Can a bank or credit union refuse to open a checking account for me? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

Can a bank or credit union refuse to open a checking account for me? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

Each bank or credit union has its own policies about the way the information in your banking history report impacts your ability to open an account. This can include the amount of time that has passed since events like an involuntary closure or repeated overdrafts.

Yes. Banks generally have discretion to determine to which parties and under what conditions they provide their products and services.

Know your banking history

You failed to pay insufficient funds fees after overdrawing your account. You have a history of writing bad checks to merchants. You've committed fraud.

In some cases, banks are allowed to refuse to open a bank account for an individual. You may, for instance, be refused a bank account if you have previously been declared bankrupt, or you have a very poor credit rating, or you have a fraud conviction. They are not required obliged to explain their reasons for refusal.

You can still receive deposits into frozen bank accounts, but withdrawals and transfers are not permitted. Banks may freeze bank accounts if they suspect illegal activity such as money laundering, terrorist financing, or writing bad checks.

Common reasons consumers are turned down for a bank account include a history of overdrafts, unpaid bank fees or suspected fraud. Applications can also be denied due to mistakes on one's checking account report. If you've been denied a bank account, ask the bank why this happened.

Basic bank accounts are intended for people with bad credit records or blacklistings. The application process for these accounts does not involve a credit check, but they provide necessary banking services.

A bank can deny your request to open an account because of past accounts that were closed due to negative balances, a history of overdrafts or problems verifying your identity. If you're unable to open a bank account, here are some tips on what to do next.

Banks and credit unions often use ChexSystems to review your banking history when you apply for a new account and may deny your application if your report shows negative marks.

What happens if I can't get a bank account? ›

If you have been turned down for a bank account, there are several options you can consider instead. These include: Applying for a different current account. Each bank has different eligibility rules, meaning you may be able to get an account elsewhere.

Yes, a bank can block your account under certain circ*mstances, such as suspicion of fraudulent activity or non-payment of fees.

Yes. Your bank may hold the funds according to its funds availability policy. Or it may have placed an exception hold on the deposit.

You can be denied a checking account for a number of reasons, such as negative marks in your banking history, suspicions of fraud or an inability to verify your identity. Read on to find out why banks may turn down your checking account application and what your options are.

The primary reasons people can't open a bank account are negative items on a ChexSystems or Early Warning Services report, errors on the reports or bad credit. If your bank account application is denied, find out why.

By setting withdrawal limits, the bank can control how much they have to distribute at any given time. Just as importantly, if not more so, withdrawal limits are a security feature. By limiting daily withdrawals, banks help protect their customers against unauthorized access.

You can be denied an account if you're in debt to another bank because of an overdrawn account or overdraw your account too often.

How long does negative information stay on ChexSystems and/or EWS consumer reports? Generally, negative information remains on ChexSystems and/or Early Warning Services (EWS) consumer reports for five years. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, certain negative information may be reported for up to seven years.