How come some tenants don't have bank accounts?

[Andy Kaye]

I am renting out my house, and noticed a few tenants put N/A on the application form where it asks for their checking / savings account.

Aren't checking accounts free to open? What does a lack of bank account say about the tenant?

[Jeremy Pace]

usually it means either:

1) that they have over-drafted a bank account, and now can't get another

2) they don't have enough of the required documentation to open a bank account