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How SpotMe Has Your Back

In this article

  1. Spotting Chime members to feed their pets
  2. Helping Chime members stick to their budget
  3. SpotMe is there for you

Here's how Chime® members are using SpotMe® to stay on top of their money game and pay it forward.

Chime Team • November 4, 2022

You’re standing in line at the store checkout. It’s your turn to pay. You whip out your digital wallet to pay for your groceries. But you hear that loud, cringe-inducing beep that lets you — and everyone behind you — know that your debit card has been declined.

No matter what words come to mind, the feeling is universal: a deep, sinking feeling at the bottom of your stomach.

At Chime, we never want you to have that feeling again. When you enroll and qualify for SpotMe®, we spot you up to $200¹ in debit card purchases and cash withdrawals to avoid those surprises. And to help keep SpotMe fee-free, Chime members can give an optional tip to pay it forward.

We asked our Chime community to share their favorite stories of how SpotMe had their back when their bank balance was low. They also shared their feel-good experience of tipping to keep this handy feature free for fellow members: 

Spotting Chime members to feed their pets

Name: Crystal
Chime member since: 2019
Favorite Chime features: Early Direct Deposit, mobile check deposit, SpotMe

*Real Member. Sponsored Content.

Using SpotMe to cover gaps in cash flow

For Crystal, who has been a massive fan of Chime for years, SpotMe helps her get through the month or until her next paycheck, whichever comes first.

Find out how one Chime member used SpotMe to grow her family by four paws.

“Even though it seems like we’re all living paycheck to paycheck, you can still allow your money to work for you — and not against you — if you’re spending it the right way,” she says. And whenever Crystal taps into SpotMe to cover a cash shortfall, Chime draws from her next direct deposit to pay it back. 

Nourishing a snake in need

Crystal purchased a handful of frozen mice to feed her pet snake Echo. She set out the mice to thaw, hoping that Echo would enjoy a delicious dinner of little rodents.

Sadly, Echo was in a nitpicky mood and refused to eat the newly thawed snake delicacies. “At the last minute, I had to overdraft to buy a live mouse and feed it to him,” says Crystal. “He was very satisfied.”

Giving back to the Chime community

While tipping is always optional, Crystal often pays it forward by deciding to tip. After all, tipping helps keep SpotMe fee-free. Chime members can choose different percentages based on the amount one was “spotted.”

“Especially for me, I use my SpotMe out of necessity,” she says. “So to be able to have that there, the convenience…why not give back and tip? Because you’re going to get it back regardless. That’s how I look at it… To show your appreciation, I definitely recommend tipping.”

Chime shoutout: Crystal loves Chime’s direct deposit feature, which she’s used throughout her many jobs. “Everything is changing, and it seems to be getting better,” says Crystal. “The convenience of it is so awesome for people like me who don’t drive. It’s just so easy to be able to do things from the comfort of my phone and check my account and stuff like that.” 

“The reason why I choose Chime is because I always know where my money is going. When I have to wait until [I get] paid, Chime spots me, is there to help me, gives me the option to tip or not, and does not force me. Chime has saved me hundreds. I will always love Chime and always refer people to Chime.” –LaNeisha

“SpotMe has saved me so many times, from a little extra gas in the car to last-minute meal ingredients. That's why I always try to leave a tip back to Chime to show my gratitude, and help anyone else out that may need that little extra to get by." - Ethan C

Helping Chime members stick to their budget

Name: Jessica
Chime member since: 2020
Favorite Chime features: SpotMe, direct deposit

*Real Member. Sponsored Content.

Building savings with SpotMe

Before Jessica switched to Chime, her bank came with a bunch of overdraft fees – and she was constantly getting slammed with them. It was hard for her to open a bank account because her financial profile was less than perfect. With Chime, she could avoid several types of fees and put most of her money into savings.

“I do like how there’s not… any limits to how you transfer your savings to your checking because [some] banks only give you six transfers. And then, after that, you’re pretty much cut off. So that’s pretty cool. And the no hidden fees part is pretty… awesome, because, like I said, [I] couldn’t have a bank account without all those hidden fees adding up.”

Jessica gets paid weekly at her job as an assistant manager of a gas station. To stay clear of overdraft territory, she uses SpotMe for unplanned expenses and puts most of the money she earns at work into her savings, so her paycheck is “out of sight, out of mind,” according to her.

Paying it forward

Because SpotMe has long been a huge money helper to Jessica, she gives optional tips every time she gets her deposits on payday, which drops weekly. “I literally use it every payday,” she says. “It just saved my life. It really did.” 

Chime shoutout: Among the many things Jessica loves about Chime, she also appreciates how there aren’t any fees or limits to how many times you can transfer money between your checking and savings accounts. 

She also feels comforted that her money is protected. (FYI: funds in your Chime accounts are FDIC-insured through our bank partners up to $250,000.³) “I feel like my money is secure with Chime,” she says. 

“I love Chime, my daughter Chimes, most of my friends Chime. My deposits are always two days early², and sometimes even earlier. I also love SpotMe. I don’t mind leaving a tip because SpotMe helps me and others on Chime!” –$Marcia-Williams63

“#WhyIChime® is because it's super convenient and easy. I get paid early2, and SpotMe has saved me! I always make sure I tip. It’s a 10/10 app!"
–$TommyEpperson61

SpotMe is there for you

The more you know about Chime’s features, the more it can help you stay on top of your money game and help others. SpotMe can come to the rescue when you’re in a financial pinch. Plus, you can help fellow members by optionally tipping. That way, you can rest easy and help others at the same time. What’s not to love?

Join millions of Chime members who enjoy peace of mind with fee-free overdraft.

“Hands-down, anything, and everything can — and will — happen at some point. There is nothing like having SpotMe at your disposal for those unexpected and random occasions. It's a game changer, and the peace of mind it provides is the best part."
– Jaime A.

Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card and the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card are issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit and credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.

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.

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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).

1 SpotMe® for Credit Builder is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month.

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. 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. SpotMe Terms and Conditions.

2 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.

3 Deposits in Chime accounts are FDIC insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.

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