If your My Banking Direct account has been denied, it's essential to understand why. In most cases, this is due to a mismatch between the information you provided and the data on file with the bank.
You may have missed a required field or entered incorrect information, which can trigger a denial. According to the bank's guidelines, each application must include a valid government-issued ID and proof of income.
A common reason for denial is a low credit score, which may not be sufficient to qualify for an account. This is because the bank uses credit scoring to assess the risk of lending to you.
If your account has been denied, you can try reapplying after addressing the issues that caused the denial.
What Is ChexSystems?
ChexSystems is a national consumer reporting agency that keeps track of people who have gotten in trouble with their bank.
Banks and credit unions can use ChexSystems to check out potential customers. This means they can see if you've had any issues with overdrafts or bounced checks in the past.
ChexSystems tracks people who have bounced checks or not paid overdraft fees. These issues can show up on your report and affect your ability to open a new bank account.
Banks use ChexSystems to make informed decisions about potential customers. This is why you might get denied for a bank account if you have a negative mark on your ChexSystems report.
ChexSystems Issues and Denials
More than 80% of banks and credit unions use consumer reports from agencies like ChexSystems to decide whether to approve bank account applicants. This means that even if you've been denied a bank account, it's likely due to something related to ChexSystems.
A ChexSystems report can flag issues such as bounced checks, closed accounts, and suspected fraud. If you have an issue on your report, you can request a free report every 12 months to review your status before applying to a high-yield savings account.
A high risk score from ChexSystems can also lead to denial. ChexSystems Consumer Scores range from 100 to 899, and the higher your score, the better. A low score may indicate that you're a risky customer.
Factual errors, such as a typo in your address on file, can also cause denial. ChexSystems reports fraud, misuse, and other potential problems that have occurred within the past five years.
You can dispute errors on your ChexSystems report by following these steps: make a copy of the report, mark the potential error, write a "request for validation" letter, fill out a "verification request form", mail your paperwork to ChexSystems, and wait for an update on your account.
If you've moved recently or changed your name, your bank may not be able to verify your identity, leading to denial. Make sure your personal information is current and spelled correctly on your ChexSystems report.
If your business or one of your owners shows up in a check verification systems report, a bank may deny your new account. You'll need to resolve this issue before applying for a new account.
Bank Account Eligibility and Denials
You can still get a bank account even if you've been denied due to a negative ChexSystems report. Some banks and credit unions offer second chance checking accounts with monthly fees, but you can move to regular checking accounts after a year or two.
Bank managers often have the authority to grant account privileges despite negative ChexSystems reports, and you can try opening an account at a credit union that doesn't use ChexSystems. You can also dispute your report with the financial institution that reported you or with ChexSystems itself.
If you're denied a business bank account, it might be due to your personal account being elsewhere, which can raise suspicions with small banks. Alternatively, the business might be too new, have missing or unverifiable documentation, or have credit issues on business or personal credit reports.
Bank Account Eligibility
You can be denied a high-yield savings account due to factual errors, such as a typo in your address on file.
ChexSystems, an agency that collects information about your banking history and any fraudulent activity, can also influence your chance of approval.
Having a business or one of your owners show up in a check verification systems report can lead to a bank denying a new account.
Services like ChexSystems, Early Warning Services (EWS), and TeleCheck maintain business and consumer deposit account activity lists, and if your business shows up on those lists, a bank may deny your new account.
You may be able to resolve the issue by clearing up your ChexSystems report or opening an account with a bank that doesn't use ChexSystems.
Small banks may deny a business account if your personal account is elsewhere, as they may view this as a risk to their business.
The primary reasons businesses are denied a new business bank account include the business being too new, missing or unverifiable documentation, or credit issues on either business or personal credit reports.
Having a history on ChexSystems doesn't necessarily mean you won't have access to a checking or other account for the next five years.
You can get a bank account even if you're on ChexSystems, and some banks and credit unions offer second chance checking accounts.
Some banks and credit unions may grant account privileges in spite of negative ChexSystems reports, and you can also try opening an account at a credit union that doesn't subscribe to ChexSystems.
You can dispute your report with the financial institution that reported you to ChexSystems or with ChexSystems itself.
Being denied a bank account because of a negative ChexSystems report or low consumer score isn't the end of the world.
Unsupported Type
Some businesses may find themselves in a tough spot when trying to open a business bank account. This is because certain types of businesses are not supported by most banks. These businesses may be involved in completely legal activities, but they carry a risk that banks are unwilling to take.
Some examples of these unsupported businesses include those selling illegal products or performing illegal activities. This can also include drug-related businesses, such as medical marijuana and cannabis, as well as the sale of tobacco, vaping products, or e-cigarettes.
Businesses that sell products or services that may be patently offensive are also unlikely to get a business bank account. This can include gambling-based businesses, as well as multi-level marketing businesses and other get-rich-quick schemes.
Additionally, telemarketing companies, payday lenders, and bail bonding services may also be denied a business bank account. Even political action committees and businesses that could do reputational damage to the bank are not supported.
There are a few types of businesses that are particularly unlikely to get a business bank account. These include:
- A business selling illegal products or performing illegal activities
- Drug-related businesses, including medical marijuana and cannabis
- The sale of tobacco, vaping products, or e-cigarettes
- The sale of weapons, firearms, or other items that might cause injury
- The sale of products and services that may be patently offensive
- Gambling-based businesses
- Multi-level marketing businesses and other get-rich-quick schemes
- Telemarketing companies
- Payday lenders
- Bail bonding services
- Political action committees
- Businesses that could do reputational damage to the bank
- Activities by entities located outside the United States
It's worth noting that there are specialty banking providers that offer accounts to some of these business types, but you should always investigate these providers to ensure they are reputable.
ChexSystems Process and Duration
You can stay on ChexSystems for up to seven years, but the agency usually keeps records for five years.
Federal regulations allow ChexSystems to keep records for up to seven years, but that's not the standard duration.
ChexSystems keeps records for five years, which is the usual duration.
If you review your report and see any incorrect or out-of-date information, you can submit a dispute on ChexSystems' website and with your financial institution.
Account Opening and Verification
If you've been denied a business bank account, it's essential to understand the reasons behind the decision. One common reason is that the bank can't verify your identity, which can be due to outdated personal information in ChexSystems.
This can be easily resolved by reviewing your ChexSystems report to ensure all your personal information is current and spelled correctly. If you've recently moved or changed your name, update your records accordingly.
A bank may also deny your account if it can't verify the information you submitted, which can be due to issues like a business not owning the business address or not receiving business mail at the business. These issues can often be cleared up quickly.
Here are some common examples of easily resolved verification issues:
- The business doesn’t own the business address: This happens frequently because people run businesses out of their homes.
- You don’t get your business mail at the business: Many small companies get business mail sent directly to their house rather than their place of business.
If you're having trouble getting approved, it's worth exploring alternative banking options that don't use ChexSystems.
Verification Failed
A verification failed can be frustrating, but it's often a simple issue to resolve. Common causes for verification failure include having a typo in your address on file, which can be easily fixed.
Factual errors are a common reason for denial from a high-yield account. Make sure to double-check your information for any mistakes.
If you've moved recently or changed your name, your bank may not be able to verify your identity. Check your ChexSystems report to ensure all your personal information is current and spelled correctly.
A bank may deny your new account if it can't verify the information you submitted. This can often be cleared up quickly, which will allow the bank to approve your account.
Here are two common examples of easily resolved verification issues:
- The business doesn’t own the business address: This happens frequently because people run businesses out of their homes.
- You don’t get your business mail at the business: Many small companies get business mail sent directly to their house rather than their place of business.
If your business or one of your owners shows up in a check verification system report, a bank may deny your new account. Services like ChexSystems, Early Warning Services (EWS), and TeleCheck maintain business and consumer deposit account activity lists.
Businesses that operate prohibited businesses or run illegal activities will likely be denied a new business bank account. In addition, businesses that are too new or lack proper documentation may also face denial.
Certificate of Deposit
My Banking Direct offers a 5 month CD with a 5.25% APY, which is an eye-popping rate for long-term savers.
However, this CD doesn't offer automatic renewal, so you'll need to manually renew it when it matures.
My Banking Direct used to offer 12 month CDs and other date ranges, but they're not currently available.
Contacting My Bank
You can contact My Banking Direct through their automated phone system, available 24/7 by calling 866-285-1856.
If you need to speak with a human banker, you can call between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST on Monday through Friday, or between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, or between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST on Sunday.
You can also reach out to them via a secure email in your My Banking Direct account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my direct debit refused by the bank?
Your direct debit is refused by the bank if there are insufficient funds in your current account to cover the payment, causing it to bounce back. This is the most common reason for direct debit returns.
Why would a bank reject a direct deposit?
A bank may reject a direct deposit if the address on file doesn't match the bank's records, the payment fails online, or the banking details are incorrect. Check your account information to ensure a smooth deposit process.
What bank gives you a second chance?
Several major banks offer second-chance checking accounts, including Capital One, Chime, and Wells Fargo. These accounts can help individuals with poor credit or a history of overdrafts rebuild their financial stability.
Sources
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/blocked-by-chexsystems-what-to-know
- https://www.whiterosecu.com/blog/find-9-reasons-debit-card-declined/
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/40780/my-banking-direct-review/
- https://financialgym.com/blog/2019/9/10/7-reasons-you-might-be-denied-a-high-yield-savings-account
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/reasons-denied-business-checking-account/
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