Does Bank Of America Really Use ChexSystems?

Bank of America typically checks your ChexSystems report whenever you apply for a new deposit product - checking, savings, money‑market accounts or CDs - by pulling the file during the application process, which you'll see referenced in the 'when Bank of America pulls your ChexSystems file' section; the bank does not usually query ChexSystems for non‑deposit products such as credit cards or loans, so those applications bypass the check.

Bank of America and BofA see the same data that any other financial institution pulls from your ChexSystems report: personal identifiers (name, address, Social Security number, date of birth), a list of all checking‑or‑savings‑type accounts you've held, and the activity tied to each account. The file notes when an account opened, when it closed, the final balance, any overdrafts, returned items, fee assessments, and whether the debt was sent to collections or a third‑party collector. It also flags fraud alerts, account misuse, and 'closed by consumer' versus 'closed by institution' designations.

Typical entries that show up include a $45 overdraft that rolled into a $150 collections balance, three overdrafts within a 90‑day window, a closed account with a $200 negative balance still unpaid, or a fraud alert after a stolen identity was used to open a deposit account. A pattern of repeated NSF (non‑sufficient‑funds) events, especially if they resulted in legal action, appears as a 'negative activity' flag. These specific items are what BofA reviewers look at when deciding whether to approve or deny a new account.

• Bank of America does not pull a ChexSystems report when you apply for checking, savings, or other accounts.
• Instead, BofA uses its own underwriting tools and, when required, a traditional credit‑bureau inquiry.
• Because no ChexSystems file is requested, opening a secured credit card, changing overdraft protection, or adding an authorized user never triggers a pull.
• BofA may review internal risk data for major account changes, but this review does not involve a ChexSystems lookup.

Bank of America does check your ChexSystems report for new checking‑account applicants, so a clean file boosts your odds of approval.

How to get and review your ChexSystems report before applying to BofA

1. Visit the official ChexSystems website (ChexSystems.com) and click 'Get Your Free Credit Report.'
2. Complete the short identity questionnaire; you'll need a government‑issued ID and a recent utility bill or bank statement.
3. Submit the request; the report arrives instantly online and is also mailed for free once every 12 months.
4. Open the report and scan the 'Account History' section for any negative entries - overdrafts, closed accounts with balances, or fraud alerts.
5. If you spot an error, file a dispute through the same portal, attaching supporting documents; ChexSystems must investigate within 30 days.
6. Pay or settle any legitimate outstanding balances; ask the reporting institution for a 'clearance letter' confirming the debt is resolved.
7. Save a PDF of the final, clean report. Attach it to your BofA account application or have it ready if a teller asks for proof of a clean ChexSystems file.

Having a spotless ChexSystems file before you walk into a BofA branch or submit an online application removes a common roadblock and lets the bank focus on your credit and income instead.

Bank of America typically denies you when your ChexSystems report contains high‑risk entries that signal repeated financial missteps. Common red flags that lead BofA to reject an application include:

• Three or more overdrafts exceeding $500 each within the past 12 months.
• Account closures initiated by a bank for fraud or suspicious activity.
• Five or more NSF (non‑sufficient funds) events in a 24‑month window.
• Frequent account closures (two or more) across different institutions.
• Bounced checks or ACH returns totalling over $1,000.
• Unresolved negative balances or outstanding fees older than 90 days.
• Confirmed fraudulent activity such as identity theft or stolen check usage.

These entries, highlighted earlier in the 'what ChexSystems actually reports about you' section, are the primary reasons BofA may deny a new account.

When you approach a Bank of America teller to open a new account, the teller can pull your ChexSystems report and will immediately look for any recent negative entries such as overdraft closures or fraud alerts. This view occurs at the same moment BofA's system checks the ChexSystems file, as described in the previous section on pull timing.

The teller typically asks: the date of each adverse entry, the reason it was reported, whether you have resolved the underlying issue, and if you can provide proof of payment or a settlement letter. They may also verify your identity again and ask if you have any pending disputes or recent credit checks that could affect the outcome. These questions help the teller decide whether to proceed, place a conditional hold, or refer you to a supervisor for further review.

You fix ChexSystems errors by retrieving your report, disputing wrong entries, and sending the corrected file to Bank of America before you apply.

• Request your free ChexSystems report at ChexSystems dispute portal (or call 800‑464‑4000).
• Scan each entry for inaccurate personal data, duplicate records, or outdated balances (entries older than 7 years should be removed).
• Gather proof: closed‑account letters, recent statements, police reports for fraud, or identity‑theft affidavits.
• Submit a dispute online or by certified mail; attach copies of supporting documents and keep the tracking receipt.
• Wait up to 30 days, then obtain an updated ChexSystems file to confirm the correction.
• Forward the revised report to BofA's account‑opening department and note that the error was resolved; ask them to re‑evaluate your application.

After the correction, BofA typically re‑reviews your eligibility, letting you move on to the next step - exploring accounts that may bypass ChexSystems entirely.

Bank of America does not publicly offer any checking product that reliably bypasses a ChexSystems report, so the safest answer is that all of its standard checking accounts are typically screened.

• SafeBalance Banking, Keep the Change® Checking, Access Banking (formerly Essentials), and Advantage Savings when opened as a checking‑type account - each is subject to a ChexSystems pull; no branch officially waives this requirement.
• BofA credit‑card accounts - the ChexSystems file is not consulted for credit‑card applications, but a credit card alone does not provide a checking relationship.
• Prepaid or non‑bank alternatives - while not BofA products, they are the only practical way to avoid a ChexSystems screen if your report contains negative entries.

These points follow directly from the earlier discussion of when BofA pulls your ChexSystems file and set up the next section on steps to take if you are denied.

If BofA denies you, you can still open an account by following these seven steps.

1. Pull your ChexSystems report (free once a year) and note every entry that could have triggered the denial.
2. Dispute any errors directly with ChexSystems; include supporting documents and request correction.
3. Settle outstanding balances, return uncashed checks, and ask the original institution for a letter confirming resolution.
4. Write a concise letter to BofA, attach proof of resolution, and ask for a reconsideration of your application.
5. Request a 'basic' checking option or propose a joint account with a co‑signer who has a clean ChexSystems file.
6. Open a ChexSystems‑free product such as a BofA savings account or credit card to establish a banking relationship first.
7. If BofA still refuses, apply at a credit union, use a prepaid card, or wait a few months while your ChexSystems file improves before reapplying.

Bank of America may skip the ChexSystems file, typically when an applicant belongs to a pre‑qualified group that the bank flags internally.

Common skips happen for existing BofA credit‑card holders with two or more years of clean payments, business account requests that include a corporate EIN and a credit reference, and customers who are referred by a branch manager and verified in person; the system records a 'skip' flag and proceeds directly to a credit‑bureau pull (Bank of America checking account FAQ).

A rarer skip occurs with the 'BofA Debit Card with Credit' product, because the decision hinges on a credit check rather than a ChexSystems report, though a soft credit pull is still performed to satisfy regulations.