Megan Lee is a writer and editor who specializes in travel, personal finance, education, and healthcare. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, REI, USA Today, and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like NAFSA’s Annual Conference & Expo. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for several websites, including NerdWallet, GoAbroad, and Ramp. When she's not crafting her next piece of content, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base, where she likes to drink cortados (it’s research for her coffee blog, she swears), attend theme parties, ride her bike, and cook Asian food.
Key takeaways
Here are the highlights of how SpotMe works and what you need to start using it.
SpotMe® covers your debit card purchases and cash withdrawals fee-free when you overdraft. Eligible members start with a $20 SpotMe limit, which may increase up to $200 based on factors like account history, direct deposit history, deposit amount, and other eligibility criteria.1
You can enroll in SpotMe after receiving at least one qualifying direct deposit of $200 per month.
Your SpotMe limit can grow over time based on your direct deposit history, deposit amount, and membership length.
Repayment is automatic – your next deposit covers any negative balance with no fees or interest.
Running low on funds at checkout can be stressful, especially when you know an overdraft fee could make things worse. Many traditional banks may charge around $35 each time you overdraft, and those fees can add up fast.2
That's where SpotMe comes in. If you're wondering how to use SpotMe, you're in the right place. This guide walks you through everything – from enrolling and using the feature to understanding your limit and getting Boosts from friends.
What is SpotMe and how does it work?
SpotMe is Chime's fee-free overdraft feature that covers you when you spend more than your available balance. Eligible members start with a $20 SpotMe limit, which may increase up to $200 based on factors like account history, direct deposit history, deposit amount, spending activity, and other eligibility criteria.1
SpotMe works on both your Chime Visa® Debit Card and your Chime Card™, Chime's credit card. There are no fees and no interest. You just keep spending as you normally would, and SpotMe steps in when your balance falls short.
To qualify, you need at least one qualifying direct deposit of $200 per month. Once you're enrolled, coverage kicks in automatically whenever you make an eligible purchase or cash withdrawal that exceeds your available balance.
Here's a quick example. Say you have $40 in your checking account and your grocery bill comes to $52. If you pay with your debit card, SpotMe covers the $12 difference fee-free. You'll get a notification letting you know SpotMe has you covered, and the next time money is deposited into your account, it's automatically applied to your negative balance.
What does SpotMe cover?
SpotMe covers several types of transactions, but not everything. Here's a breakdown of what's eligible and what's not.
Eligible transactions:
Debit card purchases: everyday spending with your Chime Visa® Debit Card
Chime Card purchases: transactions on your Chime Card
Cash withdrawals: ATM withdrawals using your debit card
Cash back: cash back at the register when making a debit card purchase
Ineligible transactions:
Pay Anyone transfers: person-to-person transfers through Chime
ACH transfers: transfers to services like Venmo or Cash App
Chime Checkbook transactions: paper check payments
How to enroll in SpotMe
Getting started with SpotMe takes just a few steps. Make sure you have the latest version of the Chime app before you begin.
Activate your Chime Visa® Debit Card or Chime Card.
Set up direct deposit and receive at least one qualifying direct deposit of $200 per month.
Open the Settings tab in your Chime app to check if you're eligible for SpotMe.
Agree to the SpotMe Terms and Conditions to complete your enrollment.
If you ever want to turn off SpotMe, head to Settings and then SpotMe to toggle it off.
How to use SpotMe
Once you've enrolled, SpotMe works automatically. You don't need to activate it each time you make a purchase. Here's what the experience looks like.
Make a debit card purchase, Chime Card purchase, or cash withdrawal that exceeds your available balance. SpotMe covers you up to your limit.
You'll receive a notification in the Chime app confirming that SpotMe covered the transaction.
If a transaction exceeds your SpotMe limit, it will be declined. You won't be charged a fee for the declined transaction.
How is your SpotMe limit determined?
Your SpotMe limit is personalized and can change over time. Here's how it works.
Eligible members start with a $20 SpotMe limit, which may increase up to $200 based on factors such as account history, direct deposit history and amount, membership length, spending activity, and other eligibility criteria.1
Chime Member Services can't manually adjust your SpotMe limit. However, Chime may occasionally offer promotions that temporarily increase your limit. You can also get a temporary boost from friends and family through SpotMe Boosts.
How to use SpotMe Boosts
SpotMe Boosts3 let you temporarily increase your SpotMe limit with a little help from friends and family. Sending a Boost increases someone's limit by $5, and they can Boost you right back.
Here's how Boosts work.
Once SpotMe is activated, you'll receive fresh Boosts on the 1st of every month.
Find your Boosts on the home screen, where you'll see the current month and "Boosts" listed.
Tap Send $5 Boost next to the person you want to help.
You get 4 Boosts per month to send and receive. Each Boost lasts until the first day of the following month. You can only send one Boost to each friend per month.
How to repay SpotMe
Repaying SpotMe is automatic. Here's what you need to know.
When your next deposit arrives in your checking account, it's automatically applied to your negative balance. You don't need to take any manual action or make a separate payment.
There are no fees or interest charged for using SpotMe. Your balance simply returns to positive once your deposit processes.
Make the most of SpotMe
SpotMe gives you a cushion when you need it most – covering your debit card purchases and cash withdrawals fee-free so you can spend with confidence. Keep your direct deposit active and maintain a positive account history to remain eligible for potential SpotMe limit increases. Chime may also offer promotions, and receiving SpotMe Boosts from friends can temporarily increase your available limit.
FAQs
Can I use SpotMe if I have no money in my account?
Yes. SpotMe covers eligible transactions even when your balance is at zero, up to your personal SpotMe limit.
Can I pull out cash with SpotMe?
Yes. SpotMe covers cash withdrawals at ATMs in addition to debit card purchases.
How do I change my Chime SpotMe limit?
Your SpotMe limit is determined automatically based on factors like your direct deposit history and membership length. Chime Member Services can't manually change it, but you can lower your personal maximum in the Chime app under Settings.
What happens if I try to spend more than my SpotMe limit?
The transaction will be declined. You won't be charged any fees for the declined transaction.
Will I ever be charged an overdraft fee through Chime?
Chime does not charge overdraft fees. If you've reached your SpotMe limit, the transaction will be declined rather than processed with a fee. Out-of-network or third-party ATM fees may still apply.
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).
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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.
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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.
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