Banks have several reasons why they might turn down your application for a checking account. Generally speaking, banks rely on a system called ChexSystems when reviewing your application. This means that it may not have been a problem with your credit score, but a problem with your ChexSystems record.
ChexSystems keeps tracks of all your activity with banks. If you have a history of not paying fees on time or keeping a negative balance in your account your ChexSystems account will reflect this, making it difficult to open a checking account. It can often take up to five years for activity to be erased from your ChexSystems record.
The good news is that if you were denied a checking account you can request your ChexSystems record for free. Simply visit the ChexSystems website to request your record. It is a good idea to verify all the activity located on your report. Identity thieves will sometimes open checking accounts in other people's names and ruin their credit score by keeping a negative balance in the account.
If your ChexSystems score or bad credit is preventing you from opening a checking account, there are alternatives. For instance Pass Checking maintains a list of banks that do not use the ChexSystems score when reviewing checking account applications.