@Gme303 wrote:
I unfortunately am dealing with identity theft and disputing my credit report, Chexsystems, EWS, and cannot get an approval to open a checking or savings account anywhere. I've tried Langley, Pelican, Bellco, Wells Fargo, Chase, Key Bank, US Bank, Fidelity for cash management and brokerage accounts, E Trade, local credit unions where I live in Colorado, the Bank On certified second-chance banks with their specific second chance baking program accounts like Bellco, Zing Credit Union, etc. I have chime, Varo, current and go2bank but they are so limited and I need a true bank account so I can have access to getting cashiers checks, get a business checking account, be able to go to a branch even shared branching or co-op would be amazing, just normal basic financial services that I haven't had in years due to identity theft and fraud. I don't have fraud on my record or anything like that for bad banking history, 589 credit score due to errors still needing to be removed and disputed on my credit report/chexsystems report/EWS report etc. I feel hopeless and it's been a huge disappointment and stressor especially as a single mom struggling in general but credit and financial access is critical to survival and I would greatly appreciate any advice, insight, anything anyone may have to offer for those experiencing or have experience with similar issues in any way. Thanks for your time ❤️
First question... did you file a police report and an FTC identity theft report?
If the answer is no, that’s step one. The reality is that nothing else you’re doing is going to stick without that. Banks and Chex/EWS don’t just take your word for it. You need documentation that this is actual identity theft, not just disputed activity.
Right now you’re going bank to bank trying to find one that will say yes, but they’re all looking at the same data. That’s why you’re getting the same result everywhere. It’s not the banks, it’s what’s sitting in ChexSystems and/or EWS.
Stop applying for accounts for now. You’ve already seen that route isn’t working. Pull your ChexSystems and EWS reports if you haven’t already, and go through them line by line. Whatever’s tied to the identity theft needs to be disputed with backup, police report, FTC affidavit, anything you’ve got. If you don’t have those yet, get them.
Until that stuff is cleared, you’re going to keep hitting a wall no matter where you go, including “second chance” accounts. This is a cleanup operation, not a “find a better bank” endeavor. Once those reports are fixed, doors will start opening again. Until then, I'm afraid you’re just going to keep spinning your wheels.
