Key takeaways
SpotMe®1 provides fee-free coverage for eligible debit card purchases, secured credit card purchases, and cash withdrawals — with a combined limit of up to $2001 with no fees.
Your SpotMe® limit is based on your direct deposit history, deposit amount, and how actively you use your Chime account.
You can temporarily increase your limit by receiving SpotMe® Boosts2 from friends and family who use Chime.
Keeping a consistent qualifying direct deposit and using your account regularly may help your SpotMe® limit grow over time.
Overdraft fees can drain your checking account, but SpotMe® gives you a way to avoid them when you open an account through Chime. If you're wondering how to get a higher SpotMe® limit, you're not alone – it's one of the most common questions from Chime members. We'll walk you through how your limit works and what you can do to help it grow.
What is SpotMe® and how does it work?
SpotMe® is fee-free coverage for debit and credit card purchases and cash withdrawals.1 It helps you cover everyday transactions that would exceed your balance – without charging fees.
SpotMe® is available when you activate your Chime Visa® Debit Card or secured Chime Visa® Credit Card and receive at least one qualifying direct deposit of two hundred dollars or more per month.
Here's how SpotMe® works on Chime:
Chime spots you up to $200 fee-free when you overdraw your account
The next time you deposit money into your Chime account, Chime applies it automatically to your negative balance.
If you attempt a transaction that exceeds your balance and SpotMe® limit, the transaction is simply declined. No fees!
SpotMe® covers debit card purchases, secured credit card purchases, ATM withdrawals, cash-back transactions, and over-the-counter withdrawals.
Understanding overdraft fees can help you see why fee-free coverage matters.
How is your SpotMe® limit determined?
Your monthly SpotMe® limit is made up of three different parts: your base limit, Boosts2, and bonuses. Several factors can influence where your limit lands, including your direct deposit history, deposit amount, and overall account activity.
Base limit
Your base limit is your account’s default SpotMe® limit — the starting amount of your monthly SpotMe limit before any Boosts or bonuses are added.
How long you direct deposit. The longer you direct deposit, the better.
How much you direct deposit. Keep your amount consistent or bump it up if you can.
How much you use Chime. Regular account activity can play a role in your limit.
Boosts2
Receiving a SpotMe® Boost2 from another member temporarily increases your SpotMe® limit by $5 for the month. Boosts are a great way to add some extra padding when you need it.
Bonuses
Another way to receive a temporary increase is through occasional bonuses sometimes offered by Chime. These are usually tied to promotional campaigns and last for a limited time.
What happens if you reach your limit
If you've reached your SpotMe® limit, Chime simply declines the transaction. There's no fee for declined transactions, so you don't have to worry about extra charges.
How to increase your SpotMe® limit on Chime
You can't manually raise your SpotMe® limit, but certain habits may help it grow over time. Here are a few tips that can make a difference.
Keep up your direct deposit. To stay eligible, make sure you're receiving at least one qualifying direct deposit of two hundred dollars or more per month. Your limit may go up the longer you deposit, so try to keep your amount consistent.
Use your account regularly. Your account activity and history can influence your SpotMe® limit. Along with maintaining direct deposits, you can keep your Chime account active by paying bills online and using your Chime Visa® Debit Card for purchases.
A quick note – our customer support team can't raise your SpotMe® limit. Chime notifies you if and when you qualify for a higher limit.
How SpotMe® Boosts2 work
SpotMe® Boosts2 temporarily increase an eligible member's SpotMe® limit by $5.2 You can both send and receive Boosts2, making it easy to help each other out.
How to send and receive Boosts2
You'll get four Boosts2 at the beginning of each month to send to other people. You can also receive up to four Boosts2 per month. Here are a few things to know:
Boosts2 last until the end of the month.
Your SpotMe® limit returns to your base limit when Boosts2 expire.
You can only send one Boost2 to each friend per month.
There's no fee to send or receive a Boost2.
Chime has a strong "Boost 4 Boost" community on our social channels. To request a Boost2, you can comment "boost 4 boost" under our posts and share your Chime handle.
There are three steps to using Boosts2 on the Chime app:
Open the Chime app and look for "SpotMe® Boosts2" on the home screen under Financial Tools.
Search for the person you want to send a Boost2 to from your contact list.
Tap "Send $5 Boost2" next to their name.
Once you send a Boost2, the recipient has $5 added to their SpotMe® limit. They can do the same for you!
SpotMe® can help you avoid overdraft fees
Chime's SpotMe® has been life-changing for some of our members, and it can help you avoid overdraft fees on purchases and cash withdrawals.1 It's easy to enroll with qualifying direct deposits, and there are no fees to use SpotMe®.
Boosts2 are a nice way to add extra padding to your SpotMe® limit. See how SpotMe® has your back.