Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.

Online checking account

Checking account with no monthly fees

An online checking account built for you. Open your account for free and easily manage your money with 24/7 mobile banking. Access cash with over 60,000 fee-free ATMs.1

White Chime debit card next to mobile device showing Chime checking account and savings account options against a green background.

Checking designed for you

At Chime, we profit with our members, not off of them. Banking shouldn’t cost you – our online checking account has no maintenance fees and includes helpful features for managing your money.

Checking that has your back

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Coin attached to a parachute

Fee-free overdraft up to $2002 with SpotMe®

Overdraft up to $200 on Debit Card purchases with no fees when you qualify for SpotMe

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calendar shows early paycheck access through Chime

Get Paid Early

Get your paycheck up to two days early³ with direct deposit. Just set up direct deposit to your online checking account and receive a qualifying payment.

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Illustration of a white Chime debit card.

Chime® Visa® 
Debit Card

After you sign up, we mail you a fancy new Debit Card. Use your Chime Debit Card anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

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Customizable debit card security

  • Block transactions if you lose your card
  • Set up daily balance updates
  • Get real-time transaction alerts
  • Protect from unauthorized charges with Visa Zero Liability4

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60,000+ fee-free ATMs

  • Withdraw cash at places you love like Walgreens®, 7-Eleven®, CVS Pharmacy®, and Circle K
  • Deposit cash5 at any Walgreens® location
  • Find a fee-free location near you online or in the Chime app

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Chime Checking Account vs. traditional banks

Chime
Chase6,7
Wells Fargo8,9
Overdraft fee
$0
Up to $34
Up to $35
Monthly account service fee
$0
Up to $25
Up to $35
Overdraft fee
Chime
$0
Chase6,7
Up to $34
Wells Fargo8,9
Up to $35
Monthly account service fee
Chime
$0
Chase6,7
Up to $25
Wells Fargo8,9
Up to $35

How to sign up for a Chime Checking Account for free

Sign up for a Chime debit card for free - process takes less than 2 minutes!

Apply in 2 minutes. Sign up for Chime. You’ll just need your name, date of birth, address, and social security number.

Download the app. Log in on the mobile app or at chime.com to get started! You can connect your existing bank account to transfer funds or set up direct deposit.

Use your virtual Chime debit card to make purchases online, found in the Chime app

Use your card right away. Make digital purchases with your temporary debit card. Go to Settings in the Chime app, scroll down to Debit Card, and select View your card.

Chime Visa Debit Card

Check the mail. We’ll send a Chime Debit Card in the mail to the address you provided, typically in 7-10 business days.

Chime Checking Account resources

Man in gray shirt smiling while pressing buttons on his cellphone.

How do you open a checking account through Chime?

Learn more
Woman sitting down at a desk with the sunrise in the background. She is typing on a computer and smiling.

How much money should I keep in my checking account?

Find out

FAQs

Is this really a checking account with no fees?

Chime has no minimum balance, monthly fees, or overdraft fees. We don’t believe in profiting from our members’ misfortune. We want to keep everything out in the open so you know exactly what fees we may charge, which are listed below.

All fee amounts will be withdrawn from your Chime Checking Account. They will be assessed as long as there is a remaining balance in your Chime Checking Account, except where prohibited by law.

Any time your remaining balance is less than the fee amount being assessed, the balance of your Chime Checking Account will be applied to the fee amount. This results in a zero balance on your Chime Checking Account.

You can also find this fee schedule in our Account Agreement.

Fee DescriptionFee Amount and Frequency
Cash Withdrawal Fee
(applies to both ATM and Over The Counter “OTC” withdrawals) *
$2.50 (per transaction) out-of-network ATM withdrawal fee. No fee for transactions at any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATMs, or at MoneyPass® ATMs located in 7 Eleven, Inc. locations. MoneyPass® ATMs not in a 7 Eleven, Inc. location will be subject to fee(s).

*If you use an ATM that is not a MoneyPass ATM in a 7-Eleven, Inc. location, an Allpoint ATM, or a Visa Plus Alliance ATM for any transaction, including a balance inquiry, you may be charged a fee by the ATM operator even if you do not complete a withdrawal. This ATM fee is a third-party fee amount assessed by the individual ATM operator only and is not assessed by us. This ATM fee amount will be charged to your Checking Account.

Will I ever be charged an overdraft fee through Chime?

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.

How do I add money to my Chime Checking Account?

There are multiple ways to deposit money into your checking account.

You can set up direct deposit by providing your Chime routing and account number to your employer or payroll provider. Your routing number can be found in the Move Money and Settings sections of the Chime app or at chime.com. You can also have a direct deposit enrollment form emailed to you from the Move Money section of the Chime app.

We will only post deposits that are sent under your name. All others will be returned to the sender.

Early direct deposit may provide you with access to your paycheck up to two days early.3 Faster access to funds is based on a comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically.

You can also add money to your Chime Online Checking Account through a bank transfer or a mobile check deposit. Read our help article for full instructions.

You can also deposit cash into your Chime account5 at participating locations. Open the question below for more information on cash deposits!

Where can I deposit cash into my Chime Checking Account?

You can deposit cash in your Chime Checking Account5 at over 75,000 retail locations with our cash deposit partners. Ask the cashier to make a deposit directly to your Chime Checking Account. You can make up to 3 deposits every 24 hours. You can add up to $1,000 every 24 hours for a maximum of $10,000 every month.

You can deposit cash5 to your Chime Checking Account at Walgreens locations, including Duane Reade locations, without fees. Other third-party money transfer services that are used to add funds to your Chime Checking Account may impose their own fees or limits such as:

  • Fees per transaction 
  • Daily, weekly, or monthly limits on the frequency or the amount of cash you may add to the Chime Checking Account

Here are some of the many other retailers that accept cash deposits, with their own applicable fees:

  • Walmart
  • 7-Eleven
  • Speedway
  • Dollar General
  • Family Dollar
  • CVS
  • Rite Aid
  • Pilot Travel Centers (Pilot Flying J)
  • Holiday Station Stores
  • Circle K Stores
  • GPM Investments
  • Sheetz Incorp
  • TA Operating LLC (Travel Centers of America)
  • Royal Farms
  • Cumberland Farms Corp
  • Kwik Trip Inc
  • Krause Gentle (Kum & Go)

When you deposit cash to your Chime Checking Account, it is transferred by a third party to your account. Your funds will be FDIC insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC once the bank holding your account receives the funds from the third party.

How long will it take my money to show up in my Chime Checking Account?

This depends on how we receive the money! Here’s how it works:

Direct deposit:

With the early direct deposit feature, your direct deposit will be posted to your Chime Checking Account as soon as it is received from your employer or payer. If you have questions about the timing of your direct deposit please contact your employer.

Bank transfer initiated through the Chime mobile app or website:

5 to 7 business days from the date the transfer was initiated (Monday-Friday) excluding federal holidays.

Bank transfers from an external account:

These deposits are typically received within 3 (three) business days from the date the transfer was initiated by the originating bank. Once the funds are applied to your Checking Account, they will have same day availability. Refer to the originating bank for more information on their transfer time frames.

Debit Card:

Within minutes of a successful transaction.

Cash deposit at a retail location:

Within 2 (two) hours of a successful transaction.

When you deposit cash to your Chime Checking Account, it is transferred by a third party to your account. Your funds will be FDIC insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC,  once the bank holding your account receives the funds from the third party.

How do I request a refund for a purchase?

We understand that purchases don’t always meet expectations. When this happens, often, the fastest way to fix the problem is to request a refund to your online checking account from the merchant directly. If you contacted a merchant about a problem with your purchase and they agreed to issue credit back to you, your money may take 3 to 5 business days to post to your Chime Checking Account or Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa Credit Card.

If you already tried working with the merchant and weren’t able to fix the problem, you can file a dispute using the Chime mobile app.

What happens if I overdraft my checking account?

You will not be charged overdraft fees when you have a Chime Checking Account. Our optional SpotMe service allows you to overdraft your account up to your personal limit, which can be up to $200.2

If you overdraft your online checking account without SpotMe or you exceed your SpotMe limit, we’ll simply decline the transaction. But don’t worry, you still won’t pay any fees.

Are Chime Checking Accounts FDIC insured?

Chime accounts are insured up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 through our partner banks, Stride Bank, N.A. or The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.

How does a checking account work?

A checking account is a type of bank account that allows you to withdraw and deposit money easily. You can think of it as your go-to account for daily transactions and for depositing your paycheck.

Checking accounts provide easy access to your money to pay your bills and for routine purchases like gas and groceries.

Some people choose to open a checking account at a brick-and-mortar bank. Opening an online checking account through Chime will give you access to many helpful features accessible directly in our mobile app and on our website.

What do I need to open a checking account?

There are a few basic requirements to open an online checking account. Here are three things you’ll need to open an account:

  • Social Security number
  • Valid home address
  • 18+ U.S. Citizen or resident of 50 United States

Depending on where you decide to open a checking account, you may also need:

  • Valid driver’s license or passport
  • Phone number
  • Utility bill with home address visible
  • Valid email address

Are there banks that offer free checking accounts?

More and more online banking apps and traditional banks are offering checking accounts that are free to open. They may have reduced fees and helpful features, and since Chime launched our SpotMe®2 feature and proudly refused to charge overdraft fees, many others have followed suit.

In addition to not charging a fee to open the account, Chime’s online checking account  has no monthly service fees, no overdraft fees*, and no minimum balance requirements.

Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is 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 cards are accepted. The Chime Visa® Credit Builder Card and the Chime Visa® Cash Rewards Card are issued by Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see 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.

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.

1 Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.

2 Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month and Visa debit card activation. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher 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 limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime's discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won't cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.

3 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.

4 You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer.

5 The retailer that receives your cash will be responsible to transfer the funds for deposit into your Chime Checking Account.

6 Data pulled from Chase Fee Schedule as of August 26, 2022: https://www.chase.com/content/dam/chase-ux/documents/personal/checking/ABSF-en.pdf

7 Data pulled from NerdWallet: Chase Bank Fees Overview as of June 6th, 2022: https://www.gobankingrates.com/banking/checking-account/heres-much-chase-overdraft-fees-cost/

8 Data pulled from Wells Fargo: Compare Checking Accounts as of November 2, 2022: https://www.wellsfargo.com/checking/compare-checking-accounts/

9 Data pulled from as of August 26, 2022: https://www.wellsfargo.com/checking/overdraft-services/

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