February 12, 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.
The secured Visa® Credit Card1 helps you build credit2 by making everyday purchases and paying your credit card bill on time.
Chime Card™ has no interest 3, no credit check, and no minimum security deposit requirement,4 making it ideal for users with no credit history or a low credit score.
Turn on Safer Credit Building2 to automatically pay your bill on time each month and avoid missed payments.
Chime+ members5 can take advantage of Experian Boost6 and rent reporting7 to build credit faster
Your credit score might look like three innocent little numbers, but it can have a major impact on your financial life. Whether you're building credit from scratch or trying to repair your credit score, Chime Card can help.
We'll explore the main features of Chime Card, see how it compares to traditional secured cards, and explain how to build credit with your card.
Chime Card is the updated version of the Chime Credit Builder Card.
Like Credit Builder, Chime Card helps you build your credit2history the more you use your card. By simply paying for everyday expenses, like groceries, gas, or subscriptions and making on time payments towards your Chime Card you can increase your score by up to 71 points.†
Chime Card has no interest3 and no credit check to apply. And there's no minimum security deposit requirement4 – your Available balance is your credit limit. By using Chime Card responsibly, you could increase your credit score by up to 71 points.†
Chime Card is easy to use – just swipe to make a purchase anywhere Visa is accepted. When you pay your bill on time each month, Chime will report your payments to the three major credit bureaus – Experian®, Equifax®, and TransUnion® – to build your credit history.2
In addition to building your credit with everyday purchases using Chime Card, you'll get access to these perks:
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back8 on rotating categories every three months when you sign up for direct deposit.
Withdraw cash at more than 47,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.9
See a single view of your money in the Chime app for easier money management.
Unlock additional perks, like MyPay®,10 SpotMe®,11 Chime Deals,12 and a higher APY13 on savings, by setting up direct deposit and becoming a Chime+ member.
Chime Card is technically a secured credit card, but there are distinct differences that set it apart.
Traditional secured credit cards require you to make a security deposit when you open an account. That deposit typically becomes your credit limit – so, if you put down $200, your credit limit is $200. Some secured credit cards require a minimum deposit, which may put them out of reach for some consumers.
Chime Card doesn't require a minimum deposit.4 Instead, money added to your Chime Checking Account automatically transfers to the Secured Deposit Account and becomes your spending limit.13 This helps prevent overspending. And, unlike some secured credit cards, Chime Card doesn't charge interest.3
Chime Card is a solid choice for anyone looking to start building credit or to improve their existing score. Let's explore the pros and cons of Chime Card so you can decide whether it's right for you.
Pros of Chime Card | Cons of Chime Card |
|---|---|
No credit check requirement | No unsecured card options |
No annual fee or interest charges3 | Requires funding before spending |
Access to additional perks via Chime+1 | |
Fee-free cash withdrawals at more than 47,000 ATMs nationwide3 |
Does Chime really help build credit? Yep – a Chime Card can be a powerful tool for building credit when used responsibly.
There are several ways it can help strengthen your credit profile:
Boost your credit score. Chime Card reports your on-time payments to the credit bureaus each month.2
Check your FICO® Score for free.15 Log into your Chime app to see your FICO Score and keep track of your progress.
Report your rent payments.6 Chime members can report their rent payments to the credit bureaus for an additional boost.
Get credit for your other bills. Chime's partnership with Experian Boost®6 lets you add on-time bill payments to your credit file to boost your FICO Score.
If you don't already have your Chime Card, now's the time to sign up.
First, you'll need a Chime Checking account. When you sign up, you can download the Chime app and choose Chime Card. You can get a classic evergreen or black card or upgrade to a premium titanium one.14
Your physical Chime Card will take 7 to 10 business days to arrive, but you can use a virtual Chime Card in the meantime. To fund your Chime Card, simply deposit money into your Checking Account. The funds will then move to your Secured Deposit Account to serve as your Chime Card credit limit.
There are several ways to deposit money into your Chime account:
Set up direct deposit.
Transfer money from a connected debit card.15
Deposit cash at 100,000 locations.16
Deposit money using Apple Pay®.
Transfer money using a payment app
Your Chime app shows a single Available balance, which is the total money you can spend with your debit card or Chime Card.17 As you spend money, your available balance decreases, and when you add money, it goes up.
Once you have your Chime Card set up and funded, it's time to start using it! You can use Chime Card anywhere that accepts Visa.
Use Chime Card for your everyday purchases, including:
Subscriptions
Utility bills
Groceries
Gas
Restaurant meals
Entertainment
When you pay your balance on time each month, Chime reports it to the three major credit bureaus. Payment history is the most influential factor in your credit score calculation.
Remembering to pay your credit card and other bills on time can be tricky – especially if you have multiple due dates to keep track of. Setting up monthly reminders on your phone or calendar can help, but the best way to avoid missing a bill is to use autopay.
Turning on the Safer Credit Building feature in the Chime app ensures your Chime Card bill is paid on time every month. No need to set reminders to pay your bill – Chime takes care of it for you.
Your Chime Card payment due date is listed in your monthly Chime Card statement. Once you've turned on the Safer Credit Building feature, you won't need to worry about missing the due date.
If you do miss a payment for any reason, you won't be able to use your card until the balance is paid in full. Late or missed payments may be reported to credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score.
You'll start building credit right away when you use your Chime Card. But it can take several months of responsible use and on-time payments to see a difference in your credit score.
Chime Card users could see a credit score increase of up to 71 points, according to a September 2025 Experian® study.† For example, just by using your Chime Card for everyday purchases, you could see your FICO Score jump from 650 (which is considered "Fair") to 721 (which is firmly in the "Good" range).
If you only use your Chime Card occasionally or make late payments, your credit score will take longer to increase and might even drop. That's why it's best to use your Chime Card regularly and pay your bill on time.
Chime Card is an excellent option for anyone who wants to build credit responsibly. Whether you're starting from scratch or want to boost a poor credit score, Chime Card can help you reach your financial goals.
Learn more about Chime Card to see why it's the best choice for building your credit today.
Chime's credit card doesn't require a minimum security deposit.4 But you'll need money in your Chime Checking and Secured Deposit Account to use your Chime Card. If your Available balance is $0, you won't be able to use a Chime Card for purchases.
Chime Card is the newest version of the secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card, now with the added bonus of cash back rewards.13 You can still get cash at more than 47,000+ fee-free ATMs17 – more than the top 3 national banks combined18 – including ATMs at popular retail stores like Walgreens®, CVS®, and more.
Learn more about the Chime Card and how to unlock the perks of credit and the best of banking.
Building credit takes time – and the exact time frame varies from person to person. Responsible use of your Chime Card can help you build credit over time, and Chime members could see their credit score increase by up to 71 points.†
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. SpotMe terms and conditions.
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.