Chime Review: Checking and Savings
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Overall institution rating
4.3
Chime® is an online-only financial technology company that partners with two banks to offer checking and savings accounts. As a neobank, it doesn’t work like a traditional neighborhood bank, but its accounts do have FDIC insurance through Chime’s partner banks, so they’re safe places to keep your money. Chime has no monthly or overdraft fees, and it lets you round up purchases to the next dollar and save the remainder. But it can be expensive to deposit cash.
Penalty for outsized CFPB complaints: NerdWallet deducted 0.5 star from Chime’s overall rating due to the volume of complaints on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau database relative to the asset sizes of its partner banks, The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank. For more information about this penalty, see our methodology page. For more context surrounding complaints in previous years, learn about a ProPublica report on how Chime closed accounts involuntarily.
Note: In May 2024, the CFPB ordered Chime to pay millions of dollars for failing to refund consumers in a timely manner when their Chime accounts were closed.
Best for: Customers who want to maximize savings account interest, are paid by direct deposit and don't deposit cash often.
Pros
- No overdraft fees.
- No monthly fees.
- Large, free, nationwide ATM network.
- No minimum opening deposits.
- Early direct deposit.
Cons
- No branch access.
- Fees for cash deposits.
Full review
Checking
Upsides:
Free ATM access and no monthly fee: Chime’s checking account is free: It has no monthly fee, no minimum opening deposit and no minimum balance requirement. It also gives users access to make fee-free withdrawals at over 50,000 ATMs.
Early direct deposits and no foreign transaction fees: With direct deposit, customers can receive paychecks up to two days early. Plus, Chime doesn't charge fees to use your card abroad; some banks charge 1% to 3% of the amount of your purchase. See below for more information from Chime.
Cash deposit available at thousands of locations: Customers can deposit cash at more than 85,000 partner locations including retail stores such as 7-Eleven and Walmart. Cash deposits are free only at Duane Reade and Walgreens, though.
Downsides:
Fees for cash deposits and out-of-network ATM usage: Chime charges $2.50 per transaction at out-of-network ATMs, and the only way to deposit cash is at cash deposit partner locations. Cash deposits at Duane Reade and Walgreens are free, but other retailers may charge a fee.
Limits on mobile check services and no physical checks: Mobile check deposit is available via the app, but to access this feature, your account must have received a minimum of one qualifying direct deposit of at least $1. Chime doesn't offer a physical checkbook, but you can pay bills by sending a check through the Chime Checkbook feature on its website or in the app.
No joint accounts: Chime also doesn’t offer joint accounts, so it’s not ideal if you’re looking to share an account with someone.
» Comparison shop: Check out our list of the best free checking accounts
Savings
Savings
Deposits are FDIC Insured
4.3
/5 NerdWallet ratingUpsides:
No monthly fees and no minimum balance: Chime has no minimum balance requirements to open or maintain the account.
Two automated savings programs: It will also round up every purchase on your Chime debit card to the nearest dollar and deposit that difference into your savings account. Or, you can have the company automatically transfer 10% from your paycheck into your savings account. Both features are optional but handy, and not all savings accounts have them.
No limit on outbound savings transfers: Chime also offers an unlimited number of transfers from your savings account into your checking account, which not all banks allow. See below for more information from Chime.
» Want to check out your options? See NerdWallet's view on Varo vs. Chime
Downsides:
Checking account required: Be aware that you need to have a Chime checking account before you can open a savings account with the company.
Not a competitive rate. Chime’s rate is above the national average, but it’s far below what many online savings accounts offer.
» For more high rates, check out NerdWallet’s best savings accounts.
Customer experience
5.0
NerdWallet ratingWhat to know about neobanks: Nonbanks such as neobanks can be solid options for consumers who prefer managing money online and don’t mind having a nontraditional place to bank. But neobanks do have differences from banks that can pose risks, particularly in the way deposits are insured:
A neobank such as Chime is a third-party banking technology platform that partners with banks to provide accounts to customers. Funds deposited at a neobank are ultimately held at the partner banks. The funds are FDIC insured in the event of a partner bank’s failure and only if the neobank maintained accurate deposit records. (Learn more about how neobanks work.)
If a neobank goes bankrupt, there is no FDIC insurance involved. It’s up to the neobank to ensure customers get their money back, which may involve delays and potential loss of account access. Banks, in contrast, receive prompt assistance from the FDIC if they fail. (Learn about what can happen if a neobank closes.)
Neobank accounts often have low monthly fees and earn strong rates. However, they may lack traditional banking features, including in-person customer service, wire transfers and access to personal or cashier’s checks (often required for large purchases, such as buying a home). Consider these details before opening an account.
Chime's high mobile app ratings, solid features: Chime's mobile app excels where it counts — customers have given high ratings to both the iOS version and the Android version. And if your card goes missing, you can block transactions using the Chime app.
Second-chance checking option: In addition to having low fees, Chime doesn’t use screening tools that most banks do to determine whether a person will be blocked from getting a bank account if they’ve had one closed in the past. So Chime can be a helpful banking solution if you’re trying to restart your financial life. See below for more information from Chime.
» Had banking issues in the past? Consider more second-chance checking accounts
Multiple support options: Customer service is available 24/7 by phone. Customers can also get help through the chat option in the app and on X (Twitter).
History of involuntary account closures: Be aware that some Chime customers have had troubling issues with their accounts. ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization, reported in July 2021 that Chime customers have had their accounts closed without notice, leaving them with no way to access their money. These reports are similar to complaints that customers have made to the Better Business Bureau. (Find out what to do if Chime or another neobank closes your account.)
In May 2024, the CFPB ordered Chime to pay millions of dollars for failing to refund consumers in a timely manner after their accounts were closed.
» Shop around: See banks and credit unions that are great for mobile banking
Overdraft fees
5.0
NerdWallet ratingNo overdraft fees: Like more and more financial institutions, Chime doesn’t charge overdraft fees.
Free overdraft program for those eligible: Qualifying customers can overdraw up to $20 without penalty (and that buffer can increase to $200, but there are eligibility requirements and restrictions). The company will cover the overdraft without a fee, and your next deposit or transfer will be applied to the negative balance.
Program requirements: To gain access to this program called SpotMe® requires your checking account to have received (and to continue to receive, for continued eligibility) one qualifying direct deposit of at least $200 in the 34 days before the overdraft occurs.
No traditional overdraft alternatives: But unlike many banks, Chime doesn’t offer overdraft protection transfers or a line of credit, so customers who overdraw outside of the SpotMe® program or past its limits can’t get transactions covered; instead, those transactions will likely be declined. See below for more information from Chime.
Methodology
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for banks and credit unions are weighted averages of several categories: checking, savings, certificates of deposit or credit union share certificates, banking experience and overdraft fees. Factors we consider, depending on the category, include rates and fees, ATM and branch access, account features and limits, user-facing technology, customer service and innovation. The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. How we rate banks, credit unions and other financial service providers.
Frequently asked questions
Chime offers online-only financial services in partnership with two banks that are FDIC-insured, so you won’t lose your money if either of the banks or Chime goes out of business.
Chime partners with two banks, The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank, to offer its services to customers.
The Chime card is a Visa debit card that comes with a Chime checking account. The account has no monthly fees.
You can add money to your Chime account through direct deposit, mobile check deposit and electronic transfer from another bank account. You can also add cash to your account at third-party retailers, such as Duane Reade, Walgreens, Walmart and 7-Eleven. Cash deposits at Walgreens and Duane Reade are free, but other third-party services charge a fee.
You can withdraw cash for free from a MoneyPass ATM in a 7-Eleven or at any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. (For non-network ATMs, there's a $2.50 fee from Chime per transaction, plus any fees the ATM owner might charge.) You can also present your debit card at any bank or credit union and ask a teller for a withdrawal, but there’s a $2.50 fee per transaction. See below for more information from Chime.
