Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Loans Chime Card Review 2025: How It Works + Pros and Cons Updated Sep 24, 2025 8-min read Reviewed by Rebecca Neubauer Reviewed by Rebecca Neubauer Expertise: Student loans, personal loans, money management Rebecca Neubauer is a personal finance and science writer who specializes in writing about managing money, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and alternative living. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, and she learned about personal finance on her journey to pay off $100,000 in student loans. Learn more about Rebecca Neubauer Best Credit-Building Card 5.0 /5 Visit Site Quick take: Chime’s no‑annual‑fee, 0% APR secured Visa® 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 fees𝒾 0% APR𝒾 No hard credit check𝒾 Set your own limit Pays automatically from your secured balance (on time every time) Fee-free cash from 47,000+ in-network ATMs𝒾 SpotMe® overdraft up to $200 On‑time payments can raise scores (average increase is 30 points)𝒾 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 No rewards program or benefits Must pay your balance in full every month (no option to pay over time) Annual fee$0𝒾APR0% (no interest)𝒾Minimum deposit$0 (you choose)Cash withdrawalsFee‑free at 47K+ Moneypass, Allpoint, and Walgreens ATMs𝒾 Table of Contents How it works What Chime offers Chime Checking Account Chime Card Safer Credit Building Move My Pay SpotMe® Who qualifies? How to apply Fees, limits, and cash access Does it really work? Pros and cons Alternatives FAQ How Chime Card works Chime sticks to three steps: Move money: Transfer any amount from your Chime Checking Account over to the Chime Card. That becomes your available credit.𝒾 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. Build credit: Turn on Safer Credit Building, 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. Reminder: You’ll need one $200+ qualifying direct deposit to unlock the card. What Chime offers Chime Checking Account What it means: FDIC‑insured demand deposit𝒾, gateway to all Chime productsChime 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 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)𝒾SpotMe® 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 Read our other Chime reviews:–Chime Mobile Bank–Chime MyPay Who qualifies? Age and residencyU.S. citizens and permanent residents age 18+Chime CheckingOpen one in about 2 minutes; no ChexSystems pullDirect depositOne $200+ paycheck per month𝒾No credit checkIdentity verification only (safe if you’re rebuilding credit) How to apply Open the Chime app: Tap the “Apply now” banner. Confirm address and Social Security number (for ID, not a hard pull). Accept terms; physical card arrives in about 7 days. Fund, turn on Safer Credit Building, and start swiping. Fees, limits, and cash access FeatureCost or limitAnnual fee$0APR0% (no interest)𝒾Minimum deposit$0 (you choose)Cash withdrawalsFee‑free at 47K+ Moneypass, Allpoint, and Walgreens ATMsOut‑of‑network ATM / OTC cash$2.50 + any operator feeDaily ATM withdrawal limit$500SpotMe® coverageUp to $200 overdraft on card and debitLate payment fee$0 (due to Safer Credit Building autopay) 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 Pro tip: Set a recurring Move My Pay transfer (say $100)𝒾 and let Safer Credit Building autopay. You’ll cycle usage and payments—exactly what scoring models love. Pros and cons With any financial product, it’s wise to consider the pros and cons before making a decision. Pros $0 fees and 0% APR No hard inquiry; great for thin files or credit‑repair journeys Utilization not reported Safer Credit Building prevents late payments Cash access + SpotMe overdraft (both rare on secured cards) Deposit is reusable; not locked away like most secured credit cards Cons Must open Chime Checking and maintain direct deposit No path to an unsecured Chime credit card, so you’ll need another issuer later No rewards program Full balance autopaid monthly (can’t pay in installments) 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 is right for you, here’s how it compares to several other credit builder tools that made our “best of” roundup: Credit building appBest forNo credit checkReports to all 3 bureausHas savings featureSecured cardRent reportingCredit monitoringSubscription & utility creditDebit-based cardChimeBuilding credit with a secured card✅✅➖✅➖➖➖✅SelfBenefits beyond building credit✅✅✅✅✅➖➖➖MoneyLionBundling credit building with banking✅✅✅➖➖✅➖➖KovoBuilding credit with small monthly payments✅✅➖➖➖✅➖➖Kikoff¹Budget-friendly credit building with all 3 bureaus✅✅➖✅✅✅➖➖GrowCreditBuilding credit through subscriptions✅✅➖➖➖➖✅➖Experian Boost²Boosting your Experian score with bills you already pay✅➖➖➖✅✅✅➖Credit Karma³Understanding what’s affecting your credit✅➖➖➖➖✅➖➖Credit SesameBuilding credit with a debit card✅✅➖➖➖✅➖✅Extra⁴Building credit without a credit check✅➖➖➖➖➖➖✅¹ Secured card and rent reporting are only available with premium membership. ² Reports only to Experian, not to Equifax or TransUnion. ³ Offers credit monitoring but does not report user behavior to any bureau. ⁴ Reports only to Experian and Equifax, not TransUnion. 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? 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.𝒾Average 30 point FICO® Score 8 increase over time with regular on-time payments. Results may vary, see Chime.com for details. 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 About our contributors Written by Rebecca Neubauer Rebecca Neubauer is a personal finance and science writer who specializes in writing about managing money, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and alternative living. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, and she learned about personal finance on her journey to pay off $100,000 in student loans.