New Checking Account Question

[derf]

I likely should have done this prior to my filing, but thats a bit irrelevant now.

I filed Chapt 7 on the 12th with an attorney. PACER shows everything correct as of today.

My 341 Hearing is 11/21/05.


My current checking account is at a bank in which I would like to continue business with in the future, but they are also a creditor by means of a credit card that I was pre-approved for upon opening an account there.

So my checking account there may be closed by the bank.

Upon the advice of my attorney, I left only $5.00 in the account.


Now the kicker.


Can I open a new checking account with another bank right now, without causing any problems with my current BK process?

I have 2 bills to pay, that only accept online payments, and need an account for these bills to go through.

For all practical purposes, this account will likely not see more than $40 - $50 in it at one time.

I simply do not want any issues with my BK proceding. It's pretty cut and dry the way things sit, and I desire to keep it that way.

If opening a new Checking account now would cause a potential issue, what other options are available for me to make my Online Payments without causing problems?

Thanks!

[Viper]

My current checking account is at a bank in which I would like to continue business with in the future, but they are also a creditor by means of a credit card that I was pre-approved for upon opening an account there.

do you owe any money on this card?

So my checking account there may be closed by the bank.

If you don't owe any money to them (bounced checks, overdraft, neg. balance or cc), they will most likely just cancel your c/c, but your checking account should be fine. If on the otherhand you do owe them money then the will most likely close your accounts.

Can I open a new checking account with another bank right now, without causing any problems with my current BK process?

yes, just keep all your statments, as they may be requested by the trustee.

[derf]

do you owe any money on this card?

If you don't owe any money to them (bounced checks, overdraft, neg. balance or cc), they will most likely just cancel your c/c, but your checking account should be fine. If on the otherhand you do owe them money then the will most likely close your accounts.

I do owe $1800.00 on the credit card issued by the bank.

I do not owe the bank itself any other money however.

Never any over drafts or bounced checks either.

I actually filed BK with a credit score of about 700, so I'm not a typical case either.



Bearing this in mind, I'd appreciate your thoughts further.

Thanks for the fast reply!!

[Viper]

Being that you owe that bank on the cc, i would definitely open a new account at another bank. No one can say for sure if the bank will close the account, but you don't want to find yourself stuck with no bank account one day.

- Viper

[Karen2005]

I havent come accross any posts or websites that say that you cant open a checking account after the day you file or even prior. And your bank may not close your old account as long as you keep paying the account fees if any are going to be due. And I dont think you even have to tell the trustee (unless they ask) about the new account since it will be opened after the day of filing.

Depending on how long it's been since you filed, there may be some banks that have gotten wind of your BK (if they check credit reports). I called Washington Mutual and they told me that they dont run a credit check to open a checking account (they may however use Chexsystems or the other bounced check reporting service). So you may want to call the prospective banks and ask them if they check your credit report to open a new account. No bank should be doing this as it imapcts your credit score every time your credit report is pulled by a potential creditor. Good Luck!

[sunshine08]

Open a new account, give the attorney the information and he will know wether or not to report this to the court.

[Karen2005]

Sunshine, have you read about any instances where the trustee wanted to know about an account opened after filing? I'm asking as I'm filing pro se and still have to fill out and turn in the rest of my paperwork. From reading the Nolo book and various forums I was under the impression that the trustee wouldnt care unless I was holding a large sum of money in the account like lottery winnings, inheritance etc. It's bad enough that the whole world can see my home phone number and my current bank in my schedules, so i'd like to keep post filing accounts as private as possible.