Chime® Checking Account, NerdWallet's 2026 winner for Best Checking Account overall. Source: NerdWallet, Best Bank Accounts of 2026. Affiliate Partner. © 2017-2026 and TM, NerdWallet Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Key takeaways
New Chime® members can sign up for a Chime Checking Account and secured Chime Visa® Credit Card within minutes.
Provide your name, email address, phone number, birthdate, government-issued identification, and Social Security number to sign up.
Set up a qualifying direct deposit to become a Chime+ member to unlock even more benefits like SpotMe®, MyPay®, 1.5% rotating cash back1 on credit purchases, a higher APY,2 and more.
Whether you want to open your first checking account or switch to a new one, you may be wondering, "How long does it take to open an account?" or, "What do I need to open an account?"
Here's the good news: it's easy to open a new checking account online. There are multiple convenient online account options, including through Chime.
Chime offers an account that connects you with fee-free banking,3 the cashback Chime Visa® Credit Card, options to build your credit safely,4 and access to over 47,000 fee-free ATMs5 and unlock financial progress™.
How to open an online Chime account
If you're ready to open an online account through Chime, you can set up your account in about two minutes. The best part? It's completely free to apply, and there's no credit check if you want to apply for a Chime Card.6 Here's what you need to do:
1: Download the Chime app
Chime offers a mobile banking app where you can access an online checking account, a high-yield savings account,7 and Chime Card™ to build credit safely with on-time payments.4
You can download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
From your mobile app, you can:
Manage transactions
View your balance and card information
Manage your credit with tools like rent reporting8
Send and receive money with Pay Anyone
2: Enter your personal information
To set up a Chime account, you'll need to enter the following:
Your first and last name
Social security number (SSN)
Phone number
Date of birth
Address
Email and a password
After your information is reviewed and confirmed, you're in!
Note: All members must be a citizen or a resident of the U.S. and 18 years or older.
3: Choose your card
Ready to build your credit history and earn rewards? Go with Chime Card. Or start with a Chime Visa® Debit Card and still get the best of banking on your mobile app.
When you choose Chime Card, you can pick between three colors: black, evergreen, or a premium titanium card for $50 plus applicable taxes.
Your physical card will take 7-10 days to arrive in the mail, but you can start using your virtual Chime Card and virtual debit card as soon as you fund your account. You can access your virtual Chime Card and virtual debit card details directly in the Chime app to make purchases online.
Add your Chime Card to your Apple Wallet® or Google Wallet® to make in-person purchases with your smartphone.
4: Fund your account
There are several easy ways to add funds to your account, including:
Make an instant transfer with a debit card
Transfer money from another bank account
Using your routing and account number, transfer funds from another financial institution's app or website
Send money using a payment app
Set up direct deposit
How to set up direct deposit for Chime
You can easily set up direct deposit by providing your employer with your Chime routing and account numbers. You can find this information in the Chime mobile app under Settings → Direct deposit setup, as well as the Move Money section, under Move your direct deposit.
If you're switching accounts or don't currently receive direct deposit, you can make a transfer from another account to your new Chime Checking Account to add funds.
Unlock more with direct deposit and Chime+™
Once you've moved money into your Chime account, you're ready to start using it! You can start to make purchases, view your balance, and stay on top of your money with custom alerts.
When you set up a qualifying direct deposit to become a Chime+ member, you also unlock the best of banking.9
Fee-free overdraft with SpotMe10
Up to $500 of your pay before payday,11 with no interest,12 credit check, or mandatory fees, with MyPay
Unlimited 1.5% cash back1 on rotating purchase categories every three months on Chime Card
A high-yield savings account with an APY of 3.00%2
Opening an online bank account through Chime is as easy as 1-2-3. Set up your account in just a few minutes to start unlocking financial progress™.
Why can't I open a Chime account?
If you are unable to open a Chime checking account, it could be that:
The personal information you've provided is not correct. Double-check your name, email address, phone number, Social Security number, and any other relevant information for errors.
At the moment, only U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 18 years of age or older can open a Chime account. If you live outside of the U.S. or do not meet the age requirement, you will not be able to open an account with Chime.
In some cases, there may be an error caused by Chime's information verification system. If you've ensured your personal information is correct and you're eligible for a Chime account, but you are still unable to open an account with us, visit our Help Center to find a possible solution.