If you have a bankruptcy on your record, you can still open a checking account. Chime, Capital One, Varo, and GO2bank skip the screening system that trips up most applicants with banking problems, Wells Fargo offers a second-chance product called Clear Access Banking that does the same, and more than 500 Bank On certified accounts at banks and credit unions covering over two-thirds of the U.S. deposit market are required to approve you regardless of your bankruptcy history.1BankOn. Bank On The banks that allow you to open an account after bankruptcy fall into three groups, and knowing which group you are dealing with tells you how likely you are to be approved.
Why Most Banks Turn You Down
Most banks run new applicants through ChexSystems or Early Warning Services, consumer reporting agencies that track banking problems like unpaid overdrafts, bounced checks, and account closures. When you file for bankruptcy, the accounts you held at the time are typically closed, and those closures are reported. ChexSystems keeps the records for five years from the date of the report.2ChexSystems. ChexSystems Frequently Asked Questions Any bank that pulls a ChexSystems check during that period may deny your application, even though the underlying debts were discharged.
No federal law in the United States guarantees you the right to a bank account. Each bank decides whom to approve. The good news is that a growing number of institutions have voluntarily committed to accepting applicants with past banking trouble, and some skip the ChexSystems check entirely.
Fintechs That Don’t Screen Through ChexSystems
Online-only banks and financial technology companies are usually the most reliable option after a bankruptcy, because many of them do not check ChexSystems at all. Applications are completed through a website or mobile app, often in minutes.
- Chime: No ChexSystems screening, no credit check, no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no overdraft fees.3Chime. Free Second Chance Banking
- Capital One 360 Checking: Capital One stopped using ChexSystems to screen applicants in 2014. The account has no fees and no minimum balance.
- Varo: An all-mobile bank that does not use ChexSystems for account screening.
- GO2bank: A neobank from Green Dot that does not run ChexSystems checks.
Because these providers have no branches, customer service happens inside the app or by phone. If you need to deposit cash regularly, check whether the provider partners with a retail or ATM network before signing up.
Bank On Certified Accounts
Bank On is a national initiative that certifies accounts meeting specific consumer-friendly standards. Under the 2025–2026 standards, a certified account can only deny an applicant for past fraud. A bankruptcy, an unpaid overdraft, or a negative ChexSystems report is not grounds for denial. Certified accounts also charge no overdraft or non-sufficient-funds fees, and monthly maintenance fees are capped at $5, or $10 if the bank offers at least two ways to waive the fee entirely, such as setting up direct deposit.4Bank On. Bank On National Account Standards 2025-2026
More than 500 certified accounts are available nationwide, and over 14 million have already been opened.1BankOn. Bank On You can search for a participating bank or credit union near you by zip code at joinbankon.org.
Second-Chance Accounts at National Banks
Several large national banks offer accounts specifically designed for people who have been turned down elsewhere. They go by names like “second chance” or “fresh start” checking. Features and fees vary, but the common thread is a more forgiving view of past banking problems, including bankruptcy. Wells Fargo, Chase, TD Bank, and Regions are among the banks known to offer these products. Wells Fargo’s Clear Access Banking account does not charge overdraft fees and does not use ChexSystems to screen applicants.5Wells Fargo. Clear Access Banking
Monthly fees on second-chance accounts at traditional banks generally run from $0 to $12, and some have an initial deposit requirement. You usually get a debit card, online and mobile banking, and ATM access. Check-writing privileges and overdraft lines of credit are usually not included, which keeps you from running up new debt but means you need another way to pay anyone who still insists on a paper check.
Credit unions are also worth a look. Some offer second-chance accounts with membership tied to where you live, where you work, or a community affiliation rather than your banking history.
Check Your ChexSystems Report Before You Apply
Before you fill out any application, request a copy of your ChexSystems consumer disclosure report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are entitled to a free copy once every 12 months, and ChexSystems provides all consumer disclosure and score reports at no charge.6ChexSystems. ChexSystems Home You can request your report through the ChexSystems Consumer Portal online, by calling 800-428-9623, or by writing to Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Consumer Relations, PO Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458.
Read the report line by line. If anything is wrong, such as a debt discharged in bankruptcy that still shows as unpaid or an account closure you don’t recognize, file a dispute. ChexSystems must complete its investigation within 30 days (21 days for Maine residents), though submitting additional documentation during the process can extend the timeline by up to 15 days.7ChexSystems. Submit Dispute to ChexSystems If the source of the information cannot verify it, ChexSystems has to remove it. Getting inaccurate items off the report can open the door to accounts that would otherwise reject you.
ChexSystems records also expire after five years.2ChexSystems. ChexSystems Frequently Asked Questions If you are close to that window, a fintech account can carry you through until the record drops off and your options at mainstream banks widen.
What You Need to Open the Account
Federal anti-money-laundering rules require every bank to collect your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number, or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number if you are not a U.S. citizen.8U.S. Department of the Treasury. Treasury and Federal Financial Regulators Issue Patriot Act Regulations on Customer Identification You will also need:
- A government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Checklist for Opening a Bank or Credit Union Account
- Proof of address: a utility bill, lease, or government letter dated within the last 90 days.
- Your Social Security card or ITIN documentation. Some banks will take the number verbally or electronically, others want to see the physical card.
- An opening deposit if the account requires one. These usually range from $0 to $200. Bank On certified accounts and most fintech accounts have no minimum.
If your bankruptcy has been discharged, keep a copy of the discharge order handy. If the case is still open, keep your petition or case number available. Not every bank will ask, but second-chance account providers at traditional banks are more likely to request them than fintechs, which usually rely on electronic identity verification alone.
If You Are Denied
When a bank denies your application, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires it to tell you why. If the denial was tied to your ChexSystems report, you have the right to a free copy of that report within 60 days and can dispute anything inaccurate. If the denial was based on your bankruptcy itself, move to a provider that does not use ChexSystems. The fintech options above are the most dependable fallback, and a Bank On certified account at a local bank or credit union is another route, since those accounts cannot deny you for a bankruptcy under the program’s standards.
A Note on Timing If You Are Still Filing
If you have not filed yet and you currently bank at an institution where you also owe money, such as a credit card, personal loan, or overdraft balance, open the new account somewhere else before you file. Federal bankruptcy law preserves a creditor’s right to offset mutual debts that existed before the filing,10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 U.S. Code 553 – Setoff and banks often freeze the account at the start of the case while they sort out which funds belong to the bankruptcy estate. Moving your direct deposit and automatic payments to an unrelated bank before you file keeps your wages flowing while the case gets underway.