Banks deny people bank accounts because of reports from ChexSystems or other subscription databases of previous banking problems.
Chex Systems, Inc. is a consumer-reporting agency providing account verification services to over 70,000 banks and financial institutions. ChexSystems provides reports to banks and financial institutions to aid them in identifying applicants with a history of account mishandling, such as people whose accounts were overdrawn. Each report remains in the file for 5 years, unless the bank that reported the problem requests its removal or becomes obligated to remove it under law.