Better online banking

Yes! Chime offers online banking services through our partner banks. With Chime, you can open a checking account⁹ with no monthly fees and a high-yield savings account with automatic savings features. Once you qualify,¹⁰ you can also apply for the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card.

With Chime, you’ll manage your account online via a computer or through our mobile app. The mobile app is easy to use. In fact, it’s the #1 most-loved banking app available.¹

Apply in 2 minutes to start online banking through Chime. The process is straightforward as long as you have your Social Security number, email address, and a valid home address. After Chime reviews and confirms your information, you’re in! Note: All members must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age.

Chime offers an online bank account and a mobile banking app. You can download the app for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. You can connect your existing bank account to transfer funds or set up direct deposit. You can also log in to online banking at chime.com when you need it.

Once enrollment is completed, we’ll send a free Visa® debit card in the mail to the address you provided. Your new debit card typically arrives in 7-10 business days.

Read our blog for more information on how to open your online bank account through Chime, manage your money with our mobile app, and take advantage of our user-friendly features.

Applying for a Chime online Checking Account is completely free. We don’t require an opening deposit to enroll, and we don’t charge you a fee if you open an account without a deposit.

Chime does not require a credit check to open an online bank account. We provide services that are inclusive of all Americans. This includes those who struggle with bad credit history but are still looking for checking or savings accounts they can open and use entirely online with no opening deposit.

Chime is a financial technology company that offers banking services through two banking partners: The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. Because Chime partners with these banks, any money in your Chime account is FDIC-insured.¹¹

When you sign up for Chime, you can easily move money into your account online. Just link an external bank account to set up a transfer. To continue to get money in your Chime account, set up direct deposit from your employer or payroll provider.

You can also deposit cash fee-free at any of the 8,500+ Walgreens locations around the country – or at 75,000 retailer locations, including Walmart, CVS, and 7-Eleven, for a fee. The retailer that receives your cash will be responsible to transfer the funds for deposit into your Chime Checking Account.

Still have questions? Read our full guide on how to move money into Chime.

Many financial institutions now allow new members to apply for checking, savings, and other types of accounts online.

The steps to open an online bank account vary depending on where you choose to open an account. Decide what’s important to you: free online banking? Access to in-person locations? 24/7 customer support? These answers can help you decide where to open a bank account online and what type of account you would like to open.

Once you choose an account, collect whatever personal documents and identifying information the institution requires. Some online banking accounts require a copy of ID like a driver’s license. When you bank through Chime’s partners, you do not need to submit a photo ID. For more information, find out everything you need to open a bank account.

Follow the instructions on the online application, submit your personal information like your Social Security number, and then verify your identity following the instructions sent to you. That’s it! You can then fund your account and start using your online bank account. 

There are a few basic requirements to open an online bank account through Chime. Here are a few things you’ll need to apply for our Chime Checking Account:

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

There is no right answer — you should choose an online bank account that has the services and features that are most important to you. 

At Chime, we value transparency and profiting with our members, not off of them. Through our partners, we offer online banking with no monthly maintenance fees, fee-free overdraft, and no opening deposit required. Manage your money, pay friends and family, and build your savings all in our mobile app.

Many online banks offer easy sign-up processes. You can sign up quickly if you have all the information you need – usually a Social Security number, email address, and home address. In some situations, you may need a photo ID.

Some banks may require you to fund the account immediately. Chime doesn’t. You can sign up for a Chime Checking Account in as little as 2 minutes – no credit check and no minimum deposit required.

A simple search for “online banks” will yield a long list of financial institutions that allow you to open an account online. Online financial institutions are popular with consumers because they offer 24/7 customer service, high-yield savings, and convenient features like mobile check deposit.

Many traditional brick-and-mortar banks now allow you to open an account online, though they may not offer the same features as online options. Always research and compare multiple financial institutions before opening an account.

You can find several banks, credit unions, and financial tech companies that are completely online. For example, Chime offers banking services through partner banks without having any physical branches. Customers access their accounts online or via the mobile app.

With an online-only footprint, such banks and fintechs can typically offer high APYs on deposit accounts, low or no monthly fees, and unique features like early direct deposit access and fee-free overdraft.

Online banking means you manage your bank accounts using an online platform on your computer or an app on your mobile device. You can sign up for the account online, transfer funds from external accounts, set up direct deposit, and find ATMs near you to withdraw money when needed.

Common features of online banking include mobile check deposit and automatic savings tools, like Round Ups.¹² If you open a high-yield savings account online, you can typically expect an interest rate higher than the industry average. Online checking accounts often have no monthly fees – and at Chime, there’s no minimum balance requirement.

Online banking has plenty of advantages, but some people may prefer a traditional banking experience. Weigh the pros and cons before opening an account.¹³

Pros

• Higher interest rates: Online banks and fintechs can often offer high APYs on checking and savings accounts.

• Low or no fees: Online banks and fintechs can offer accounts and services without monthly fees.

• 24/7 access: With a website and mobile app, you can access your account whenever, wherever. Many online banks and fintechs also offer 24/7 customer support.

• Features: Online banks and fintechs may offer unique features, like automatic savings tools, mobile check deposit, and in-app peer-to-peer payments.

• ATM access: Because online banks and fintechs don’t have physical branches, many join extensive ATM networks. These make it easier for customers to withdraw cash quickly and conveniently.

Cons

• No physical branches: If you prefer to visit a bank or credit union in person, especially when you have questions, find a financial institution with a brick-and-mortar branch.

• Limited services: While large, traditional banks may offer a wide range of banking services (including personal loans, mortgages, and certificates of deposit), online banks may have more limited offerings.

• Difficulty depositing funds: Without a physical branch, customers who regularly earn cash may have a harder time figuring out how to deposit their money.  

To access your bank account on your phone, download your financial institution’s mobile app. Then log in to the app like you’d log in on your computer. Each financial institution’s mobile app works differently but typically offers features like mobile check deposit, instant transaction alerts, and ATM finders.

Chime’s mobile app allows you to set up two-factor and fingerprint authentication for added security. You can fully manage your Chime account within the app – everything from setting up direct deposit to opening a savings account to paying off your Chime credit card.

Online banking can be just as safe as traditional banking. As long as the online bank or financial tech company is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), it offers the same protections on your funds as a traditional brick-and-mortar bank.

For example, Chime offers FDIC insurance on all accounts through its partner banks.¹⁰ Chime also performs regular security tests to protect your money and personal information.

Online banks and financial technology companies may also offer security features to make mobile banking safer. You can guard the Chime app with two-factor and fingerprint authentication. The app also lets you freeze your debit card if it’s lost or stolen and get an instant transaction alert for every purchase. Check out all the online banking security features that Chime offers.