How To Get A Chime Card

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.

No annual fee or interest

No credit check to apply

No minimum security deposit required¹

Start building credit for free

No annual fees, no interest, or large security deposits¹. No credit check to apply.

Start building credit safely

Instantly disable your card to prevent fraudulent activities. Build credit using your own money to help keep away from debt and missing payments.

Start building credit on everyday purchases

Starting building credit with everyday purchases and on-time payments³. Use it everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.

Start building credit for a better future

We report to all 3 credit bureaus to help you build credit over time. Members see an increase of 30 points on average⁴.

"My goal is to be able to buy a house and finance a new car on my own. Credit Builder has definitely helped me to build my credit back up to a point where I can do that."

-Emily A., Real member. Sponsored content.

"By using the credit builder I can finally get the chance to move forward in the right direction and have the future I've always wanted!!"

-Gareth G., Real member. Sponsored content.

"I'm new to credit so it feels really good seeing that I'm safely increasing my score."

-Larnell W., Real member. Sponsored content.

Give your credit some love. Start by opening a Chime Spending Account with a $200 qualifying direct deposit or more and you're ready to apply.²

Credit Builder is
great
for people
looking to

get better interest
rates for that dream
car or house

unlock better
financial options for
the future

build credit with
purchases you
already make with
on-time payments³

find an easy, free,
safer way to help
build credit

use a card with no
annual fees, interest,
or credit history
requirements

Here's everything you need to know about our Credit Builder

Before Applying

What do I need to apply for a Credit Builder?

All you need is a Chime Spending Account and qualifying direct deposits of $200 or more within the past 365 days.

Don't have a Chime Spending Account? Apply for one in under two minutes!

Will it require a hard credit check to apply?

No way! We think everyone deserves a chance to build credit, so we don't check your credit score when you apply.

Do I need to have a Chime Spending Account to use Credit Builder?

Yes. We designed Credit Builder to work with the Chime Spending Account so that you can move money instantly — across your Chime accounts!

Does Chime charge any fees for using Credit Builder?

Nope! We do not charge fees; no annual fees, maintenance fees, international fees, and no interest.

How can Credit Builder help my credit score?

Credit Builder offers features that help you stay on top of key factors that impact your credit score. Consistent use of Credit Builder can help you build on-time payment history, increase the length of your credit history over time, and more. We report to the major credit bureaus – TransUnion ® , Experian ® , and Equifax ® .

Learn more about credit building with Credit Builder.

What makes Credit Builder different from traditional credit cards?

Unlike traditional credit cards, Credit Builder helps you build credit with no annual fees and no interest. There's also no credit check to apply!

Credit Builder is a secured credit card. T he money you move into Credit Builder's secured account is the amount you can spend on the card. Unlike other secured credit cards, that money can be used to pay off your monthly balances. Since Credit Builder doesn't have a pre-set limit, spending up to the amount you added won't contribute to a high-utilization record on your credit history.

Learn more about how Credit Builder works.

Is Credit Builder a secured credit card?

Yes, Credit Builder is a secured credit card . The money you move to the Credit Builder secured account is how much you can spend with the card. This amount is often referred to by other secured credit cards as the security deposit. Like other secured credit cards, Credit Builder also reports to the major credit bureaus, to help you build credit history over time.

However, for most secured credit cards, security deposits are unavailable to you, the consumer, until you close the account. With Credit Builder, you can use your deposit to pay for monthly charges. Plus, Credit Builder charges no annual fees and no interest, and no minimum security deposit required!

What is the credit limit?

Credit Builder doesn ' t have a pre-set credit limit. Instead, the money you move into your Credit Builder secured account sets your spending limit on the card.

With traditional credit cards, using a high percentage of your available credit limit could negatively impact your credit score. You don ' t have to worry about that with Credit Builder because Chime does not report credit utilization. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score.

How much you can spend with Credit Builder is shown to you as Available to Spend in the Chime app.

If I use all the money I add into Credit Builder, will Credit Builder report high utilization and hurt my credit score?

Nope. Credit Builder doesn ' t report percent utilization to the major credit bureaus because it has no pre-set credit limit. That means spending up to the amount you added will not show a high-utilization card on your credit history. So rest assured to use Credit Builder for your everyday purchases and let them count towards credit building!

New member basics

How long does it take for my Credit Builder card to arrive?

After you enroll, it'll take on average 5-7 business days for your Credit Builder card to arrive.

How do I activate my new Credit Builder card?

It's easy! Just go to the Chime app > Settings > Credit Builder > Activate Card.

What can I use my Credit Builder card for?

You can use the Credit Builder card anywhere Visa® credit cards are accepted.

Can I move money into my Credit Builder secured account from another bank?

No, you cannot move money from other banks to your Credit Builder secured account. You can only do that from your Chime Spending Account.

How long does it take to move money between my Credit Builder secured account and Spending Account?

Moving money between Chime Spending Account and Credit Builder takes ~60 seconds! Once the transfer is complete, your transaction history will reflect the change and your Available to Spend will update.

What is Safer Credit Building?

Safer Credit Building is a feature that allows you to automatically pay your monthly balance with the money in your Credit Builder secured account. Turn it on, so your monthly balances are always paid on time! Learn more about how it works here.

What is Move My Pay?

Move My Pay is an optional Credit Builder feature that allows you to automatically move a set amount from your Spending Account to Credit Builder whenever you get paid. You can always make changes or move money between your Chime accounts at any time.

How and when do I pay off the card?

You can pay off your Credit Builder charges in 3 ways:

Our recommendation is to turn on Safer Credit Building. When you make a purchase, the money you spent is put on hold in your secured account. Safer Credit Building uses that money to automatically pay your monthly balance. This will help you avoid late payments and outstanding balances.
If Safer Credit Building is not turned on, Manual Payments can still be made at any time by going to Settings → Safer Credit Building → Make a Payment.
ACH Payments can be made from any bank by using Credit Builder's account and routing numbers. To find them, go to Settings → Safer Credit Building → Make a Payment → Paying with another bank

Credit Builder statements are available by the 28th of each month and due on the 23rd of the following month.

What happens if I miss a payment?

If you miss a payment, we ' ll disable your Credit Builder card and ask you to pay your overdue balance. See "How and when do I pay off the card?" on how to make a payment.

If your balance due isn ' t paid in full after 30 days, we may report information about your account to the major credit bureaus. Late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account may be reflected on your credit report.

Where can I find more information on Credit Builder policies?

Can I use my Credit Builder card to withdraw money?

Yes! You can get cash fee-free at any in-network ATM, just like your Chime debit card. Find an in-network ATM near you using the ATM Map in the app.

What is the limit on the Chime Credit Builder Card?

Credit Builder does not have a pre-set limit, the amount you move into the Credit Builder secured account is the amount you can spend with the card.

Can you withdraw cash from the Chime Credit Builder Card?

Yes! Just like your Chime Debit Card, you can withdraw cash using your Credit Builder Card. Get cash fee-free⁵ at 60,000+ ATMs found in stores you love like Walgreens, 7-eleven, CVS, and more!

Can I use my Chime Credit Builder Card at an ATM?

Yes! You can get cash using your Credit builder at any ATM. To avoid out-of-network fees⁵, we recommend using one of the 60,000+ in-network ATMs found in stores you love like Walgreens, 7-eleven, and more. Go into your Chime app and use the ATM Map to find one closest to you!

Can I overdraft my Chime Credit Builder Card?

Credit Builder currently does not provide overdraft services.