There are a few checks banks make that can make it so they won't open any type of account for you.
1. Credit check, poor credit makes you a risk and they don't like it, but this can sometimes be overcome more easily then the others.
2. If you had a prior account and it was closed forcibly or your SS# still shows up in the checking system as risky. There are a few national clearing houses that track your checks to see if you are a good/bad risk for accepting checks for retailers. Those same systems banks use to determine if they will give you an account.
3. If you have been convicted of a crime of dishonesty in the past, e.g. shoplifting, charged for a bad check, fraud etc.
4. If you do not have a permanent address or your address isn't a permanent residence, e.g. you live in motels day to day.
It isn't that these reasons aren't valid for banks to have concerns about you, but to totally ice you out or charge outrageous fees just because doesn't seem right to me. There are other options, like a savings account with no checks and cash withdrawal only etc.
I am not from USA so curious, with ATMs, debit cards what is the use of check. In my 10 years of banking had to get money out of check only once, when I had lost my card.
I pay rent every month with a check, and this still seems common. Only one of my previous four landlords has accepted another form of payment (a large rental company who accepted credit/debit cards).
Although it is weird. Many bigger businesses won't take personal checks, while smaller businesses often are not setup to process cards and will only take checks.
1. Credit check, poor credit makes you a risk and they don't like it, but this can sometimes be overcome more easily then the others.
2. If you had a prior account and it was closed forcibly or your SS# still shows up in the checking system as risky. There are a few national clearing houses that track your checks to see if you are a good/bad risk for accepting checks for retailers. Those same systems banks use to determine if they will give you an account.
3. If you have been convicted of a crime of dishonesty in the past, e.g. shoplifting, charged for a bad check, fraud etc.
4. If you do not have a permanent address or your address isn't a permanent residence, e.g. you live in motels day to day.
It isn't that these reasons aren't valid for banks to have concerns about you, but to totally ice you out or charge outrageous fees just because doesn't seem right to me. There are other options, like a savings account with no checks and cash withdrawal only etc.