checking/savings accts post ch7

[music12]

hi all,

just wanted to report my latest with opening accounts at banks.

a while back i walked into a local bank to open a new checking account and was denied due to my bk.

i then made some phone calls and found out that many banks don't deny you due to bk, so i was encouraged.

i then opened an acct with schwab - both checking and brokerage. it opened smoothly, no troubles. i had called ahead to verify that bk will not be a problem, and indeed it wasn't.

but i did get denied with allybank (an online bank). they said i didn't meet their qualifying score requirement. (they did a soft pull on the credit report). then i realized that i had forgotten to call them to ask ahead whether this would happen (got too confident after my success at schwab, i guess). anyway, they are forwarding my account application to some other office to see whether they would open it anyway. stay tuned!

[AngelinaCatHub]

Great "M12". You are a sharp head and good poster. Real good news for others. Yes! We CAN get a 'new start'. 'Hub

[music12]

so, allybank decided to open my account anyway. took them less than 24 hours. yay!

[SMinGA]

Not a bad idea to have a thread w/ bank account approvals.

Ch. 13 filed 12/09, dismissed 3/10
Ch. 7 filed 9/05, discharged 12/05 (car accident 1/03 --> 3 weeks in hospital, months of physical therapy & being out of work... Should have filed much sooner but hindsight is 20/20.)

In Dec. (10 days after filing ch. 13, it was on my reports) I opened a checking & saving account with Lockheed FCU. Applied online, said I was approved, had to print out the application and sign to mail in.

Last week I applied to open an account with FlagStar Bank. They seem to be trying to get into the area's local banking market. They advertise extended banking hours - and I liked the sound of that. Online message said I was approved, have not heard back account details (checking acct #, etc.) but they did deduct my opening deposit of $50 from my Lockheed account. (Had the option of mailing it in or doing draft, so I chose draft.)

Both were online applications. I'm not big on the idea of face to face denial.

[LizardTail]

I'm a little confused. Once I knew I was going to file, I switched banks from BOA to Wachovia (Wells Fargo's baby). There were no issues at all opening the account. Should I be concerned that they may cancel my account if become aware that I filed BK?

Oddly enough, I specifically drained my BOA accounts to a zero balance, then they popped me with a no direct deposit fee, making the account insufficient. It's now insuffient to $48 in fees!

[music12]

no, the banks wouldn't close your already-existing account just because you filed. but a bank may not want to open a new account right after you filed - some banks think it's risky (which seriously blows my mind because opening an account is not applying for credit, it's literally giving the bank money - how could that be a risk? the only party taking the risk is the customer who gives his own money to the bank!).

remember to include those $48 in fees in your bk petition... or, better yet, go to a BOA branch and ask them to reverse this fee, it's ridiculous and would go on your chexsystems report at some point, making it harder to open new bank accounts in case you end up needing to.

[jntb2009]

After my discharge I opened , E*TRADE bank acct and brokerage. I was turned down by ING Direct, beware they do a hard pull for your over draft protection.

[Moneypenny]

I have a wierd question/experience:

I opened an account at CITIBANK, deposted money, changed all my direct billing, got a debit card that works, but then got a letter stating my account application is denied. But my money is still in there and I can draw on it and use my card, as debit or "credit."

Afraid to go in there and ask cause I dont want to trigger anything, but I suppose I have to anyway.

Still waiting for my checks to arrive (they dont give you any blank provisional ones at citi) and wondering if they will ever arrive.

Anyone know what to make of this?

MMP

[music12]

read the paperwork carefully. is it the checking account itself that was denied? sometimes banks automatically include some small line of credit when you open a checking account (which they tell you in really tiny print). it may be that your line of credit only was denied.

if that's not it, then i am at a loss. but not asking may not be the best way to go - you don't want your bills to start bouncing because you don't know something.