Do you have bad credit and need a free online checking account with no opening deposit and no credit check? You're not alone. Millions of Americans have poor credit history, and it can be difficult to open a bank account.
In fact, approximately 4.5 percent of US households are unbanked—meaning, none of these households residents have either a checking or savings account.
Of course, a good number of them have poor credit history and have found it difficult to get accepted by banks and credit unions.
But thankfully, there are good options available. Several banks offer free online checking accounts with no opening deposit and no credit check. These accounts can help you get back on your feet and manage your money more effectively.
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What is a Checking Account?
A transaction account, also called a checking account, chequing account, current account, demand deposit account, or share draft account at credit unions, is a deposit account held at a bank or other financial institution.
It is available to the account owner "on demand" and is available for frequent and immediate access by the account owner or to others as the account owner may direct. Access may be in a variety of ways, such as cash withdrawals, use of debit cards, cheques (checks), and electronic transfers. In economic terms, the funds held in a transaction account are regarded as liquid funds. In accounting terms, they are considered as cash.
Do you want a US online checking account with no opening deposit and no credit check? Then continue reading as we will highlight the best providers out there that will give you a free online bank account no matter your credit score (bad credit) and will not require an amount to be deposited for the account to be opened.
How do I Open a Checking Account?
Since we find many banks that offer banking solutions, the idea here is to spot the most profitable of all these banks and the one that offers the best services and features including account opening bonuses. It is not hard to find, just lay down a list of your choices, compare what they have to offer that will be profitable for you, and then make a final choice for the best bank.
Below are some key aspects to consider checking when selecting a bank where you'll open your bank account:
- Monthly fees
- Minimum balance
- Transaction limits
- ATM fees
- Printed statement fees, and
- Foreign transaction fees
However, for any bank, you will be required to provide some documents to hold a bank account with them. Though each bank has specific requirements to hold a bank account with them, the below requirements are the general things to have before going in for any bank:
- Identification document: - You can identify yourself with your Passport, Driver’s license, or any other government-issued identification document.
- Address: - You must have the correct address of the area where you live. You also need to prove that you reside within that area. You will require things like bill utilities, credit card bills, or any other relevant document showing your physical address.
- Opening deposit (Required by most but not all banks): - Some checking accounts require you to deposit some money as soon as you open your account, while others allow you to deposit at a later date. However, it is good to deposit something in your account upon opening it. It can help you in testing some features mentioned by the bank such as if the bank account can send money or can be added to huge services such as PayPal as used as a bank account for PayPal verification.
The systematic process of opening a checking bank account is as follows:
- Gather all the application information: - Before visiting a branch or signing up online, ensure that you have all the details for opening the account. There is no need to start the process only to realize that you do not have certain information that forces you to start looking for it.
- Apply for the account: - Now that you have all the required information, you can then apply for the checking account online or at a physical branch. The concerned bank might run your details in the ChexSystems to see you’re banking history or make a hard inquiry from credit bureaus. If approved, then you can proceed.
- Sign the terms and conditions: - Every financial institution requires you to agree with their terms and conditions. Before deciding, you must understand what their terms and conditions entail.
- Make your opening deposit: - You may deposit immediately after opening your account or later, depending on your bank conditions.
- Activate online banking: Most banks now support online banking: - You can thus activate the online banking feature so that you can manage your funds online. An online checking account allows you to send money with a checking account number instantly using your phone.
- Lastly, get a debit card. Checking accounts come with debit cards: - You can receive yours either immediately or after some days, depending on your bank. Next, you have to activate the card either online or at your bank’s branch.
Top 10 Free Online Checking Accounts With No Opening Deposit and No Credit Check?
1. Chime (Top Pick)
Chime is a fully online financial institution that exerts all its activities online and doesn't physical branch. Account opening and all transactions are made online in their entirety. The Chime banking system doesn't use ChexSystems for applicants when registering, and thus your banking history will not affect your Chime checking account application.
Chime will let you open a bank account with bad credit and will not require an opening deposit. To open a bank account with no credit check typically requires a monthly fee, but with Chime, there are no monthly fees and no overdraft fees required from you. Additionally, if you open the optional high-yield savings account, you'll earn 0.50% (APY).
CHECK ALSO: How to Get Virtual US Credit Card for Non-Residents
Another great feature of Chime and why it is our top pick is, that it offers a no-credit check visa that reports to the three major credit bureaus. The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card reports to the three major credit bureaus. Chime claims their credit card customers increased their scores by an average of 30 points again, the card is a no-interest credit card with no annual fee.
Chime Spending Account Features
Chime will spot you up to $200 on debit card purchases with no overdraft fees. Eligibility requirements apply.
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit.
- Transfer money, send and deposit checks, and pay bills.
- 60K+ fee-free ATMs at locations like Walgreens, 7-Eleven, CVS, and more.
- No monthly or overdraft fees.
- Daily balance updates.
Optional Chime Credit Builder Visa Credit Card
- No annual fee or interest.
- No credit check to apply.
- No minimum security deposit is required.
- Reports monthly to Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.
2. GoBank
You can save up to $20 for a deposit and a $2.95 sign-up fee when you open your account online with GoBank. This financial institution allows you to open a checking account online irrespective of your credit history (even for those having a bad credit score). Plus, the bank doesn't implement ChexSystems for each account creation so you won't have to face scrutiny or credit checks when opening an account with GoBank.
Upon opening an account with them, you will get a free debit card that you can use to withdraw your money at ATM points or pay for goods and services at stores that accept debit card payments. The Gobank has a lot of in-network ATMs that you can use for free.
Not as fortunate, if you use an out-of-net ATM, you will part with a $3 fee for out-of-net withdrawals. You will also pay a $5 card replacement fee if ever you happen to lose your card. However, you will need to pay $8.95 as a monthly maintenance fee unless you deposit amounts of at least $500 every month. When depositing cash into your account, you will be charged $4.95 as a deposit fee.
3. nbkc Bank Everything Account
If you have been a frequent reader of our blog, then you will know we mentioned nbkc bank everything account as one of the best online bank accounts with instant virtual debit cards.
Many choose this bank not only because it offers instant debit cards, but because they do not ask for any minimum deposit upon opening an account with them which makes it suitable for you to deposit in the account when you feel as to do so.
Additionally, their checking account does not require any minimum amount to be deposited in the account which means, you can deposit as small just as, as much as you can.
They do not charge any monthly maintenance fee which is great for those that do not have the frequency of using bank accounts.
The nbkc Bank Everything account checking account earns interest of up to 0.50% APY. Therefore your money will give you meaningful returns and can be a great source for those using banks for various investments. Once you open an account, you will get a debit card to use in over 32,000 ATMs countrywide. You can also use the card to pay for goods and services. Plus, check deposits are completely free of charge. This bank has all that you looking for.
4. Varo Bank Account
Varo is another fintech financial institution that provides banking solutions to residents of the US. We equally mentioned this bank as one of the best online bank accounts with instant virtual debit cards. Additionally, Varo will not require you to perform any minimum deposit as you open an account with them.
This bank doesn't charge any monthly fee or overdraft fee on your checking account so you can safely store your money in your account and use it for more important purposes. You will get a free Visa debit card that comes linked to your debit card and that you can use to pay for goods and services in over 55 locations countrywide.
Your checking account will be fully and online available online and you can get 24 support assistance from them. Money can be sent and received instantly and securely within Varo checking account holders.
Funds on Varo are FDIC secured and you can store up to $250,000 and you are to worry not about your money with them.
With your Varo Checking Account, you can receive money earlier. How is that possible? The checking account allows you to accept direct deposits into the account 2 days earlier which is suitable for all those who want to pre-receive money for urgent issues.
5. Ally Bank Interest Checking Account
Another banking solution that offers a checking account without opening a deposit required nor credit check is Ally Bank. Ally offers an Interest checking bank account which lets you generate interest with the account.
The APY amounts to 0.10% for amounts less than $15,000 and up to 0.25% for amounts above $15,000. Plus they do not charge any monthly fees for your account maintenance.
Ally Bank is also one of the best online bank accounts that issue an instant debit card that can be used alongside the checking account it is linked to and you can use it to pay for goods and services you use, and withdraw your funds at many ATM points countrywide.
However, there are many account top-up options such as bank transfer from another account to your checking account, buying a money order, using a mobile check deposit, or using direct deposit. Another interesting thing about Ally Bank is that they have incorporated almost every aspect of technology into their banking services. You can even transfer money by voice using Amazon Alexa.
6. Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking
Alliant Credit Union is one of the easiest online credit unions to join so if you have been looking for a way to open a free credit union checking account online with no deposit, then Alliant Credit Union is the choice for you. Although there is no joining bonus, the benefits you will get once in are many. The account has no monthly fees. The minimum opening deposit stands at zero. Since the institution is a non-profit one, you can get a high APY of up to 0.25% on your savings.
You will need some paper statements to qualify for the Alliant credit union high-rate checking and do at least one electronic deposit each month.
CHECK ALSO: Best Instant Virtual Credit/Debit Card Provider Apps [No Deposit Required]
The credit union checking account comes with a free Visa contactless debit card that you can use for contactless payments on online stores such as Google Pay, Apple Pay and also you can use the card to withdraw funds from your account from over 80,00+ ATMs without any fee.
The Award-winning online banking app is a perfect solution for getting a quick grip on your funds and accounts online.
7. Discover Bank Cashback Debit
Discover Bank is another fintech banking solution we have for you among our picks. It has been a banking solution for many who sick to have an online checking account with a bad credit history and ideally save a lot of money. You won't be asked to deposit money in your account when opening an account with them so you can opt to deposit money into your account at a later date.
Additionally, no monthly fee will be charged for account maintenance so you are free to save money in your account without worries. Once your account is created, you will immediately be able to get an ATM card that you can use to withdraw money from your account from over 60,000 ATMs at zero fees. You can ideally use this account to purchase goods and services wherever debit card payments are accepted.
CHECK ALSO: Best Virtual Credit/Debit/Prepaid Cards in the US
Funds are FDIC-secured and you can safely store up to $250,000 in your Discover checking bank account. The Discover cashback bank debit account supports p2p (peer-to-peer) bank transfers which makes it easy for you to easily send and receive money from your Discover cashback account to another Discover cashback account.
8. Capital One 360 Checking
Capital One 360 checking will be the top choice for those who want an online bank account with an instant debit card. It is a fintech financial institution that offers banking solutions for those who have bad credit and who do not want to open an account with a deposit.
When Capital One 360 checking account, you won't be asked any amount for the minimum deposit and you can do it at a later date. In addition, you won't be required to pay any monthly fee for account maintenance with this bank.
Your Capital One 360 checking account will yield you up to 0.10% interest yearly with your money and all funds within your account are FDIC secured.
The debit card you get will be linked to your checking account which will make it easier for you to take control of your spending and you will be able to withdraw funds from over 70,000+ fee-free ATMs available country-wide. In addition, you will be able to use the card on ATMs that support Allpoint and MoneyPass withdrawals.
Their online app even gives you more control over your account and card. You can lock and unlock the debit card whenever you want which can serve as a security feature to use whenever your card gets lost or when you think your card information has been stolen by someone.
9. Axos Rewards Checking
Axos is another fintech financial institution where people get to open online bank accounts and get an instant virtual debit card for free. You won't be charged any amount when opening your account and no minimum balance is required to deposit in your account. It is another ideal choice for those wanting to open an online checking account with a bad credit history.
CHECK ALSO: How to Get Free Virtual Credit Card Without Bank Account
With Axos, you can make incredible interest from your checking account of up to 1.25% as APY and that's where Axos got its rewards checking title.
The larger the deposit you make in your account, the larger will the rewards be. So you own the control over the interest your account can yield yearly.
Additionally, you won't be charged any monthly fee as an account maintenance fee so you are free to store your money in your Axos account.
Just as is the case with other banking solutions listed above, funds are FDIC-secured which means you can store huge amounts of money within your account without worries.
All accounts have additional security layers known as two-step verification. Additionally, each account has an auto logout feature which can get you to log out if you were inactive for long.
10. Onjuno
Onjuno is another banking solution for those who have bad credit and will not want a credit check before they open their accounts. With Onjuno you can open a free online checking account with no opening deposit and no credit check. Additionally, the account has no minimum balance requirements which means, you will not be required to deposit a minimum amount in the account before it is issued.
However, they do have a monthly maintenance fee for accounts which ranges from $0 to $9.99 per month.
One great thing about the Onjuno account is the interest they can generate yearly and this interest depends on the account type. A basic checking account can yield up to 2.15% interest yearly on balances of up to $5,000. Metal checking accounts will yield the same (2.19%) but the thing is, you will need to pay $9.99 as a fee each month after your free trial period has ended. You will still be able to earn much APY interest regardless of the account fees.
Moreover, you will get a debit card that you can use for cash withdrawals at over 85,000 fee-free ATMs and these cards can be used for payments of goods and services where debit card payments are supported. However, Premium Metal Card has a cashback of 5%.
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Free Online Bank Account No Overdraft
Banks such as Acorns let you open an online checking account without charging overdraft fees. It is ideal for everyone who does not like being charged for hidden fees for their services. Upon opening a bank account with them, you will need to make a deposit in your account and you will receive up to $70 in your checking account as a bonus.
How To Open A Free Credit Union Checking Account Online No Deposit
Alliant Credit Union is one of the easiest online credit unions to join. Although there is no joining bonus, the benefits you will get once in are many. The account has no monthly fees. The minimum opening deposit stands at zero.
Free Online Bank Account Without ID Check
There are many banking solutions online and all will require you to provide some piece of documents for verification and opening of your account with them. Depending on the bank, the requirement will be different and maybe excessive or little as per its features. However, there is no bank that will let you open a bank account with them without an ID check or verification be it online or traditional bank. However, if you want to open a free bank account without ID verification or check, you can use a bank account generator that will generate all the bank information including the holder's name and address. You should note that such bank accounts can be used for payments and transactions.
Open A Checking Account Online Instantly
There are many banks that let you open a bank account and the issuing can be instant depending on the bank. Some banks will contact you through email after some days to communicate with you if your application has been approved. Banks such as Capital One allow you to open an online checking bank account with an instant debit card.
No Credit Check Bank Accounts
If you are looking for a bank account that doesn't require a credit check, then you probably have bad credit. Banks such as Chime, Douugh, and OneUnited let you open a bank account online with no credit check with your bad credit score. Having good credit is a great thing since your spending limit will be raised. This is how you can increase your credit score online.
FAQs
Can I open a bank account online without going to the bank?
Yes, you can complete most banking tasks online even opening your account, in many cases. That means you don't need to make trips to a branch or print and sign paper forms. It's all handled digitally, and once your account is open, you can transfer funds and pay bills online.
What is the minimum age to open a bank account?
Opening bank accounts requires you to be of an eligible age. You need to be at least 18 years old to open an account by yourself, or the age of majority in your state of residence. One way around this requirement comes from opening a joint account with at least one of the account holders being the age of majority.
Final Thoughts: Free Online Checking Accounts No Opening Deposit and No Credit Check
Checking accounts is important for those who want quick access to their cash, especially for very urgent situations such as food, accidents, hospital bills, school fees, etc.
Most use what we call ChexSystem to check the credit score of each individual opening an account with them. Those with bad credit scores will unlikely open an account with such financial institutions.
Not everyone has a good credit history and having a bad credit score can hinder you financially especially for spending limit.
It is never good to keep a bad credit score, check how you can increase your credit score and increase your spending limit with services such as PayPal.
Nevertheless, there are always banking solutions for everyone including those that have bad credit score history and anyone can open a free online checking account with no opening deposit and no credit check. In this guide, we have mentioned some of these free online bank account providers and you can check the description for each bank before opening an account with them.
The most important things you should consider checking before opening a free online checking account with no deposit and no credit check are: - monthly fee, no credit check, no ChexSystems, no minimum balance, and zero minimum opening deposit.
For all these free online bank account providers, you will get an instant debit card that will help you have full control over your banking. These debit cards can help you withdraw money from many ATMs country-wide without having to go to the bank.
Make sure you read the Terms and Conditions for each bank before opening an account with them.