Chime
Chime Checking Account
By Alex Compton · Guidance updated
Reviewed savings tiers, account fees, cash access, personal-use restrictions, insurance, membership and advance eligibility against current primary terms.
Guidance checked October 23, 2026. Full account terms last verified October 23, 2026; location-specific rates and eligibility still require confirmation with the bank.
Sources for this guidance
- Product official terms
- Bancorp Checking official terms
- Stride Checking official terms
- Tiers official terms
- Rates official terms
- Bancorp Savings official terms
- Stride Savings official terms
- Cash official terms
- Mypay official terms
- Bancorp Mypay official terms
- Stride Mypay official terms
- Joint official terms
- Referral official terms
Insurance: Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Eligible deposits receive pass-through coverage through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., subject to requirements. Coverage is $250,000 per depositor, insured bank and ownership category; separate savings can use program banks. Other same-category deposits at each bank count toward its limit.
Account Terms History
A dated record of APY, fees and opening requirements. New changes append to this table; prior terms remain visible.
| Observed | APY / yield | Monthly fee | Minimum | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-23 | No checking interest; separate savings pays 1.00% base, 3.00% with Chime Plus or 4.00% with Chime Prime. Variable APYs effective October 6, 2026; qualifying deposits required for higher tiers | $0 monthly maintenance fee; Plus and Prime have no subscription charge. Optional services and third-party transactions can cost extra | No minimum opening deposit or minimum balance requirement | Current Chime rate schedule and partner-bank agreements →Full review. Savings APYs rose to 1.00/3.00/4.00 effective October 6. Corrected 34-day membership requirements, cash limits, personal-use restrictions and MyPay costs; distinguished conflicting advertised versus individually disclosed MyPay limits and limited joint-account rollout. Prior snapshots preserved. |
| 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
Full Chime account review: new savings APYs, rolling membership conditions, cash limits, optional advance costs, personal-use restrictions, joint rollout and insurance verified. Prior history preserved.
Fields: apy, monthlyFee, minimumOpen, fdic, plans, features, atm, pros, cons, ourTake, bestFor, sections, faqs, editorialReview, termHistory, lastVerified
Chime current savings rate schedule, account and membership agreements → - 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
1.00% variable APY on separate savings
- ▸No qualifying direct deposit needed for base savings APY
- ▸Checking itself earns no interest
- ▸Optional services can have charges
Chime Plus
$0; one qualifying deposit of $200+ or qualifying deposits totaling $400+ in the preceding 34 days
3.00% variable APY on separate savings
- ▸Income deposits must meet the membership definition
- ▸Secured Chime Card category rewards require additional steps
- ▸SpotMe and MyPay have separate enrollment and eligibility rules
Chime Prime
$0; $3,000+ in qualifying deposits in the preceding 34 days
4.00% variable APY on separate savings
- ▸Maintaining a balance does not replace the recurring deposit requirement
- ▸Chime Card category rewards and travel benefits have separate terms
- ▸A higher membership tier does not guarantee an advance limit
Features
- ▸No monthly maintenance, minimum-balance or overdraft fee
- ▸Early direct deposit may arrive up to two days ahead, depending on the payer
- ▸Optional SpotMe covers eligible card transactions and withdrawals within the approved limit
- ▸MyPay is a separate line of credit with individual limits and state restrictions
- ▸Free cash deposits at Walgreens and Duane Reade; other retailers may charge
- ▸Separate savings account required to earn the published savings APYs
- ▸Limited rollout of separate joint accounts; availability is not universal
Pros
- +No recurring account fee or paid membership subscription
- +Free cash deposits at participating Walgreens and Duane Reade locations
- +Savings rate tiers have no published balance cap
Cons
- −Personal account terms prohibit business use
- −Higher savings rates require recurring qualifying income deposits
- −Optional instant advances, retail deposits and out-of-network withdrawals can add costs
- −Coverage and advance limits depend on eligibility; membership alone is insufficient
Our Take
Chime can fit personal banking when its cash-deposit locations and qualifying income rules match your routine. Separate checking from savings, and evaluate SpotMe and MyPay on their own terms. The lack of a monthly fee does not make every service free. For business receipts, compare business accounts instead: both partner-bank agreements allow closure for business use.
Best for: Personal banking with free retail cash deposits and deposit-qualified savings tiers
Open at Chime →Last verified 2026-10-23
Checking, savings and membership are different decisions
Checking pays no interest. The separate savings account pays 1.00% base APY, 3.00% with Plus and 4.00% with Prime, effective October 6, 2026. Rates are variable and have no published balance cap. A $10,000 starting savings balance held for one year at unchanged APYs with interest retained earns $100, $300 or $400 respectively, before taxes and fees. Keep money in savings to earn its rate.
What counts toward Plus and Prime?
Plus requires one qualifying deposit of at least $200 or a combined $400 in the preceding 34 days; Prime requires $3,000 over that same rolling period. Eligible income includes employer, payroll, gig and benefits deposits through the permitted payment channels. Ordinary bank transfers, cash, mobile checks, P2P payments and tax refunds do not qualify. Joint-account income attributed to you can count toward your own status; it does not give the co-owner the same status automatically.
Cash deposits and withdrawals
Walgreens and Duane Reade cash deposits are free. Current help and both bank agreements list up to five deposits daily, $3,000 per transaction/day and $10,000 monthly, combined across Chime accounts and deposit methods. Retailers can impose lower limits; check the app before carrying cash. The general checking FAQ still displays older limits. Cash deposits go through retailers, not ATMs. An out-of-network withdrawal can incur both Chime’s $2.50 charge and an operator fee.
SpotMe is optional coverage, not an automatic $200 balance
Enroll and meet the applicable deposit rules. Under the current membership terms, SpotMe on Debit accepts one qualifying $200 deposit or $400 combined over 34 days. Limits start at up to $20 and may increase based on activity and risk; eligible Prime members may start at $50. Debit and credit SpotMe share a limit if both are used. Debit coverage excludes ACH, Pay Anyone and Checkbook payments. No overdraft fee does not mean every payment will be approved.
MyPay limits and costs
MyPay is a separate line of credit offered only in eligible states. Its product page advertises up to $750, while the disclosure describes individually offered limits from $20 to $1,000; neither is a guaranteed available advance. Your app shows the actual limit and available amount. The agreements specify no interest, free delivery within 24 hours, or an optional instant fee of 3%, with a $2 minimum and $5 maximum per advance. Four $100 instant advances cost $12. MyPay uses separate income, enrollment and ongoing eligibility rules, including a 36-day deposit window.
Personal eligibility, joint accounts and offers
Individual checking applicants must be at least 18, legal US residents and complete identity verification and electronic delivery requirements. Both partner-bank agreements restrict business use. Separate joint accounts are being rolled out gradually; both owners need individual Chime checking, and joint accounts do not include SpotMe or other credit products. Referral offers require their specific invitation and qualifying actions. This review does not treat a referral reward as an automatic public opening bonus.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chime checking earn 4.00% APY?
No. The 4.00% variable APY applies to a separate savings account while you qualify for Prime. Checking earns no interest. Savings pays 3.00% with Plus and 1.00% without either qualifying tier.
Can I use Chime for my business?
The Bancorp and Stride individual checking agreements say the account is not designed for business use and can be closed if used that way. Receiving eligible gig income for a membership benefit does not override the account-use restriction.
Are Plus and Prime paid subscriptions?
No. Both have no membership charge. They depend on qualifying deposits over the preceding 34 days. Some optional services and benefits still have separate charges or eligibility requirements.
Can I deposit cash at a Chime ATM?
No. Use a participating retail location. Walgreens and Duane Reade deposits are free; other stores may charge. The app shows nearby locations, applicable limits and available deposit methods.
Will MyPay give me the advertised maximum?
Not necessarily. Eligibility, credit limit and available advance are individualized and can change. Check the amount and delivery fee displayed in the app before requesting an advance.
Does Chime offer joint accounts?
Separate joint accounts are in a limited rollout, so they are not available to every member. Each owner needs active individual Chime checking. Joint accounts do not include SpotMe or other credit products.
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