Checking account

[nazstar]

We will be filing for chapter 7 in the coming months. In the meantime, I tried switching banks and opening a new checking account. The reason for the new account is that the fees at my existing bank are just too high. BUT, I was declined at 2 banks for CHECKING!! I wasn't applying for a cc - just a plain, vanilla checking account. I do admit that we've bounced quite a few checks in the last few months. It kinda snowballed after we had a debit on the account we weren't expecting (car insurance debited for 6 months of coverage instead of 1 month!). Then the bank started debiting $35 bucks a pop, which made us bounce other outstanding checks, etc. anyways, long story short, they wound up taking about $450 in fees from us over 3 months while we were racing to sort it out. I just want to start over with a simple checking account at a local bank. Any suggestions for a good bank that would be friendly to someone in my situation?

I've paid all outstanding checks and there is nothing pending at my existing bank!

[jp2861]

Try doing a google search for banks that don't run checks. I know I came across a site that listed banks that didn't check on your history. I should have bookmarked it.

[magyar123]

You are on Chexsystems - the shitlist system that lets other banks know that you are checksbouncer, overdrafter, etc.
If you have a branch near you, try US Bank. They have something called "second chance".

[nazstar]

You are on Chexsystems - the shitlist system that lets other banks know that you are checksbouncer, overdrafter, etc.
If you have a branch near you, try US Bank. They have something called "second chance".

I haven't seen any US Banks and when I searched on their website it came up with no locations. I'll have to look into other banks that don't run checks. The thing that kills me is that I've been with this bank for YEARS and I only started having problems the last few months and WHAM!

[nazstar]

You are on Chexsystems - the shitlist system that lets other banks know that you are checksbouncer, overdrafter, etc.
If you have a branch near you, try US Bank. They have something called "second chance".

I read somewhere that Chexsystems keeps you on some "bad list" for 5 years. Is that true?

[magyar123]

I read somewhere that Chexsystems keeps you on some "bad list" for 5 years. Is that true?

Sorry - don't know how long you'll be on it.

[magyar123]

I haven't seen any US Banks and when I searched on their website it came up with no locations. I'll have to look into other banks that don't run checks. The thing that kills me is that I've been with this bank for YEARS and I only started having problems the last few months and WHAM!

No locations - the state you live in, or the city/town you live in?

[ameliabedilia]

Do you expect your finances to take an upturn anytime soon? It might be worth it to just stick with the bank you have and make sure to deal only in cash and money orders. If you need any kind of overdraft protection then you might keep trying to find a new bank. If I hear of any bank I will post it here.

[BKcrazy]

I hadn't bounced any checks, but I opened a new account with Wamu online after I had filed. I got checking and savings, plus a gold mc debit. Check them out, and see if maybe you can get one.

[Rintaro]

Try one of the Online Banks such as ING or Wakovia, offers a checking account.

I signed up for an online checking account didn't have to go into any branches.

[BKcrazy]

Oh! I forgot about ING, yes they are good too. Nice thing about online banks, they don't have to worry about overhead, so they are more forgiving perhaps. I used to have Chase, and they were just annoying at times.

[Rintaro]

Online banks are great! I use one for my checking account, the good thing is they are off the satelite to creditors with judgements so less likely to be levied, secondly low if any fees.

Statements can be accessed and printed online, debit cards ect.. available.

With my online bank I even was given a security passcode keychain that works on an algorythm. I enter my normal online bank id & password then enter the security passcode number which chnages every minute.

So it is VERY secure! There is peace of mind of security and being that it is not a standard branch type bank very few creditors will think to look to levy it.

[nazstar]

Thanks everyone! I'll try ING. The account I have now is with Wachovia. They aren't being too nice with me. I bounced a few checks but ALWAYS covered them within a week plus the HUGE charges. Then I deposited a check from my company (expense reimbursement) and they held it for 10 days because of my "history".

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Nazstar, you should know -- in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Raleigh (where Wachovia has been a long standing customer base) one of the nicer things they are called by the locals is "Walk-all-ova'-ya." Even people who grew up with them hate the fees. And when you consider all the things that can be done with the "all-over-ya" ending, you'll understand why it's one of the nicer names I've heard them called. Every time I was ever in a car with someone who pulled up to an ATM and banked with Wachovia, I heard a variation.

[jp2861]

I had a long discussion with the folks at ING after they bought out NetBank. They get just as many levies as a walk in bank so the idea of being under the radar isn't accurate. If you're in a position where you absolutely need an account I would stay away from them, or any other online bank. If you absolutely need an account you're better off having an account where you can walk in and talk to someone. The customer service manager refused to give me the number for the levy department so I can just imagine the hassle it would be to try to correct anything via the phone. Just my opinion but I think I'd rather be able to walk in and talk to someone if I had any issues.