Varo vs. Chime: Which Is Better for You?

Varo and Chime both have high interest on savings accounts, but their products and services have a few differences.

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Updated · 3 min read
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Written by Chanelle Bessette
Lead Writer
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Edited by Sara Clarke
Assistant Assigning Editor
 
Fact Checked

Varo and Chime® have comparable offerings with a few key differences. Varo is a bank, and Chime is a neobank — an online-only financial service company that partners with a bank to provide account insurance.

Here’s how the two companies compare with each other.

Snapshot comparison

Checking account

  • No monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement for either Varo or Chime.

  • Varo and Chime both have early direct deposits (up to two days early).

  • Cash deposits at Varo and Chime could be pricey, although cash deposits at Walgreens are free with Chime.

Savings account

  • With Varo, customers can earn up to 5.00% annual percentage yield on balances up to $5,000 when certain conditions are met. Alternatively, customers can earn 3.00% APY without meeting those conditions or for balances over $5,000.

  • Chime offers a 2.00% APY on its High Yield Savings account.

Overdrafts, ATMs and customer service

  • Chime’s SpotMe® overdraft service allows customers to overdraft up to $200 with no fee if they meet some account requirements.

  • Varo doesn’t allow overdrafts, but it has a cash advance program.

  • Varo customers have access to more than 55,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs.

  • Chime customers can access more than 60,000 fee-free MoneyPass, Allpoint and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs.

  • Varo and Chime are both online-only and don’t have branches.

  • Varo and Chime both have strong mobile app ratings.

Choose Varo if:

You want a stellar interest rate on savings and can meet the requirements to get there.

Choose Chime if:

You want a strong interest rate on savings and a flexible overdraft service.

Checking

Varo Bank Account
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at Varo Bank, Member FDIC

Varo Bank Account. The Varo Bank Account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. In addition, customers have access to the Allpoint ATM network, which has more than 55,000 free ATMs where customers can withdraw cash. However, depositing cash is more complicated; Varo customers have to go to a Green Dot retailer such as Walgreens or Safeway and may be charged a fee of up to $5.95. Customers can also get their paychecks up to two days early with direct deposit.

Chime Checking Account
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at Chime®, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Chime Spending Account. Chime doesn’t charge monthly fees or require a minimum balance on its Spending Account. It also has a savings program where customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and save the difference. In addition, Chime customers can make fee-free withdrawals at more than 60,000 nationwide ATMs. Chime is also part of the Green Dot network, so customers can make cash deposits at certain retailers for a fee or at Walgreens for free.

Chime says: "Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your selected Chime Account. Barcode and debit card cash deposits land in the Checking Account. Credit Builder card cash deposits first go through your Card Account and then land in your Secured Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade."

"Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account."

"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."

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

Savings

Varo Savings Account. Customers start at a baseline of 3.00% APY, but they can earn 5.00% on up to $5,000 if they have $1,000 or more in direct deposits per month and maintain a positive checking (Varo Bank Account) and savings balance at the end of the month. Varo has two automatic savings programs: the first allows customers to take a percentage of the direct deposits in their checking account and transfer it to their savings. The other program enables customers to save upon making a purchase. Varo will round up your purchase to the nearest dollar and transfer the change into your savings account.

Chime High Yield Savings. Chime’s free savings account has a 2.00% APY as long as you have a balance of at least $0.01. Chime also has two automatic savings programs: a roundup program for purchases made with a checking account debit card and a program that saves 10% of direct deposits of $500 or more from your checking account into your savings account. Note that a Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.

Chime says: "The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest."

"There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account."

Banking experience

Varo and Chime are online-only, which means you’re out of luck if you prefer in-person service. However, Varo has extended weekday and weekend phone support hours and ways to contact customer support via email and Twitter, and Chime is available through chat, email and phone 24/7 as well as on Twitter.

Varo and Chime also have high mobile app ratings in the Google Play and App Store marketplaces.

Overdrafts

Varo. Varo doesn’t let overdrafts happen: If a customer tries to make a transaction that would create a negative balance in their account, then Varo declines the transaction. If you need some breathing room between paychecks, you can use the Varo Advance program, which allows you to get a cash advance of up to $100 for a fee of up to $5.

Chime. Chime doesn’t charge overdraft fees. Instead, it has an overdraft program called SpotMe®, where customers can overdraft up to $200 if they make at least $200 in direct deposits per month.

Chime says: "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."

"SpotMe® on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical Chime Visa® Debit Card or secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions: https://www.chime.com/policies."

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