Chime Review for 2026: Checking and Savings Accounts

Chime is a financial technology company that was founded in 2012. The Bancorp Bank , N.A., and Stride Bank, N.A. run the banking services offered by Chime.

You can’t pick which of the two will handle your account, but there’s no difference; you’ll get the same treatment regardless of which of the two reputable banks handles your account.

Chime Checking Account

Opening a checking account with Chime is an easy and straightforward process that can be done entirely online.

You will need to provide basic information, such as your name, address, and Social Security number, and create a username and password for your account. Chime says applicants must be 18+ and U.S. citizens or residents of the 50 states.

If you’ve ever called a bank to open a checking account only to be told that the bank can’t do so at this time, it could be due to the ChexSystems reporting system.

Banks use ChexSystems to help them make decisions about new account applicants.

If an applicant has a history of writing bad checks or if they’ve been reported for fraud in the past, their name will almost certainly appear in ChexSystems.

This is why having a good ChexSystems report is important – it can make it easier to open a new checking account.

Fortunately, Chime's online banking, like many other online-only banks, does not use ChexSystems to determine fresh application decisions, providing everyone with a second opportunity. Chime also says it doesn’t perform a hard credit check when you apply for a Checking Account.

After you create your account, you must fund it, which you may do by setting up a direct deposit from your employer or transferring money from another bank account. Once your account is funded, you can start using it right away. You can also link an external bank through Plaid, and Chime now highlights fee-free cash deposits at Walgreens locations.

Chime’s checking account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, so you keep your entire paycheck (minus taxes and other deductions).

As you are probably aware, this is where Chime differs from most banks, which typically charge a monthly fee unless you meet requirements (such as keeping a certain balance in your account).

One of the unique features of Chime is its early deposit feature. With most banks, you must wait until your payroll is processed before the funds are available in your account.

However, with Chime, you can get access to your paycheck up to two days early. This feature is available automatically, and there’s no fee for using it.

The account also comes with a Chime Debit Card, which you can use to make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs. Another great feature is that Chime provides access to over 60,000 fee-free ATMs in the US, but the exact withdrawal limits are member-specific and can be viewed in the app rather than being published as one universal daily cap.

If you use any other ATM outside of its network, you’ll have to pay a $2.50 fee in addition to the ATM provider fee. Over-the-counter cash withdrawals can also trigger a $2.50 fee.

Finally, Chime offers a feature called SpotMe, which allows you to overdraft your account without being charged a fee.

The starting amount you can overdraft is $20, but it can be increased to $200 depending on your account history. Eligibility requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits each month.

Overall, Chime is an excellent option for anyone looking for a new checking account. It offers some unique benefits that make it worth considering. The checking account page also now highlights MyPay, which can provide eligible members with access to up to $500 of pay before payday; standard access is fee-free within 24 hours, while instant advances carry a fee.

First, Chime does not offer wire transfers. This means you’ll need to use another bank if you want to send or receive money via wire transfer.

Second, Chime does not offer joint accounts, so if you have a spouse or partner who also wants to use your account, that won’t be possible.

Chime Savings Account

To be able to open a savings account, you first have to open a checking account, which can be a bit of a hassle, but don’t forget that having a checking account doesn’t cost you anything at all. The same is true of savings accounts.

Chime offers its clients a variable APY structure rather than a flat APY. The standard rate is 0.75% APY, Chime Plus members can earn 3.00% APY, and Chime Prime members can earn 3.75% APY. You also need at least $0.01 in savings to earn interest.

Round Up Saving Account

The first one is the Round Up Savings account. Every time you make a purchase with your Chime Visa card, the amount is rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the difference is deposited into your savings account.

For example, if you spend $3.20 on coffee, $0.80 will be transferred from your checking account to your savings account.

This is a great way to save money without even realizing it, and it can help you reach your savings goals quicker than you thought possible, especially since there are no fees to pay for maintaining your account.

Save When I Get Paid Account

The second savings account option is the Save When I Get Paid account. This account allows you to automatically transfer 10% to your savings account every time you get a direct deposit of $500 or more. Like Round Up, this is an automated savings feature, not a separate savings account.

For example, if you receive a direct deposit of $1,000 in your checking account, the system will automatically take out $100 (10%) and deposit it to your savings account. You won’t be charged any extra fees for this process.

If necessary, you can transfer funds from your savings account to your checking account and vice versa.

Regulations used to cap the number of transfers from a savings to a checking account per month, but the Federal Reserve has removed the restriction , and Chime’s current focus is on the account’s rate tiers and fee-free structure rather than a monthly transfer cap.

Chime Credit Builder

The Chime secured credit card is a great option if you’re looking to build or rebuild your credit. It reports to all three credit bureaus and comes without an annual fee. Chime now also advertises 1.5% cash back in rotating categories on the card, and up to 5% cash back tied to qualifying direct deposits and membership status.

It is a secured credit card, meaning you’ll need to make a security deposit before using it. There is no minimum security deposit and the money you move into the secured account sets your spending limit. For example, if you deposit $500, your credit limit will also be $500.

One thing to keep in mind is that this card can only be used if you have a Chime checking account. When you sign up, a Checking Account and a Secured Deposit Account will also be opened. So, if you don’t have an account, you’ll need to sign up for one before you can apply for this card.

You may raise your credit score by using your credit card wisely and paying it off on time. The card also continues to charge no annual fee, no interest, and no hard credit check to apply. Nonetheless, there are no further rewards or unsecured credit cards you could upgrade later.

Customer Support & User Satisfaction

Chime support remains available 24/7 through phone and in-app chat, and its help center still lists (844) 244-6363 as the main customer-service number. Chime also continues to position in-app chat as the easiest way to get help with routine account issues.

On the user-satisfaction side, the picture is more nuanced. Chime’s own review page highlights over 1 million 5-star reviews and shows app-store scores of 4.8 stars on the Apple App Store and 4.7 stars on Google Play, which suggests that many users are happy with the mobile experience, ease of use, and everyday features.

Still, public complaint channels tell a less flattering story. BBB complaint pages continue to show recurring disputes involving fraud claims, account access problems, and dissatisfaction with how support handles resolutions, so while Chime’s app experience rates well, customer-service satisfaction appears less consistent when serious account issues are involved.

Final Verdict

Chime is a solid choice for people who want a simple, low-fee banking experience without the usual barriers of traditional banks. Its strongest selling points are still the basics done well: no monthly fees, no foreign transaction fees, early direct deposit, access to a large fee-free ATM network, and SpotMe overdraft protection for eligible members.

The addition of tier-based savings yields, credit-building tools, and MyPay also makes the platform more competitive than it used to be.

That said, Chime is not the best fit for everyone. If you value highly responsive customer service, want access to wire transfers or joint accounts, or prefer the stability of a traditional bank branch network, the tradeoff may not be worth it.

Ongoing complaints about account reviews, closures, and support delays are hard to ignore, and they make Chime easier to recommend for everyday spending than for keeping all of your banking in one place.

Our verdict is that Chime works best as a convenient primary spending account or a strong secondary account for users who care most about low fees, fast pay access, and mobile-first banking. But if top-tier support and broader banking functionality matter more to you, there are more well-rounded alternatives on the market.

For users who are still undecided, keeping Chime alongside another bank may be the smartest approach. That way, you can take advantage of its best features without relying on it for everything.