Chime
Chime Checking Account
By Alex Compton · Last verified
The biggest neobank, now with free membership tiers that scale with your paycheck
Insurance: FDIC pass-through insurance to $250,000 via The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.
Account Terms History
A dated record of APY, fees and opening requirements. New changes append to this table; prior terms remain visible.
| Observed | APY | Monthly fee | Minimum | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-04 | 0.75% base savings, 2.75% with Chime Plus, or 3.75% with Chime Prime | $0 across all tiers; tier access is earned through qualifying direct deposits | None | Chime Membership Tiers Terms and Conditions →Reconfirmed deposit thresholds, savings APYs, fee disclosures, and the secured-card requirement and monthly cap on category rewards |
| 2026-06-11 | 0.75% base savings, 2.75% with Chime+, or 3.75% with Chime Prime | $0 | None | Archive record · no attached snapshotLegacy snapshot before Chime Plus naming, rewards-card limitations, and current ATM count were attached |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledger- changed
Reconfirmed tier thresholds and savings rates; corrected Chime Plus naming, ATM count, and secured-card reward requirements and caps.
Fields: apy, plans, atm, ourTake, termHistory, lastVerified
Chime Membership Tiers Terms and Conditions →
Plan Options
Chime (base)
$0
0.75% on linked savings
- ▸No fees, no minimums, early direct deposit
- ▸Round-ups into savings
- ▸Standard support
Chime Plus
$0, unlocked with a $200+ single direct deposit or $400+ total monthly direct deposits
2.75% on linked savings
- ▸2% cash back on up to $1,500 in eligible monthly Chime Card purchases in a chosen category ($30 maximum)
- ▸Priority support
- ▸Unlocks SpotMe and MyPay eligibility at useful limits
Chime Prime
$0, unlocked with $3,000+ in direct deposits within the preceding 34 days
3.75% on linked savings
- ▸5% cash back on up to $1,500 in eligible monthly Chime Card purchases in a chosen category ($75 maximum)
- ▸Premium travel and lifestyle perks
- ▸Faster MyPay access (up to $500 before payday) and priority 24/7 support
Features
- ▸No monthly fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements at any tier
- ▸Early direct deposit up to 2 days
- ▸SpotMe fee-free overdraft from $20 up to $200 with $200+/month in direct deposits
- ▸MyPay paycheck advance up to $500
- ▸Fee-free cash deposits at Walgreens; other retailers charge a fee
- ▸Credit Builder secured Visa with no interest or annual fee
- ▸Tier status is deposit-based; there is no paid subscription
Pros
- +All three membership tiers are free; deposits, not dollars, unlock them
- +SpotMe and MyPay are genuinely useful paycheck-to-paycheck tools
- +Credit Builder card is one of the best credit-building on-ramps anywhere
- +Walgreens cash deposits solve the neobank cash problem
Cons
- −Not a bank; FDIC coverage runs through partner banks with pass-through conditions
- −Savings APY trails SoFi and Axos unless you clear the $3,000 Prime hurdle
- −No out-of-network ATM rebates
- −Customer service horror stories around frozen accounts persist
Our Take
Chime built the best banking product for people living paycheck to paycheck, and the 2026 tier system makes that more explicit: route your pay through Chime and SpotMe, MyPay, and the savings rate scale up at no cost. Prime's 3.75% savings APY is competitive for a free account. Its 5% category reward requires the secured Chime Card, a monthly category selection, and is capped at $1,500 in eligible purchases. Heavy savers and rate chasers may still do better elsewhere, and members should understand the conditions for pass-through FDIC coverage.
Best for: Paycheck-to-paycheck banking with real overdraft and advance tools
Open at Chime →Last verified 2026-09-04
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