A new way to build credit

All you need is a Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposits of $200 or more.

Don’t have a Chime Checking Account? Apply for one in under two minutes!

No way! We think everyone deserves a chance to build credit, so we don’t check your credit score when you apply.

Yes. We designed Credit Builder to work with the Chime Checking Account so that you can move money instantly—across your Chime accounts!

We don’t believe in unnecessary fees or profiting from our members’ misfortunate. We have no fees to apply, no annual fee or interest, and no fee to replace your card. We do charge an out-of-network ATM fee if you use your card at an ATM that is not a part of Chime’s fee-free network of 60,000+ ATMs.

Credit Builder offers features that help you stay on top of key factors that impact your credit score. Consistent use of Credit Builder can help you build on-time payment history, increase the length of your credit history over time, and more. We report to the major credit bureaus – TransUnion®, Experian®, and Equifax®.  

Learn more about credit building with Credit Builder.

Unlike traditional credit cards, Credit Builder helps you build credit with no annual fees and no interest. There’s also no credit check to apply!

Credit Builder is a secured credit card. The money you move into Credit Builder’s secured account is the amount you can spend on the card. Unlike other secured credit cards, that money can be used to pay off your monthly balances. Since Credit Builder doesn’t have a pre-set limit, spending up to the amount you added won’t contribute to a high-utilization record on your credit history.

Learn more about how Credit Builder works.

Yes, Credit Builder is a secured credit card. The money you move to the Credit Builder secured account is how much you can spend with the card. This amount is often referred to by other secured credit cards as the security deposit. Like other secured credit cards, Credit Builder also reports to the major credit bureaus, to help you build credit history over time. 

However, for most secured credit cards, security deposits are unavailable to you, the consumer, until you close the account. With Credit Builder, you can use your deposit to pay for monthly charges. Plus, Credit Builder charges no annual fees and no interest, and no minimum security deposit required!

Credit Builder doesn’t have a pre-set credit limit. Instead, the money you move into your Credit Builder secured account sets your spending limit on the card.

With traditional credit cards, using a high percentage of your available credit limit could negatively impact your credit score. You don’t have to worry about that with Credit Builder because Chime does not report credit utilization. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score.

How much you can spend with Credit Builder is shown to you as Available to Spend in the Chime app.

Nope. Credit Builder doesn’t report percent utilization to the major credit bureaus because it has no pre-set credit limit. That means spending up to the amount you added will not show a high-utilization card on your credit history. So rest assured to use Credit Builder for your everyday purchases and let them count towards credit building!

After you enroll, it’ll take on average 5-7 business days for your Credit Builder card to arrive.

It’s easy! Just go to the Chime app > Settings > Credit Builder > Activate Card.

You can use the Credit Builder card anywhere Visa® credit cards are accepted.

No, you cannot move money from other banks to your Credit Builder secured account. You can only do that from your Chime Checking Account.

Moving money between Chime Checking Account and Credit Builder takes ~60 seconds! Once the transfer is complete, your transaction history will reflect the change and your Available to Spend will update.

Safer Credit Building is a feature that allows you to automatically pay your monthly balance with the money in your Credit Builder secured account. Turn it on, so your monthly balances are always paid on time! Learn more about how it works here.

Move My Pay is an optional Credit Builder feature that allows you to automatically move a set amount from your Checking Account to Credit Builder whenever you get paid. You can always make changes or move money between your Chime accounts at any time. 

You can pay off your Credit Builder charges in 3 ways:

1.  Our recommendation is to turn on Safer Credit Building. When you make a purchase, the money you spent is put on hold in your secured account. Safer Credit Building uses that money to automatically pay your monthly balance. This will help you avoid late payments and outstanding balances.
2. If Safer Credit Building is not turned on, Manual Payments can still be made at any time by going to Settings → Safer Credit Building → Make a Payment.
3. ACH Payments can be made from any bank by using Credit Builder’s account and routing numbers. To find them, go to Settings → Safer Credit Building → Make a Payment → Paying with another bank

Credit Builder statements are available by the 28th of each month and due on the 23rd of the following month.

If you miss a payment, we’ll disable your Credit Builder card and ask you to pay your overdue balance. See “How and when do I pay off the card?” on how to make a payment.  

If your balance due isn’t paid in full after 30 days, we may report information about your account to the major credit bureaus. Late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account may be reflected on your credit report.

For the Credit Builder Visa Credit Card Agreement, please visit: https://www.chime.com/chime-credit-builder-visa-credit-card-agreement/

For the Credit Builder Application Disclosure and Secured Account Agreement, please visit: https://www.chime.com/chime-credit-builder-application-disclosure-and-secured-account-agreement

Yes! You can use your Credit Builder card to get cash fee-free at any in-network ATM, just like your Chime debit card. You can withdraw cash from any atm, but there’s a $2.50 fee for out-of-network withdrawals. Check out the ATM map to find a fee-free location near you.

Credit Builder does not have a pre-set limit, the amount you move into the Credit Builder secured account is the amount you can spend with the card. 

Yes! Just like your Chime Debit Card, you can withdraw cash using your Credit Builder Card. Get cash fee-free⁵ at 60,000+ ATMs found in stores you love like Walgreens, 7-eleven, CVS, and more! 

Yes! You can get cash using your Credit builder at any ATM. To avoid out-of-network fees⁵, we recommend using one of the 60,000+ in-network ATMs found in stores you love like Walgreens, 7-eleven, and more. Go into your Chime app and use the ATM Map to find one closest to you!

Credit Builder currently does not provide overdraft services.