<prompt> Human: A friend of mine is about my age with two kids 4 and 1.5 I dont have any so Im not sure I always understand her sorrows. But I am good with my own money and living situation. I try my best to understand and not judge why other people dont have their shit together . She owes the bank 1500 before she can open an account. Now from what I understand banks work together and even if she goes to another bank to try to open an account they will take her deposits until that 1500 is paid off. Ive only ever been in the negative with a bank in a small amount -15.00 so I would like a little insight on this and how it will be handled when she does open an account at a new or even the existing bank. This is always my first bit of advice for her is to get this paid off because having a bank account will make her life instantly easier. No more having friends pay her bills online or getting money orders, always driving to pay rent in cash. But I want to lay it out for her step by step what she needs to do to pay off the bank and get an account in good standing. She has insanely bad credit and I want for her to get a secured card but you need a bank account for the initial deposit and to make monthly payments. I just dont want to give her incorrect advice.  <response>: 1. She can apply for an account at a bank that doesnt use Chexsystems. I know Home Street doesnt use Chexsystems, and some credit unions also dont. Being unbanked can be pretty expensive, so Id probably do this as a first step2. Help her set up her accounts so she can save up first an emergency fund of around 1000, then the 1500 owes her bank3. Pay the bank off. If shes unhappy with the bank shes working with at this point she can apply somewhere else4. If her application is denied she can apply to get her Chexsystem report and dispute any false info there. 