Chime Card™ Review 2025: How It Works + Pros and Cons

Best Credit-Building Card

5.0 _/5

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Quick take: The Chime® no‑annual‑fee, 0% APR secured Chime Card^™ lets you build payment history without reporting utilization. It’s ideal if you want everyday‑spend flexibility and a gentler path to credit.

Chime Card™

• $0 fees^𝒾
• 0% APR^𝒾
• No hard credit check^𝒾
• Set your own limit
• Pays automatically from your secured balance (on time every time)
• Fee-free cash from 47,000+ in-network ATMs^𝒾
• Overdraft up to $200 on credit card transactions or cash advances without any fees
• On‑time payments can raise scores (average increase is 30 points)^𝒾
• 1.5% cashback reward with Chime+ status

• Must open a Chime checking account and set up a minimum qualifying direct deposit of $200
• No option to upgrade to a traditional credit card
• Must pay your balance in full every month (no option to pay over time)

Annual fee	$0𝒾
APR	0% (no interest)𝒾
Minimum deposit	$0 (you choose)
Cash withdrawals	Fee‑free at 47K+ Moneypass, Allpoint, and Walgreens ATMs𝒾

Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply.

How Chime Card™ works

Chime sticks to three steps:

1. Move money: Transfer any amount from your Chime Checking Account over to the Chime Card™. That becomes your available credit.^𝒾
2. Spend money: Swipe anywhere Visa is accepted (or add to Apple/Google Pay). Use it like a normal credit card, or pull cash at an in‑network ATM.
3. Build credit: Turn on Safer Credit Building^𝒾, and Chime autopays your statement from the secured balance each month. On‑time payments are reported to TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Credit utilization is not reported, so maxing out your self‑set limit won’t hurt your credit score.
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion^®, Experian^®, and Equifax^®. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Results may vary. If you are referencing no interest/no credit check: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply.

What Chime offers

Chime Checking Account

• What it means: FDIC‑insured demand deposit^𝒾, gateway to all Chime products
Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply.
Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply.
• Why it matters to you: Required before you can add Chime Card™

Chime Card™

• What it means: Holds the money you move; doubles as your spending limit and payment source, activity on card can help you improve your credit score
• Why it matters to you: No locked “deposit” like old‑school secured cards

Safer Credit Building

• What it means: Autopay option^𝒾
• Why it matters to you: Eliminates risk of late payment

Move My Pay

• What it means: Direct deposit splitter
• Why it matters to you: Automate funding to Chime Card™ each payday

SpotMe® on Chime Card™

• What it means: Fee‑free overdraft up to $200 (with eligibility)^𝒾
SpotMe® eligibility requirements and limits apply. Overdraft only applies to credit card transactions and cash withdrawals. Limits range from $20-$200.
• Why it matters to you: Extends safety net for debit‑style purchases

Who qualifies?

How to apply

1. Open the Chime app: Tap the “Apply now” banner.
2. Confirm address and Social Security number (for ID, not a hard pull).
3. Accept terms; physical card arrives in about 7 days.
4. Fund, turn on Safer Credit Building, and start swiping.

Fees, limits, and cash access

Does Chime Card™ really work?

Chime reports payment history only, not credit limit or utilization. That means:

• Paying on time each month is weighted heavily (about 35% of FICO).
• Using most or all of your available balance won’t spike utilization ratio.
• Members report a +30‑point average score gain within approximately 8 months.^𝒾

Pros and cons

With any financial product, it’s wise to consider the pros and cons before making a decision.

Alternatives to consider

If you have a steady paycheck but thin or damaged credit, the Chime Card™ offers a friction‑free way to rack up on‑time payments without the fear of utilization dings or surprise fees. Pair it with direct‑deposit automation and you’ll build positive history while using the card for everyday purchases or fee‑free cash.^𝒾

But if you’re not sure whether a Chime Card™^𝒾 is right for you, here’s how it compares to several other credit builder tools that made our “best of” roundup:

FAQ

Can I withdraw cash from my Chime Card™?

Yes. Credit Builder lets you pull cash at 47,000+ fee-free ATMs in stores like Walgreens®, 7-Eleven®, and CVS®.^𝒾 You’re drawing against money already parked in your secured account, so there’s no cash-advance fee. Just avoid out-of-network machines that may assess their own surcharge.

Is Chime Card™ a credit card?

Yes, it’s a secured Visa® credit card. You move money from your Chime Checking Account to set your spending limit, use the card everywhere Visa is accepted, and Chime reports your on-time payments (not utilization) to TransUnion®, Experian®, and Equifax®.

How do I close my Chime Card™ account?

Open the Chime app. Navigate to Settings > Personal Info > Edit > Close account, or email [email protected]. Your card is disabled instantly, and any remaining secured balance is returned to your Chime Checking Account within five business days.

Can I use my Chime Card™ at an ATM?

Absolutely. Insert the card at any in-network ATM to withdraw up to $500 per day with no Chime fee. The withdrawal comes from the funds you’ve already moved to the Chime Card™.

How does Chime Card™ work to build credit?

Chime reports your payment history every month to all three bureaus, and members who pay on time see an average FICO® score increase of 30 points. On-time payments help; late payments can hurt. Avg 30 point FICO® Score 8 increase over time with regular on-time payments. Results may vary, see Chime.com for details.

How do I add money to my Chime Card?™How do I add money to my Chime Card?

Tap “Move Money” in the app to transfer cash from your Chime Checking Account, or set up Move My Pay to automatically send part of each paycheck. Transfers post instantly and become your Available to Spend.^𝒾

Can I use my Chime Card™ with no money?

No. Chime Card™ is secured, so you can only spend what you’ve moved into the secured account. If your Available to Spend is $0, the transaction will decline; you can’t overdraft or go negative.

What fees does the Chime Card™ have?

None from Chime. There’s no annual fee, interest, or minimum deposit, and replacement cards are free. The only potential costs are third-party: $2.50 for over-the-counter cash or any surcharge an out-of-network ATM owner sets.^𝒾

How we rated Chime Card™

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best credit builder products. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Chime to several credit builder apps, loans, and accounts using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below.

Company	Best for…	Rating (0-5)
5.0 Visit Site	Best Credit Builder Card	5.0 Visit Site