do you need a credit history for a savings account or checking account with no overdraft?

That was certainly the case when I had a period of unemployment during the tech bust where I was paying bills with credit cards. I got a new job a year later (after Katrina), and went to a local bank, proud to be a productive member of society once again. I was told that I couldn't open a bank account here (I had relocated to be closer to family and so closed the other account), regardless of type. Went to another and got the same reaction. I ended up opening an account with a payday loan company for a debit card, and for a few years I was paying through the nose just to have a place to store my money.