Chime

Chime

 3.4/5 (610 reviews)
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3.4(610)

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Overall Rating3.4 out of 5
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About Chime

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Chime is a financial technology company that aims to provide helpful and easy-to-use online banking services. You can open a checking account, a savings account with a 0.5% annual percentage yield and a secured credit card that helps increase your credit score. Chime charges no monthly fees and no overdraft fees. U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are at least 18 can apply on Chime’s website or using its app.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 0.5% APY on savings account
  • No-fee overdraft protection up to $200
  • Secured credit card with no fees
  • Over 60,000 fee-free ATMs

Cons

  • Some services require direct deposit
  • No joint accounts or secondary cards

Bottom Line

Chime is a mobile banking fintech company offering checking and savings accounts, along with a secured credit card. There are almost no fees. Some services are available only to members who use direct deposit.

Top Chime Reviews

Verified

Getting a Chime card and account was the best idea I’ve had in years. No overdraft fees, no surprises and the app is amazing!! Big banks scam is but chime is not one of them. I ca...

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Verified

I have had an active Chime checking account for about 14 months now. All of my deposits, transfers, withdrawals have gone absolutely smooth. The Spot Me feature is amazing if you ...

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What is Chime?

Chime is a fintech company partnering with two banks to offer “member-first” banking services online to members in all 50 states. It offers a checking account with a Visa debit card, a savings account with a 0.5% APY and a secured credit card that helps build credit. Other benefits include fee-free overdraft protection, early direct deposit and over 60,000 no-fee ATMs. There are no monthly fees or minimum balances.

Chime is based in San Francisco and has offices in Chicago and Vancouver, British Columbia. Members can reach customer service by phone seven days a week.

How does Chime work?

Chime is not a bank; it’s a fintech company that partners with two banks: The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank. It's online only, with no physical banking locations. Members can log in to their accounts on Chime’s website or using the app. There are no fees to set up and maintain a Chime checking account, savings account or secured credit card.

To be eligible to sign up with Chime, you need to be at least 18 and a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. with a valid Social Security number. Once you open an account, you get a Visa debit card. You also have the option to open a savings account and apply for a Credit Builder secured credit card. Chime also lets you:

  • Set up direct deposit and get access to the funds up to two days early
  • Send (including paper checks) and receive money without fees
  • Withdraw cash without a fee from any MoneyPass ATM
  • Deposit checks with mobile deposit
  • Get fee-free overdrafts up to $200
  • Get balance notifications and instant transaction alerts

Chime accounts

Chime has three types of accounts. When you become a Chime member, you open a checking account and receive your Visa debit card. You then have the option to open a savings account and apply for a secure credit card.

The Chime checking account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement. The debit card attached to your checking account works anywhere Visa is accepted. You can withdraw money without a fee from any MoneyPass ATM, disable your card at any time from the app and get a replacement card free.

Chime offers an overdraft protection program, SpotMe, which gives you protection up to a limit (between $20 and $200) with no fees.

Chime’s savings account comes with a 0.5% variable APY. As with the checking account, there's no minimum balance requirement and no fees. There’s also no minimum deposit required to open an account and no cap on earning interest. You can transfer money directly from your checking account.

Two optional savings features allow customers to automatically transfer money to savings. With Round Ups, all purchases you make with your debit card are rounded up to the nearest dollar; Chime transfers the amount to your savings account. The Save When I Get Paid feature automatically transfers 10% of direct deposits of $500 or more from checking to savings.

The Credit Builder account helps you build credit with a secured Chime Visa credit card. You transfer money from your checking account into the secured account to serve as a security deposit; this money also becomes the credit limit on the card.

You can pay the monthly balance automatically with the Safer Credit Building feature. You can also pay manually. Chime reports to all three major credit bureaus. There is no credit check when you apply for the card, no annual fee and no interest.

Chime fees

Chime has no monthly fees and no overdraft fees. The only fee at Chime is a $2.50 charge for out-of-network ATM withdrawal or a withdrawal at a bank or credit union where you present your debit card.

You can also be charged a fee by an out-of-network ATM operator, third-party money transfer services or retailers other than Walgreens that allow you to make cash deposits to your checking account.

Chime FAQ

What bank is Chime?

Chime’s banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank. Both are FDIC-insured; accounts are insured up to $250,000 per depositor.

How does Chime Credit Builder work?

Chime Credit Builder is a secured Visa credit card that is designed to help members build credit. Chime reports to all three major credit bureaus. To apply, you need a Chime checking account and qualifying direct deposits of at least $200; no credit check is necessary.

Once you have the Credit Builder card, you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted and start building credit. Your credit limit is based on the amount of money you move from your checking account to the secured account. There are multiple ways to pay off your card each month, including Safer Credit Building, which automatically pays your balance.

What time does Chime direct deposit hit?

Direct deposit funds are available as soon as Chime receives the payment file from the payer. This can be up to two days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Chime recommends contacting the payer if you have questions about the timing of direct deposit.

How do I add money to Chime?

Members can transfer money electronically from other banks. They can also add money via direct deposit and mobile check deposit and by depositing cash at thousands of retail locations (free at Walgreens).

Is Chime a prepaid card?

No, neither the Chime Visa debit card nor the Credit Builder secured credit card is a prepaid card. The Credit Builder card is secured by the money you move into the secured account.

What are the cons of Chime?

Some of Chime’s services have eligibility requirements. SpotMe, the fee-free overdraft program, requires a qualifying direct deposit of at least $200 over the previous 34 days. Credit Builder, the secured credit card, also requires a $200 qualifying direct deposit.

Other cons of Chime are it doesn’t allow joint accounts or secondary cards, and it doesn’t have a rewards program.

Is Chime legit?

Chime is a legitimate financial technology company working with The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank, which are both FDIC-insured. Members in all 50 states use its mobile banking services, including Chime’s checking account, savings account and secured credit card, and benefit from overdraft protection, early access to direct deposit funds and easy sending and receiving of money — all with no fees. There are many fintech companies in the mobile banking space; consider comparing Chime with several others before deciding on the right one for you.

Chime Reviews

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Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
Verified Reviewer
Original review: May 24, 2023

I was a Chime customer for more than two years. Last February 07 they close my account without my concern. I asked them what was going on in my account and they could not give me any specific reason. I had a closing balance of more than $900 and till now I didn’t get my Closing check yet. I sent them more than a hundred emails and called them. Every time I sent the email and they said to upload my updated address and I did. Today is May 24 almost 4 months later and I didn’t get my check. They said the agent will take care of it sooner. I am not sure how many emails I have to send them in the future because they don’t have any physical locations. BE CAREFUL careful to keep your money in this fraud bank, any time they could close your account and you will lose your money. Fraud bank, any time they could close your account and you will lose your money.

4 people found this review helpful
Verified Reviewer
Original review: May 18, 2023

Chime seemed to be a great solution until it wasn't. I deposited a check last week and due to a Chime system error my deposit was rejected. It is now a full week later and they are still holding my money. The representatives are under trained, hard to understand and honestly useless! Chime does not stand on customer service nor are they willing to resolve the issues they create! When dealing with money we've all worked hard to earn. I will NOT reward bad practices with my money! Customer Service is awful!!!

6 people found this review helpful

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    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 14, 2023

    Their SpotMe is a joke. They started me out with a 20 dollar limit. Told me, "Increase your direct deposit amount and it will increase." They ask for a tip. If you don't give one it don't increase. My direct deposit increased by 6000 a month. No increase in Spot Me. You call customer service and get told a scripted response. What the hell are they paying them for if their answer to everything is, "We can't do anything?" Money mysteriously disappears as your balance loses money that don't add up to expenses. Stay away!!!!

    3 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 9, 2023

    The worst customer service I ever had. It was an okay experience until they decided to close my account for “suspicious activity” and it is being the worst pain to re-open it. The only reason I want to re-open it, it’s to be able to close it permanently. I don’t want to ever hear about Chime again.

    5 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 8, 2023

    At first Chime was ok. Then out out the blue they requested verification after 1 year of having account, which I had no problem doing. What I had a problem with as a business owner they asked for documentation that is used for applying for a loan. I never applied for a loan. When I asked why this certain documentation was needed I was told to verify income also. I was asked why I spent such and such amount here and why was I spending money on Krispy Kreme. I was blown atp as to why me spending my money was any of their concern. I still did not feel comfortable releasing that information so I asked for account to be closed. I'm still receiving emails to send in a good standing document. This bank is very unexperienced and have no clue on how to operate a bank.

    4 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 7, 2023

    Chime is with Stride Bank out of Oklahoma or San Francisco. I do well with them until one day, I don't. They are too difficult to negotiate refunds or disputes with. They can be verbally abusive as well. Hotel transactions are extra difficult with them. Any refunds they might sit on for weeks on end when you are on a tight budget. Sometimes they just don't care about their customers. They have refused to help me out and left me stranded in some horrible situation. Recently my card was stolen and they literally lengthened the time it takes to receive my replacement card. I think they can't be trusted. After being a loyal member for a while, they just throw the business relationship down the toilet whenever they please. I've had to report them to the FDIC and once to a State Senator, several times.

    5 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 3, 2023

    I got an email from Chime.com stating that an account was opened using my email. I attempted to change the password, and it sent an SMS text to a number I am not familiar with. When I attempted to change the phone number, it then asked for me to upload an ID and take a selfie. I've never come across a request like that, and it seems especially suspicious. There are no clear ways to report fraud or suspicious activity on the pages. I sent an email to "support@chime.com" and if they freeze the account without requiring any additional identity, I will change this review. Until then, I will assume they are crooks trying to steal my identity.

    Be the first one to find this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 22, 2023

    Chime is a scam. They allow their employees to hack into people's account and take their money, then refuse to fix the issue. I'm a single mom of a one year old and they took all my savings of 3000$. They do not care and it is not a safe banking option. Don't use Chime if you can help it because you never know if you will be next. God bless!

    7 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 16, 2023

    I have verified my identity and still cannot get into my account. No one will help me reset my password. I would not suggest working with this company. Seems like they use your information unlawfully.

    10 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 9, 2023

    Chime's customer service sucks. If you send them an e-mail to their support e-mail address, all they do is respond with canned **, basically telling you to call their toll free number, but without answering any questions. When you call their toll free number to get basic information, the people with whom you speak (including supervisors) are flaming idiots who can't (or won't) answer a question! When I asked a specific question about their products, the supervisor said, "Perfect," not even realizing that I had actually asked a question! Since these people are so stupid that they don't even realize that they alienate potential customers with the way they treat us, I would recommend that you just take your business elsewhere. That's what I'm doing, because I don't need the wasted time and the aggravation.

    10 people found this review helpful
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    Chime Company Information

    Company Name:
    Chime
    Website:
    www.chime.com