You might already know Corey through our latest testimonial commercials. Since joining Chime, Corey has gone from paying upwards of $900 a year in fees to paying nothing at all.
Not being hindered by constant bank fees – for overdrafts, using an ATM, or even checking his account balance – empowers Corey to spend (and save) money more freely. He thinks of that extra money as a small raise to pay for essentials like gas and food. More importantly, as a single father, he says he's in a better position to save for his daughter's future.
Below, Corey shares how he avoids fees with Chime.
Fees can add up quickly
Corey is, as he tells it, a "normal guy." He lives in Las Vegas and works as a sound engineer, he's a single dad and loves to do martial arts with his daughter, and, like everyone, he makes honest mistakes from time to time.
But for Corey, those honest mistakes were costing him a lot of money. Over several years, he hopped between several financial institutions looking for a better experience. No matter where he went, he kept being charged numerous fees when he forgot that he'd sent out a check or took out some money at an ATM – and then accidentally overdrafted when he swiped his card somewhere else.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Corey says, "and I think it's important to not be penalized for that."
One year, Corey says he was charged nearly $900 in overdraft fees. He knew it was time for a change.
That's when he found Chime, which he says he likes because it's "no-nonsense, straightforward banking that doesn't nickel and dime you to death."
Avoiding fees is like getting a raise
Since joining Chime, Corey hasn't paid a cent in overdraft fees. In addition, Corey used to deal with fees for using an ATM or checking his account balance – but all of that's gone now that he's switched to Chime.
"When I joined Chime, it was like getting a small raise," he says. "I didn't have to pay those fees anymore."
That's because Chime's SpotMe® feature lets you overdraft up to $2001 without any fees. We'll spot you up to your limit when you make a purchase that exceeds your balance – and we apply your next direct deposit to your negative balance.
Not dealing with overdraft fees is Corey's favorite part of Chime, but he says there's even more to love about the experience, especially compared to the financial institutions he used in the past.
For starters, there are no monthly fees with Chime, and Corey can access more than 50,000 in-network ATMs to manage his money and access cash without paying a dime for the service.2
Corey also likes Chime's Get Paid Early feature that helps him get his paycheck up to two days ahead of schedule3 and Chime's fast, helpful customer service.
Chime Tip: SpotMe's an optional feature. If you'd prefer not to overdraft, just turn SpotMe off in the Chime app, and when you don't have enough money, transactions will be automatically declined. Whether or not SpotMe is turned on, you will never be charged an overdraft fee.
Building a future for his daughter
With Chime, Corey's not worried about monthly maintenance fees, ATM fees, and overdraft fees that have cost him upwards of $900 a year. He keeps that money in his account to pay for what truly matters.
"I'm saving hundreds of dollars a year, and I'm using that extra money for my daughter's future," he says. "And if you multiply that by three, four, five years, you're saving thousands of dollars."
Being able to provide for his daughter and help her build a bright future is Corey's driving financial goal. His daughter's only ten, but he already knows she's going places.
"I couldn't be more proud of her. She's dedicated, she's self-disciplined, she never gets in trouble … she's a good human being," he says – and quite the martial artist. "She's already a purple belt. She's doing kickflips and all that," he laughs. "I couldn't do that when I was her age."
In addition to saving for his daughter, Corey says he's been able to start saving for travel and buying a house. And in a pinch, having SpotMe means he can pay for essentials like gas and groceries, even when his balance is low and he's waiting on his next paycheck.
Spreading the love of better banking through Chime
Corey's been a Chime member for a few years now, and in the time since, he's been able to get several friends and even his mom to sign up. He says friends and family often complain about their banks, whether it's the monthly fees or customer service, and that's when he speaks up and says, "Dude, have you tried Chime?"
Corey says, "When I explain Chime to people, I try not to overcomplicate it because, for me, it's super simple: I just tell them that I save a lot of money with Chime, period."
Now that Corey has a bunch of friends and family with Chime, they take advantage of the SpotMe Boost feature to increase each other's SpotMe limit each month. He says getting a SpotMe Boost feels like having extra cash in his account.
Most recently, Corey got his girlfriend to start using Chime, and they both loved the referral bonus.
But it was about more than snagging Chime's referral bonus; Corey's girlfriend also needed help improving her credit score. "I convinced her to join Chime and get Credit Builder to get her on a new path."
Honest mistakes shouldn't cost you
Everyone makes mistakes – but some financial institutions don't charge you for them. With online banking through Chime, Corey is in a much better place.
"Ever since I went to Chime, I haven't paid a dime in fees," he says.
Chime's SpotMe feature is great for parents who are saving for their children's future, but it's also helpful for entrepreneurs with irregular incomes or who are saving to launch their own business. Find out how Chime member Raymon uses SpotMe to support his career as a solar salesperson.
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