ChexSystems Scores

Learn what a ChexSystems score is, how to check it, what a good score is, and how to improve yours.

Oct 17, 2025

Fact checked

Written by Richie Bernardo

Senior Writer

Fact Checked by Alina Comoreanu

WalletHub Senior Researcher

A ChexSystems score is similar to a credit score but is used to predict your future banking behavior and how risky it is for a bank or credit union to open a deposit account for you. This score is calculated by ChexSystems, a consumer reporting agency that tracks and reports on people’s history with deposit accounts. Unlike your credit score, which prospective lenders and creditors use for making credit decisions, your ChexSystems score is not used for credit card or loan approval.

Key Things to Know About Your ChexSystems Score

Your ChexSystems score is a numeric score, also called a QualiFile score, that is calculated using the information in your ChexSystems report, plus other sources of data, such as your credit report, public records and payday loan history.
A ChexSystems score is different from a credit score. It determines how risky it is for a bank to open an account for you, rather than how risky it is to lend to you.
A ChexSystems score can range from 100 to 899. The higher your score is, the less risk you pose to banks.
Not all banks will use your ChexSystems score to evaluate your application to open a bank account. Some banks will refer only to your detailed ChexSystems report, use alternative consumer reporting agencies such as Early Warning Systems or TeleCheck, or not look into your banking history at all.
You can only get your ChexSystems score from ChexSystems directly, as no third-party sites will provide it for you.

Continue reading below to learn how your ChexSystems score is calculated, how to check it, and more.

Table of Contents

How to Request Your ChexSystems Score

You can get a free copy of your ChexSystems score and report once every 12 months. You can request it online or by mail. Unlike with credit scores, there are no third-party vendors that will provide your ChexSystems score.

To request your ChexSystems score by mail, follow these steps:

1. Print and complete the Score Order Form.

2. Mail your completed order form to:

Chex Systems, Inc.
Attn: Consumer Relations
PO Box 583399
Minneapolis, MN 55458

3. Wait to receive your ChexSystems score by mail.

It may take a couple of days for you to get your ChexSystems score through the mail, but you can get your score much faster if you submit your request online. To check your ChexSystems score online, you will need to register for an account on the ChexSystems website and then request your score through the ChexSystems Consumer Portal.

You must be at least 18 years old to order your ChexSystems score. If you request a score for a minor, you’ll need to furnish additional documentation, a list of which can be found on the agency’s website.

How to Get Your Score If You’re Rejected for a Bank Account

If you’ve been denied for a bank account due to your ChexSystems score, you will automatically get access to your score. The bank that rejected you must send you a letter that includes your ChexSystems score and the reasons why you were denied, among other information.

Under the rules of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the letter must include the following information:

Your ChexSystems score
Other consumer scores used in the bank’s decision
The reason why you were denied
Major factors that adversely affected your ChexSystems score
The date your ChexSystems score was calculated
The name and contact information of the consumer reporting agency (ChexSystems, in this case) that supplied your score
A notice of your right to a free copy of your ChexSystems report within 60 days, and how to get that copy.

What Is a Good ChexSystems Score?

ChexSystems scores range from 100 to 899, and the higher your score is, the better. ChexSystems does not define its scores as either “good” or “bad,” though. Scores are assigned to consumers based on the estimated likelihood of their bank having to close their account in the near future, and how these scores are evaluated varies by bank.

Each bank can decide for itself which specific scores correspond with account approval and rejection. If a bank wants to tolerate a moderate amount of risk, for instance, it might approve applicants with a ChexSystems score of 545 or higher and either reject or at least carefully consider applicants with a lower score. An aggressive bank might set the bar lower – around 525, for example.

What Affects Your ChexSystems Score?

Your ChexSystems score is based on information in your ChexSystems consumer report. The following factors can affect your score:

The number of bank accounts that were forcibly closed by banks
How many times you've requested bank accounts at different financial institutions
The number of checks ordered and the number of different accounts they were ordered from
The number and dollar amount of returned checks

How to Improve Your ChexSystems Score

In order to improve your ChexSystems score, you should first review your ChexSystems report to identify the factors adversely affecting your score (like forcibly closed bank accounts, accounts closed with unpaid fees or overdrafts, or bounced checks). Then, figure out why these things happened and make a plan for preventing them in the future.

As long as you demonstrate that you can responsibly manage owning a bank account, your ChexSystems score should improve over time. In the meantime, the following tips could also help.

Pay Off Outstanding Debts to Banks

If your ChexSystems report includes legitimate notations for unpaid negative balances on previous accounts, pay these off — or at least make a payment arrangement — and request that your bank update the payment status in ChexSystems when the debt is settled. Although this won’t remove the listing until it expires after five years, satisfying the outstanding debt may raise your ChexSystems score and encourage banks to evaluate you more favorably in the future.

Dispute Errors in Your ChexSystems Report

Information in ChexSystems reports isn’t always accurate, and the more black marks in your report, the lower your ChexSystems score will be. If you spot any possible inaccuracies, you should dispute them with ChexSystems and the bank that reported the error as soon as possible. Our ChexSystems dispute guide can help you navigate the process.

Refine Your Account Habits

If you currently have a bank account but are already in the ChexSystems database, take steps to ensure you don’t repeat the same blunders. Our general guide to ChexSystems lists multiple ways to avoid being reported to the agency. Some examples include signing up for overdraft protection, reconciling your check register with your bank statement, and making sure you have enough funds to cover checks you issue.

Routinely Check Your Consumer Reports

Every year, you are entitled to a free copy of your consumer reports, including your ChexSystems report. You should proactively check these to make sure adverse information has expired and been deleted from your reports, which hopefully will improve your ChexSystems score.

Does ChexSystems Affect Your Credit Score?

Your ChexSystems score does not directly affect your credit score, since it focuses on your banking history, not your credit history. Conversely, your credit score is calculated using the information on your credit report, which does not include banking history. As a result, if you have multiple forcibly closed bank accounts listed on your ChexSystems report, it will affect your ChexSystems score but not your credit score.

However, it is important to note that your ChexSystems score is an indicator of your overall financial health, just like your credit score. If you have negative bank balances, you are likely having trouble paying your bills, which can lead to missed loan and credit card payments that would affect your credit score. That is why you should keep track of both your ChexSystems score and your credit score. You can check your credit score for free right here on WalletHub.

Ask the Experts: How to Improve ChexSystems Practices

ChexSystems and other similar consumer reporting agencies have come under regulatory scrutiny for what some critics have described as an excessively punitive system. For additional insight into the current screening policies of financial institutions and ideas on how to improve them, we turned to a panel of leading banking industry experts. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

Why isn’t a consumer’s positive banking activity reported to ChexSystems? What policy changes do financial industry regulators need to implement in order to reform this system?
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 9.6 million U.S. households were unbanked and another 24.8 million were underbanked in 2013, many of whom have low income and a record in ChexSystems. How does ChexSystems affect the economic mobility of unbanked and underbanked Americans, and how can it be improved?
Why are there no standardized guidelines regarding what information financial institutions can report to ChexSystems?

Ask the Experts

Mehrsa Baradaran
Associate Professor of Law at University of Georgia School of Law
Read More

Gary E. Kalbaugh
Special Professor of Law at Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Read More

Yesha Yadav
Associate Professor of Law at Vanderbilt University Law School
Read More

Catherine (Cassie) Christopher
Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Bar Preparation Resources Office at Texas Tech University School of Law
Read More

Questions & Answers(12 questions)

Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.

Upvotes

Can I get a checking account if I was blacklisted by Chexsystems?

Lisa Cahill, Credit Cards Moderator

You can get a checking account if you were blacklisted by ChexSystems. Some banks and credit unions offer so-called "second chance" checking accounts.

These accounts might come with monthly fees, but you can move to a regular, less costly account after a year or two of good account management.

View more answers

Upvote

What banks don't use ChexSystems?

James W Reed, Credit Cards Moderator

There are some banks that don't use ChexSystems. Some of them are BBVA, Radius Bank, Chime, First American Bank, Suntrust Bank, TD Ameritrade and US Bank. These banks offer second chance checking accounts which typically come with fees, but they will help you rebuild your banking history.

Upvotes

What credit unions don't use ChexSystems?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

There are several credit unions that don't use ChexSystems. Some well-regarded options include First Tech Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Consumers Credit Union.

However, it's important to note that credit union policies may change over time. Therefore, it's recommended to contact the specific credit union you're interested in to confirm their current practices regarding ChexSystems.

You can also check the best credit union checking accounts available to ensure that your decision aligns with your financial goals.

Upvote

Do credit unions report to ChexSystems?

Sydney Garth, Credit Cards Moderator

Yes, credit unions report to ChexSystems. However, ChexSystems only reports negative information. So, if you have accounts in good standing they will not be reported in ChexSystems.

Upvotes

What are the reasons a bank might deny me from opening a checking account?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

There are a couple of reasons why a bank might deny your application for a checking account, such as a negative banking history, suspected fraud, unpaid debt, poor credit score, and frequent applications. Here's a breakdown on the reasons:

Negative Banking History: If your ChexSystems report, which is like a credit report for bank accounts, contains negative information such as unpaid fees or overdrafts, banks may consider you a risk.
Suspected Fraud...

Upvotes

Does U.S. Bank use ChexSystems?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

Yes, U.S. Bank does use ChexSystems to screen applicants for new checking accounts.

However, they are known to be more lenient compared to other banks. If you don't have a history of fraud or owe any money to U.S. Bank, you may still be able to open an account.

You can check different second chance accounts for you to make sure that whatever decision you go for really fits your goals.

Upvote

Does OnPath Federal Credit Union use ChexSystems?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

OnPath Federal Credit Union does not publicly disclose if they use ChexSystems to screen applicants for a new OnPath Federal Credit Union High Yield Checking account.

However, to apply for an OnPath Federal Credit Union High Yield Checking account, you must meet their eligibility criteria. You will need to provide your Social Security number, a driver's license or state ID number, and answer a few questions. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the OnPath Federal Credit Union website.

You can check the best checking accounts available to ensure...

Upvotes

Does Cadence Bank use ChexSystems?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

Yes, Cadence Bank does use ChexSystems to screen applicants for a new Budget Smart Checking account.

However, it's worth noting that Cadence Bank also offers the Cadence Bank Interest Plus Checking and Cadence Bank My Way Checking that don't use ChexSystems. For the most up-to-date information please refer to the Cadence Bank website.

You can check different second chance accounts for you to make sure that whatever decision you go for really fits your goals.

Upvotes

What credit score do I need to open a Chase Premier Plus checking account?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

Chase doesn't require a minimum credit score to open a Chase Premier Plus Checking account, as there is no credit score requirement. Chase does not require a credit score for this account because it is a deposit account, not a loan or line of credit.

While Chase doesn't require a specific credit score to open an account, they will likely review your ChexSystems report to check your banking history. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to...

Upvotes

How can I open a checking account with a fair credit score?

Ramses Delgado, Banking Moderator

Opening a checking account with a fair credit score is possible. Most financial institutions primarily focus on your banking history, rather than your credit score, when you apply for a basic checking account.

If you have a negative ChexSystems report, opt for second-chance accounts designed for those with banking issues. These accounts may have limitations, like no overdraft privileges, but they help rebuild banking history.

You can check the best checking accounts available for you to make sure...

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