Credit Unions That Don’t Use ChexSystems

Discover which institutions will allow you to open an account without consulting the consumer credit reporting agency.

Opening a new bank- or credit union account can sometimes prove difficult if you have an existing profile with ChexSystems, which defines itself as “a nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.”

What Exactly Is ChexSystems?

While not technically a credit bureau, the agency, according to its website, “compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis,” specifically related to closed bank- or credit union accounts. A ChexSystem report might be generated, for instance, simply due to a bounced check or other issues such as overdrafts, unpaid negative balances, or suspected identity theft or banking fraud.

Once the record has been registered, it is retained by the agency for up to five years, during which time any financial institution may request the information when assessing risk on activities such as the opening of a new account.

How to Know if You Have a ChexSystems Report

A consumer may not be aware they are listed in ChexSystems until they apply for a new bank- or credit union account and find themselves denied due to a negative ChexSystems profile. However, in such instances, an individual may request their “Consumer Disclosure” from the agency, which is free of charge (once a year) and will contain any pertinent information.

What Are Your Options Once Listed on ChexSystems?

According to the agency’s website, anyone has “a right to dispute any information in your consumer file that you believe may be inaccurate or incomplete.” Additionally, a report may be removed if “the source of the information requests its removal.”

However, paying off an existing debt alone will not remove the report entirely, which will instead only be updated, but maintained on file.

Credit Unions that Don’t Request Information from ChexSystems

The precarious position those listed on ChexSystems thus find themselves in means the prospects for opening a new account may be limited in many cases. There are, however, several credit unions that do not use the agency’s data when it comes to assessing members for certain accounts.

Among these are some of the larger, more recognizable credit unions in the country, including:

Five Star Credit Union

Five Star is a state-chartered credit union headquartered in Dothan, Alabama, with 17 locations spread across eight state counties and a further 15 counties in southern Georgia. The credit union's current membership is just over 55,000, with total assets of more than $732 million.

Premier America Credit Union

Premier America is a state-chartered credit union based in Chatsworth, California, with a field of membership covering Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as Harris County (Houston) in Texas.

The organization serves a member base of more than 116,000 and has assets of over $3.77 billion.

America First Credit Union

Headquartered in Riverdale, Utah, America First is a multiple common bond credit union with more than $17.5 billion in assets and over one million members. Its membership is primarily made up of individuals living in Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Idaho.

American Airlines Federal Credit Union

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, and with branches located in most major U.S. airports, American Airlines Federal Credit Union has over $9.3 billion in assets and serves the air transportation industry.

The credit union additionally has partnerships with both the CO-OP ATM Network and the CO-OP Shared Branch Network to offer member services nationwide.

American United Federal Credit Union

American United is a multiple common bond credit union based in West Jordan, Utah, with ten branches across its service area in both Utah and California. With assets of over $375 million, the institution has more than 25,000 members.

Credit Union One

Credit Union One is a state-chartered institution based in Ferndale, Michigan, open to anyone lives, works, worships, or attends school anywhere in the state. The credit union has branches across Michigan to serve its nearly 120,000 members and total assets of over $1.75 billion.

Excite Credit Union

Based in San Jose, California, Excite is a state-chartered credit union with a service area covering counties across the northern part of the state in addition to three counties in North Carolina. The institution’s membership currently sits at just under 45,000, with assets of over $715 million.

Hope Federal Credit Union

Hope FCU is a faith-based multiple common bond credit union with its headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, and a total of 28 branches across its home state plus Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama.

Its membership of just over 36,000 additionally has nationwide access to the Shared Branching Network, while the credit union has assets of over $525 million.

Navy Federal Credit Union

Based in Vienna, Virginia, Navy Federal Credit Union exclusively serves the military, department of defense, veterans, and their families. With 350 branches, assets over $156 billion and more than 12 million members, it is the largest credit union in the country by some margin.

Texas Trust Credit Union

Texas Trust is a state-chartered credit union based in Arlington, Texas, with a service area covering Dallas County along with several neighboring counties. The credit union has 19 branches in total, a membership of over 136,000 and assets of more than $2 billion.

How to Join These Credit Unions

To see if you qualify for membership at any of these credit unions, simply fill out Credit Union Match’s eligibility survey, which will provide you the details to reach out directly for more information!