topic Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services” in Personal Finance

Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

User456 — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 06:32:06 GMT

Hi everyone,

Credit was destroyed by the Equifax breach and I'm still hoping to get some settlement money (lol not holding my breath); anyhow I know I have a clean Chexsystems report but today I tried to open an account online at Citizen's Bank and I was declined due to reporting from "Credit Information Services". This was a personal, not business, checking account. Not sure how this happened. What - exactly - is "Credit Information Services"? Why doesn't the bank have to tell you what bureau / exactly what service they used?

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

Yawgoog — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:14:01 GMT

People have been searching for "Credit Information Services," but found nothing; you might have to call Citizens to find out. This problem seems to come up when frequently applying for sign-up bonuses:

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ct-de-ma-mi-nh-nj-ny-oh-pa-ri-vt-citizens-bank-400-checking-bonus-2/#comments

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

CorpCrMgr1 — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:38:59 GMT

Sorry that Citizens wouldn't open an account for you. I'd definitely pursue the reason.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:16:36 GMT

Did you have your equifax credit report frozen as could be cause as believe they SP that as well as Chexs/EWS. When I applied made sure EQ and Chex were not frozen and instant approval with quite a few chexs inquiries in the last year and online and instant approval.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

Captainrondetroit — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 11:48:46 GMT

Did you ever find out what was going on?

I dont have any issues with my credit reports ficos high 600's to low 700's. Clean chex systems. No locks, freezes. 2 months ago I opened a business account with Citizens in a branch and just tried to open a personal account online and was denied due to information from credit information services. I called Citizens and was told they dont have a copy of any credit reports attached to my application. Citizens said it looked like I have a freeze in place, but I do not. I checked my Equifax account online, no freeze. I called Equifax, spoke to a rep and she told me there is not a freeze on my file. I guess I will have to go to a branch and find out what is going on.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

FicoMike0 — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 02:58:36 GMT

Do you have a Chex freeze?

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

SouthJamaica — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:00:45 GMT

@User456 wrote:
Hi everyone,

Credit was destroyed by the Equifax breach and I'm still hoping to get some settlement money (lol not holding my breath); anyhow I know I have a clean Chexsystems report but today I tried to open an account online at Citizen's Bank and I was declined due to reporting from "Credit Information Services". This was a personal, not business, checking account. Not sure how this happened. What - exactly - is "Credit Information Services"? Why doesn't the bank have to tell you what bureau / exactly what service they used?

I believe they're required to send you a letter telling you what bureau(s) they relied upon.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

IsambardPrince — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 07:08:29 GMT

Seek ongoing value in a bank, not SUBs.

Being punished by credit card companies for SUB hunting isn't as severe as being cut off from banking, and with a good bank you can make "a SUB every 6 months" out of the interest.

Sleep and buy CDs. They're easy, boring, predictable, and don't piss off the bank.

Literally all you need to do is build a ladder of High Yield CDs and watch your money roll in risk free.

Of course this really only benefits you if you don't owe any interest-bearing debt because yours will be higher than bank interest. So pay off your interest-bearing debt and then make a CD ladder.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

FicoMike0 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:07:45 GMT

I'm closing my citizens account. Maybe that will free one up.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

IsambardPrince — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 01:30:38 GMT

@FicoMike0 wrote:
I'm closing my citizens account. Maybe that will free one up.

ChexSystems also logs account closings.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

FicoMike0 — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 23:23:57 GMT

I'll check after I close a couple.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

Captainrondetroit — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:07:15 GMT

I was denied online for the same reason. I went to a local branch and opened a personal and business checking account with no issues. I showed the manager the denial message and she was stumped. I am guessing it is just some random turndown they use if they are unsure of fraud.

Re: Citizens Bank declined a checking account due to “Credit Information Services”

coldfusion — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:21:18 GMT

@Captainrondetroit wrote:
I was denied online for the same reason. I went to a local branch and opened a personal and business checking account with no issues. I showed the manager the denial message and she was stumped. I am guessing it is just some random turndown they use if they are unsure of fraud.

Spitballing here but were you using a VPN (NordVPN, PIA, ExpressVPN, etc) or work computer using a zero-trust (ZScaler, Netskope, etc) application, or were you traveling when you applied online?