What Is Chime? Is Chime a Bank?

You might be wondering, “What bank is Chime?” Chime is not a bank but a financial technology company. 

Our mission is to offer people financial features that help them, like access to paychecks up to 2 days early³ with direct deposit, fee-free overdrafts of up to $200,⁴ and accounts with no monthly service fees. 

Many Chime members have been underserved in the traditional banking industry and now have the tools they need to achieve peace of mind when it comes to their money.

Chime is not a bank but a financial technology company. We partner with The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, which are both FDIC-insured. 

Chime partners with banks in a tag-team fashion. Chime helps its partner banks: 

• Create innovative products, features, and benefits for members
• Develop handy tech tools
• Enhance the customer experience 

Chime isn’t involved in the flow of funds. In other words, Chime doesn’t receive or hold money on behalf of its members or partner banks. The partner banks provide the savings and checking accounts. 

As a fintech company that works with regulated banking partners, Chime is a secure and legitimate place to protect your funds. Chime provides helpful, easy-to-use products and features to manage your money 24/7, on your phone or online. 

Your money is also protected by the FDIC through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC — which we’ll get into next.

The banks that Chime partners with, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, are FDIC-insured! The FDIC (which is short for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) provides insurance for deposit accounts like checking and savings.

The FDIC protects up to $250,000 of your funds in each bank account. For example, let’s say you have a checking and savings account. In that case, the FDIC protects up to $250,000 in your checking account and up to $250,000 in your savings account. 

The FDIC promotes stability and confidence in the banking system. The FDIC provides insurance that the government fully backs so you can sleep at night knowing that the money in your accounts is safe.

Fun fact: No account holder has lost a single cent since the creation of the FDIC in 1933. 

As a digital-only financial institution, all of Chime’s accounts and tools are a tap away via our mobile app. You can access our features that help you manage, move, and grow your money. 

Chime works hard with its partner banks to make sure it has your back with: 

• No overdraft fees
• No foreign transaction fees 
• No minimum balance requirements 
• No ACH fees 
• Chime Visa Debit Card 
• Get paid up to two days early³ with direct deposit 
• Automatic Savings 
• Pay Anyone 

How does Chime make money? 

Chime is a financial technology company that offers benefits like fee-free overdraft⁴ with SpotMe® and an extensive fee-free ATM network.¹ So you might wonder how Chime manages to make money without slamming you with fees. 

After all, fees are lucrative among traditional big banks. According to S&P Global Intelligence, big banks raked in a staggering $2.34 billion in overdraft fees in the first three months of 2021 alone. Yikes. 

Chime makes money primarily from interchange fees. Financial institutions charge merchants these fees whenever a customer uses a debit or credit card to make a purchase. 

Here’s how interchange fees work: 

• When you make a purchase with your Chime Visa Debit Card, Visa charges an interchange fee to the merchant. Consider it a payment processing fee. 
• A portion of this interchange fee is paid out to Chime.
• Each time you use your Chime card to make purchases and pay bills, Chime gets a small portion. Over time, these interchange fees add up. 

And boom! That’s how Chime makes money.

Will I ever be charged an overdraft fee?

No. If you do not have sufficient funds in your Chime Checking Account, or have reached your SpotMe limit (if enrolled), then your Chime Visa Debit Card will be declined. There is no fee for declining transactions or for utilizing SpotMe. 

Signing up is easy if you’re not yet a Chime member. You can open a Chime account in just a couple of minutes. 

Here are step-by-step instructions: 

• Apply for a Chime account. We just ask for your name, date of birth, address, and social security number. You’ll need to be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. resident. 
• Download the Chime mobile app at the Google Play Store for Android devices or the Apple® App Store for Apple devices. 
• Log in on the mobile app or at chime.com to start using your account! You can connect your existing bank account to transfer funds. 
• You can set up direct deposit by navigating to Settings or Move Money.

Now you’re ready to enjoy all the member-first features of Chime.

How do I speak to a live person at Chime? 

Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can get help in the following ways:

• Chat feature on the Chime app (top-left corner of the home screen)
• Phone: (844) 244-6363

We’re standing by to answer any questions you may have.

Even if you bank through Chime, Chime itself isn’t a bank. We’re a fintech company dedicated to offering you helpful ways to grow your savings, build credit,⁵ and make purchases without slamming you with fees. 

We’re devoted to empowering your financial growth, no matter where you are on your journey. 

If you aren’t a member yet, we’re confident you’ll love our features, products, and tools.

Apply today for a Chime Checking Account.