Yes, Bank of America uses ChexSystems to screen applicants for deposit accounts

Bank of America runs a ChexSystems report on most people who apply for a checking or savings account. ChexSystems is a banking history database that tracks closed accounts, overdrafts, fraud disputes, and other account management problems. If you have negative items in your ChexSystems file, Bank of America may deny your application or require you to use a second-chance account with higher fees and lower limits.

The bank does not always pull ChexSystems for every product. Some savings accounts or money market accounts may skip the check, but checking accounts almost always trigger a report. Bank of America also checks Early Warning Services (EWS), a separate database that tracks similar issues. If you are denied, the bank must tell you why and provide contact information for the reporting agency.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of America pulls ChexSystems reports for most checking accounts and many savings accounts, so negative history can result in denial.
  • ChexSystems records unpaid overdrafts, fraud disputes, and closed accounts due to mismanagement, and these items stay on file for five to seven years.
  • If you are denied, you have the right to a free copy of your ChexSystems report and can dispute inaccurate information directly with the agency.
  • Bank of America offers second-chance accounts (SafePass or similar products) for people with ChexSystems issues, though these accounts carry monthly fees and transaction limits.
  • You can request your ChexSystems report before applying to Bank of America so you know what the bank will see.

What ChexSystems reports actually contain

ChexSystems does not report credit history or credit scores. Instead, it tracks your behavior inside the banking system itself. The database records unpaid overdrafts, accounts closed due to fraud or mismanagement, repeated NSF (non-sufficient funds) fees, and disputes you filed against a bank. A single overdraft of $50 that you paid back quickly may not appear, but a pattern of overdrafts or one large unpaid overdraft will.

Items stay on your ChexSystems file for five to seven years, depending on the type of issue. Fraud disputes and closed accounts typically remain for seven years. Paid-off overdrafts and resolved disputes may fall off sooner. The agency does not remove items just because time has passed — you have to request removal or wait out the retention period.

ChexSystems also records inquiries. Every time a bank pulls your report, that inquiry shows up in your file. Multiple inquiries in a short time can signal to Bank of America that you have been denied elsewhere, which may influence their decision.

How Bank of America uses the ChexSystems result

Bank of America reviews your ChexSystems report alongside your application. The bank has internal thresholds for what it will accept. A single unpaid overdraft from five years ago may not trigger a denial, but multiple recent overdrafts or a fraud dispute will. The bank does not publish its exact scoring rules, so two people with similar ChexSystems histories may receive different outcomes.

If your report is clean, the decision is usually immediate or within one business day. If your report has negative items, Bank of America may ask you to explain what happened before making a decision. Some branches or online applications may have different standards, so you could be denied online but approved in person, or vice versa.

The bank also checks Early Warning Services (EWS) at the same time. EWS tracks similar issues and sometimes contains information ChexSystems does not. If either report shows serious problems, Bank of America is more likely to deny you or steer you toward a second-chance product.

Second-chance accounts at Bank of America

If you are denied a standard checking account due to ChexSystems, Bank of America may offer you a second-chance account. These accounts have different names depending on when you apply — SafePass, Basic Banking, or similar products — but they all work the same way: lower transaction limits, monthly fees (usually $5 to $15), and no overdraft protection.

Second-chance accounts are real bank accounts, not prepaid cards. Your deposits are FDIC-insured, and you can build a positive history that may help you move to a standard account later. Some people use them as a stepping stone: keep the account in good standing for six to twelve months, then reapply for a regular checking account.

The monthly fee is the main cost. If you keep a minimum balance (often $500 to $1,000), some second-chance accounts waive the fee. Transaction limits are usually 10 to 15 debit card transactions per month, though you can do unlimited ATM withdrawals and transfers. If you exceed the limit, you pay a per-transaction fee.

How to check your ChexSystems report before applying

You can request your ChexSystems report for free once per year. Go to chexsystems.com and click "Request Your Report" or call 1-800-428-9623. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. ChexSystems will mail your report to you within five business days, or you can view it online immediately if you create an account.

Your report shows every negative item, the date it was reported, and the bank or creditor that reported it. If you see something you do not recognize or believe is inaccurate, you can dispute it directly with ChexSystems. Disputes take 30 to 45 days to investigate. If ChexSystems finds the item is wrong, it will remove it from your file.

Checking your report before you apply to Bank of America lets you know what the bank will see. If you have serious negative items, you can decide whether to apply for a standard account (and risk denial) or ask about second-chance options upfront. Some people also use this time to contact the bank that reported the item and ask them to update or remove it if the issue has been resolved.

Disputing errors on your ChexSystems file

If your ChexSystems report contains an error — a closed account you did not close, an overdraft you paid, or a fraud dispute that was resolved — you can dispute it. Contact ChexSystems in writing (mail, email, or online form) and explain what is wrong. Include copies of any documents that support your claim: bank statements showing the overdraft was paid, a letter from the bank confirming the account was closed in error, or a fraud investigation report.

ChexSystems has 30 days to investigate your dispute. If they find the information is inaccurate, they will remove it or correct it. If they find it is accurate, they will tell you why and you can add a consumer statement to your file explaining your side of the story. That statement will appear whenever a bank pulls your report.

Disputes can take time, so start early if you know you are going to apply to Bank of America soon. If you have a legitimate error, getting it removed before you apply is much easier than trying to appeal a denial after the fact.

What happens if Bank of America denies you

If Bank of America denies your application, the bank must provide you with a written reason and the contact information for ChexSystems (or EWS, if that was the reason). You have the right to a free copy of your report from the agency that caused the denial. Request it within 60 days of the denial and you will not be charged.

A denial is not permanent. You can reapply after you have resolved the issues on your ChexSystems file or after enough time has passed that older items are less damaging. Some people reapply after six months or a year of clean banking history. Others wait until negative items fall off the report entirely (five to seven years).

In the meantime, you have other options: credit unions often have looser ChexSystems standards, some online banks do not check ChexSystems at all, and second-chance accounts at Bank of America or other banks can serve as a bridge. The key is to avoid making the situation worse by accumulating more overdrafts or disputes while you wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a Bank of America account if I have been denied before?

Yes. A previous denial does not bar you from reapplying. If the negative items on your ChexSystems file have aged or been resolved, your next application may be approved. If the same issues are still there, you will likely be denied again unless Bank of America offers you a second-chance account. Reapply only after you have fixed the underlying problem or waited long enough that the items matter less.

Does Bank of America check ChexSystems for savings accounts?

Bank of America checks ChexSystems for most savings accounts, though the standard is less strict than for checking accounts. Some savings products may skip the check entirely, but you should assume ChexSystems will be pulled. Call your local branch or ask during the online application to confirm which products require a ChexSystems report.

How long does it take Bank of America to decide after pulling ChexSystems?

If your report is clean, the decision usually comes within one business day, often the same day. If your report has negative items, Bank of America may take several days to review your application or ask you for more information. Second-chance account decisions sometimes take longer because the bank is assessing risk differently.

Will Bank of America tell me what is on my ChexSystems report?

No. Bank of America will not share your ChexSystems report with you. You have to request it directly from ChexSystems. However, if Bank of America denies you based on ChexSystems, they must tell you that ChexSystems was the reason and provide the agency's contact information so you can get your own copy.

Can I remove items from ChexSystems before they expire?

You can dispute inaccurate items and have them removed if ChexSystems finds they are wrong. You can also contact the bank that reported the item and ask them to request removal if the issue has been resolved. However, you cannot simply delete accurate negative items — they stay on file for five to seven years unless you dispute them or the reporting bank removes them voluntarily.