February 25, 2026
Written by Catherine Hiles
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Catherine Hiles, CFEI®, originally hails from the U.K. and currently resides in Ohio, where she writes about finance, parenting, pets, home improvement, and more. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys running, reading, and hanging out with her husband, two young children, and energetic dog.
Chime offers three memberships — Chime, Chime Plus™, and Chime Prime™ — that automatically adjust based on your direct deposit activity.
Different memberships unlock bigger rewards, including up to 5% cash back1 with Chime Card, 3.75% APY2on savings, and premium travel perks with Chime Card™.
No subscription or annual fees, with no overdraft, monthly, or minimum balance fees.
Direct deposit more to unlock more benefits3
Note: Chime Prime launches to select members in early 2026 followed by a full rollout in spring 2026.
Whether you're just getting started or are ready for more rewards, Chime has a membership tier that grows with you.
All three memberships – Chime, Chime Plus, and Chime Prime – share the same foundation: fee-free banking4 plus benefits designed to help you make progress with your money. The difference comes down to the extra rewards, savings, and perks you gain access to along the way.
Here's how Chime's memberships stack up – and how it meets you wherever you are in your financial journey.
Review the details to understand Chime versus Chime Plus versus Chime Prime.
Feature | Chime | Chime Plus | Chime Prime |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct Deposit Requirement | Any | $400+ in qualifying direct deposits per month3 | $3,000+ in qualifying direct deposits per month3 |
Cash Back Rewards | N/A | 2% on category of choice with Chime Card1 Max of $30 per month | 5% on category of choice with Chime Card1 Max of $75 per month |
Savings APY | 0.75%2 | 3.00%2 | 3.75%2 |
Fee-free overdraft with SpotMe® | N/A | Up to $2005 | Up to $2005, get $50 instantly |
Get paid before payday with MyPay® | N/A | Up to $5006 | Up to $5006 |
24/7 Support | Yes | Priority | Priority |
Fees | Fee-free banking4 – no monthly, annual, or overdraft fees | Fee-free banking* – no monthly, annual, or overdraft fees MyPay instant advance fee 3% of each Advance amount (minimum fee of $2.00, maximum fee of $5.00) | Fee-free banking* – no monthly, annual, or overdraft fees MyPay instant advance fee 3% of each Advance amount (minimum fee of $2.00, maximum fee of $5.00) |
*Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more here.
When you're unhappy with something, it's time for a change. But switching banks can be time-consuming and stressful. What if there was a better way? Based on a blind May 2026 survey conducted by Chime via a third-party platform, Chime was selected more often than other listed financial services providers by consumers who had opened a new personal checking account elsewhere in the prior six months.7
No matter where you are on your financial journey — building your foundation or leveling up your money habits — Chime can grow with you. Here's what you can expect with each of the three Chime memberships, and how Chime Prime can unlock bigger rewards.
Chime is ideal for anyone who wants simple, fee-free banking4 without extra costs. It includes the essential tools needed to manage your money fee-free.
With Chime, you can expect:
No monthly or overdraft fees, so you can keep more of your own money
Access to your paychecks up to 2 days early8 with direct deposit.
Stress-free credit building+ on everyday spending with Chime Card
Automatic Savings to help you grow your savings in the background
This can be a great choice for anyone looking for reliable, straightforward banking without subscription fees or friction.
When you receive qualifying direct deposits3 to your Chime account, you unlock Chime Plus, a tier that offers better rewards and a higher rate on your savings.
Chime Plus is a savvy upgrade if you want to earn more from the money you're already spending and saving.
Some key benefits of Chime Plus include:
2% cash back1 on your chosen spending category every time you pay with a Chime Card
3.00% APY2 with a savings account so your money grows faster without any extra effort from you
Priority support for faster, dedicated help when you need it
Chime Plus is a good fit for members ready to take the next step toward smarter spending and faster savings growth.
Chime's newest tier, Chime Prime, is designed for members who want the full package. When you direct deposit at least $3,000 monthly3, you'll get 5% cash back1 with Chime Card on your category of choice and 3.75% APY2 with a savings account so you can compound your progress. You'll also get access to premium travel perks as a Chime Card holder.
Here's how Chime Prime can help you save, earn, and travel better:
3.75% APY2 with a savings account, a huge jump from the national average of 0.40%, per FDIC national rate data
5% cash back1 on your chosen spending category, like gas, groceries, or restaurants with Chime Card.
Pre-qualified loan. Get $100+ instantly9
Enjoy exclusive travel and lifestyle perks like a complimentary Priority Pass® membership10, luxury hotel benefits11, and access to the Visa Signature® Concierge12
24/7 live support with a real person, fraud alerts, and Visa's Zero Liability Policy protection means you're not responsible for unauthorized charges13.
Unlike many premium accounts that charge for access, Chime Prime takes a different approach. It brings together high-value benefits, transparency, and trust in one place, making advanced banking features available to more people, not just a select few.
With Chime, your perks grow automatically based on whether you receive qualifying direct deposit and how much you deposit each month.
If you're just getting started, you'll begin with Chime's entry-level membership. When you receive a direct deposit, you can get early access to your paychecks through Early Direct Deposit, as well as smart savings features.
If you've received a single direct deposit of at least $200, or a total of $400 in direct deposits monthly3, you'll automatically be upgraded to Chime Plus. As a Chime Plus member, you can grow your savings account with a 3.00% APY2, 2% cash back1 on your chosen category with Chime Card, and priority support – all without changing how you bank.
If you want to get more rewards, Chime has The Most Rewarding14 Way to Bank™ fee-free.* Qualifying direct deposits of at least $3,0003 will unlock Chime Prime, where you'll get the best APY on savings, 5% cash back1 on a category of choice with Chime Card, exclusive travel perks, and more.
Chime's memberships adjust on their own based on the amount you direct deposit — no forms, fees, or extra steps to change membership status. Once you meet the deposit threshold3, your account automatically upgrades to Chime Plus or Chime Prime Your membership adapts as your banking habits do.
Chime's memberships were built with a simple but important mission: you've worked hard to make progress, and you should be rewarded for it. Chime recognizes the real markers of financial progress: managing your money responsibly and building healthy habits over time.
With Chime, you can earn interest on your savings, get cash back with Chime Deals, and enjoy peace of mind with MyPay® and SpotMe®.
With Chime's newest membership, Chime Prime, you can unlock one of the market-leading options in cash back rewards, higher savings rates, exclusive travel perks, and more with no subscription or annual fees.
Chime is redefining banking that grows with you. Each of Chime's memberships gives you more control, flexibility, and rewards for doing what you already do: getting paid and making steady progress toward your goals, whether you're managing your first paycheck or planning your next trip.
Join Chime today and access the membership that fits your goals.
No – there are no monthly, overdraft, or minimum balance fees for any membership.
You can't choose your membership manually. Chime's memberships automatically adjust when you meet the direct deposit threshold3.
While you can't have Chime Plus and Chime Prime at the same time, you'll always have one membership active so long as you meet the eligibility requirements. If you move up to Chime Prime with a qualifying direct deposit, you will still have every benefit of Chime Plus, with additional perks. Your membership adjusts automatically based on your direct deposit activity.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. FDIC deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.
Chime Checkbook: While Chime doesn’t issue personal checkbooks to write checks, Chime Checkbook gives you the freedom to send checks to anyone, anytime, from anywhere. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Chime Checkbook details.
By clicking on some of the links above, you will leave the Chime website and be directed to a third-party website. The privacy practices of those third parties may differ from those of Chime. We recommend you review the privacy statements of those third party websites, as Chime is not responsible for those third parties' privacy or security practices.
Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).
APPLE and the Apple Logo are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. GOOGLE PLAY and the Google Play Logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC. Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Chime does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. You should check with your legal, financial, or tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.
Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See https://www.chime.com/policies/.
Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more here.
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
Licenses
Chime Capital, LLC, Nationwide Multistate Licensing System ("NMLS") ID 2316451
Chime Payments, Inc., Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (“NMLS”) ID 2538752
Address: 101 California Street, Floor 5, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States.
No customer support available at HQ. Customer support details available on the website.
© 2013-2026 Chime Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.