largest networks:

  • Chime: 60,000+ (Allpoint, MoneyPass, Visa Plus)
  • Revolut: 55,000+
  • Current, Varo, Cash App: 40,000+ (Allpoint)
  • LendingClub: 37,000+
  • PayPal: 4,000+

Out-of-network fees:

  • Chime: $2.50
  • Cash App: $2.50
  • Varo: $2.50
  • Most others: $2-3

ATM reimbursement:

  • LendingClub: Up to $8/month
  • Others: None

Building Credit with These Banks

Banks Offering Credit Builder

Chime Credit Builder:

  • Secured credit card
  • Uses your spending account balance
  • Reports to credit bureaus
  • $0 interest (can’t go into debt)
  • Build credit with everyday purchases

GO2bank Secured Card:

  • $50-$1,000 deposit
  • Reports to all 3 bureaus
  • Traditional secured card

Current Build Card:

  • Secured card option
  • Reports to bureaus
  • Tied to Current account

CARDS TO BUILD CREDIT

How Credit Builder Works

Example (Chime):

  1. Open Chime checking
  2. Activate Credit Builder
  3. Move $100 to Credit Builder account
  4. Use Credit Builder card
  5. Purchases pull from secured balance automatically
  6. Reports as on-time payment monthly
  7. Build credit without debt risk

Timeline:

  • Months 1-3: Building
  • Months 4-6: Score appears (600-650)
  • Months 6-12: Score improves (650-700)

Best Credit Cards for Immigrants with no credit

Fees to Watch Out For

Common Fees (Even “No Fee” Banks)

Out-of-network ATM:

  • Your bank: $2-2.50
  • ATM owner: $3-4
  • Total: $5-6.50 per withdrawal

Fix: Use in-network ATMs only

Instant transfers:

  • Cash App: 1.5% for instant
  • Others: Similar
  • Standard transfers: FREE

Fix: Use free standard transfer (1-3 days)

Overdraft (if not enrolled):

  • Traditional overdraft: $35
  • These banks: $0 or not allowed

Foreign transactions:

  • Most: 0%
  • Some: 3%

Fix: Check before international use

Real User Experiences

Maria (ChexSystems issues): “Was in ChexSystems for 3 years from overdrafts in 2020. Every bank rejected me. Got Chime approved instantly. Used it perfectly for 2 years, ChexSystems cleared. Now have regular bank account too. Chime saved me.”

James (No credit, new immigrant): “Arrived in US, had ITIN but no SSN yet. Opened Varo with ITIN. Got direct deposit from job. Now earning 5% on savings ($125/year on $2,500 balance). Best rate anywhere.”

Stephanie (Young adult, first account): “Parents opened Current for me at 15. Learned budgeting with their monitoring. At 18, got my own Current account. Love the Pods feature for saving. 4 days early paycheck is game-changer.”

David (Gig worker): “Drive for Uber, get paid via Cash App. Got Cash App debit card. Money available instantly. Cash Boosts save me 10% at restaurants. Better than traditional bank.”

Traditional Banks vs These Banks

Why Traditional Banks Reject You

Requirements:

  • ChexSystems check
  • Credit check (some)
  • Initial deposit ($25-100)
  • Monthly fees ($12-35)
  • Minimum balance requirements

Result: 28% of adults can’t qualify

Why These Banks Approve Everyone

No checks:

  • No ChexSystems
  • No credit check
  • No initial deposit
  • $0 monthly fees (most)
  • No minimum balance

Result: 95%+ instant approval rate

Feature Comparison

Feature Traditional Bank These Banks
Monthly fee $12-35 $0-5
Overdraft fee $35 $0
ATM network Limited 40,000+
Savings APY 0.01-0.05% 2-5%
Early pay No Yes (2-4 days)
Credit check Often Never

Bottom Line

For most people: Chime

  • Easiest approval
  • Zero fees guaranteed
  • Large ATM network
  • SpotMe overdraft protection
  • Credit Builder option

Open Chime: Takes 5 minutes, instant approval

If you want highest savings rate: Varo

  • 5% APY (industry best)
  • $0 fees
  • Requires direct deposit

If you’re under 25: Current

  • Get paid 4 days early
  • Savings Pods
  • Teen options
  • Premium features worth $4.99

If you use PayPal: PayPal debit

  • Seamless integration
  • 4.40% savings APY
  • Instant access to PayPal balance

Ready to open your account?

→ Open Chime → (Best overall)
→ Open Varo → (Highest APY)
→ Get Cash App → (Best for P2P)
→ Open Current → (Best for early pay)

No credit check. No ChexSystems check. Instant approval. Open your account in 5 minutes.

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