Chime Card™ Review [2026]: Great for Building Credit, But It’s Not a Fast Track

Chime Card basics

How the Chime Card works

The Chime Card is a secured credit card designed to help you build credit, so it doesn't offer a lucrative welcome bonus or luxury travel benefits. It does, however, allow you to earn cash back rewards on select purchases if you meet certain requirements, something you don't find with every secured card.

Here's how it works:

You'll start by downloading the Chime app, signing up for Chime®, and choosing an evergreen or black Chime Card. You can even upgrade to a titanium card for $50 if you want to swipe in style, though we wouldn't recommend it if you're working on getting a better handle on your finances.

While you wait for your card to arrive in the mail, you'll have access to a virtual Chime Card you can use for online purchases.

When you're approved for a Chime Card, you'll also get access to a Chime Checking account and a linked Chime Secured Deposit Account (SDA). Any funds you deposit into your Chime Checking acts as collateral for your credit card purchases and automatically sets your credit limit, so you can't spend more than you have in your account.

For example, if you have $200 in your account, you can spend up to $200 with your Chime Card. You can make payments to your Chime Card from your SDA automatically or manually, monthly or as you make purchases, to build a positive credit history.

Chime Card benefits and perks

Tools to help you build credit

Chime doesn't run a credit check when you apply, so there's no initial impact to your credit score, which is a huge benefit. The last thing you want when you have bad credit or a thin credit history is to drag your credit score down even further.

At the same time, making on-time payments to your Chime Card could help you improve your credit score. And Chime offers automatic payment options to help you avoid late or missed payments. You can also access additional credit-improvement tools in the Chime app and access your free FICO score to monitor your progress.

No annual fees or interest

The Chime Card is great for people who are new to credit cards because it's easy to avoid costly mistakes. Chime doesn't charge any of the following:

• Interest charges
• Maintenance fees
• Annual fees
• Late payment fees
• Foreign transaction fees

Many other secured credit cards charge annual fees and carry high APRs or hefty late fees. That's one reason why the Chime Card made our list of the best credit cards for rebuilding credit.

Earn 1.5% cash back on rotating categories with Chime+ status

One big perk that sets the Chime Card apart from other secured cards is the option to earn cash back on spending in certain categories.

You can unlock Chime+™⁷ <p>To be eligible for Chime+TM status you must receive a qualifying direct deposit to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 34 days. Certain products marketed as Chime+ benefits have additional eligibility requirements. While some Chime+ benefits may have associated fees, none of these fees are mandatory to access Chime+ benefits or to maintain Chime+ status. See <a href="https://www.chime.com/chimeplus-terms/">Chime+ Terms and Conditions</a> for details. CHIME+ is a Trademark of Chime Financial, Inc.</p> , which activates cash back earning if you make a qualifying direct deposit of $200 into your Chime Checking account in the preceding 34 days.

Maintain monthly direct deposits to keep the cash back coming. The spending categories rotate each quarter, so make sure to check the Chime app to see where you'll get the most bang for your buck. Examples include groceries, utility bills, and restaurants.

Chime Deals

Chime also offers cash back rewards at partner retailers that you can activate in the Chime app. You'll then receive cash back when you use your Chime Card to make a purchase after activating the offer within a set timeframe.⁸ <p>Eligibility requirements and limits apply. See Chime Deals®. <a href="https://www.chime.com/chime-deals-terms/?lid=jts3feulagyi">Terms and Conditions</a>.</p>

Earning and redeeming cash back

Potential earnings

The Chime Card earns 1.5% cash back on on rotating categories with Chime+ status so your earnings depend on your spending in those categories for the quarter. For example, let's say the categories for the first quarter of the year were groceries, utility bills, and restaurants.

Based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, the typical household spends an average of $3,500 on groceries, $375 on utility bills, and $875 on dining out each quarter. At a rate of 1.5% cash back, you'd rack up $71.25 in cash back rewards after just three months of using your Chime Card.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Maximizing your redemptions

You won't be able to redeem your cash back, per se.

Instead, any cash back rewards you earn with your Chime Card will be automatically distributed weekly via direct deposit into your Chime Checking account as, well, cash. You'll also get a monthly statement showing your earnings.

Chime Card™

Chime Card™¹ <p>The secured Chime Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.</p>

Unlock unlimited 1.5% cash back⁶ <p>With a qualifying direct deposit, earn 1.5% cash back on eligible secured Chime Visa® Credit Card purchases.</p> on rotating categories with qualifying direct deposit.⁹ <p>Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade.&nbsp;</p>

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Why you might want a different card

The Chime Card is an excellent no-credit-check secured credit card for folks who want to build credit safely without worrying about annual fees or interest, but it's not the best option for everyone. You might want to consider a different credit card if:

You want access to credit beyond your deposit

With the Chime Card, your spending is limited by the funds in your account. Additionally, Chime doesn't offer an unsecured credit card you can switch to later on.

Some secured credit cards offer credit limits higher than your security deposit, offer the opportunity to unlock a higher limit through responsible use, or provide a path toward automatic approval for an unsecured card from the same issuer after a number of on-time payments.

Examples include the Platinum Secured Credit Card from Capital One, which sometimes offers an initial $200 credit limit with a security deposit as low as $49 and considers a credit line increase after as little as six months, and the Discover it^® Secured Credit Card, which begins automatic reviews for an upgrade to an unsecured credit card after just seven months.

You want rewards without banking requirements

The Chime Card requires a Chime Checking account, and you need to meet direct deposit requirements to get the most benefits like cash back rewards. If you'd prefer to stick with your current bank and don't want the hassle of setting up a new account, consider a different credit card.

You think you might qualify for an unsecured credit card

It's possible you could qualify for an unsecured credit card with bad credit. If you think you might prefer an unsecured card, you might try applying for one first. You could also consider other methods of building credit before applying for a credit card, like becoming an authorized user on someone else's account.

You could also apply for a credit-builder loan. OnePay even offers a zero-interest credit builder loan program. (Learn more in our OnePay vs. Chime comparison.)

Compare Chime Card to other cards

	Chime Card™	Current Build Visa® Credit Card	Quicksilver Secured from Capital One
Annual fee	$0	$0	$0
Rewards rate	Unlimited 1.5% cash back on rotating categories with Chime+ status	1X on dining and grocery purchases	unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Min. credit score	No credit check required	No credit check required	Fair
Min. security deposit	$1	$1	$200
Best for	Beginners who tend to overspend	Beginners with ambitious credit, savings, and investing goals	High rewards rate and fast track to an unsecured credit card
	Apply now	Apply now	Learn more

Current Build Visa^® Credit Card

The Current Build Card is similar to the Chime Card. It requires a Current account, but there's no credit check required to open the card, and the money in your account determines your spend limit.¹⁰ <p><b>Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC.</b>.</p>

The card earns a flat 1X on dining and grocery purchases, which may be more lucrative than Chime's rotating categories for some people, and the Current account has added features, like a higher potential APY on savings, investing options, and a paycheck advance feature. The Current Build Card does have a late payment fee of 3% of any total due balances outstanding and past due for two or more billing cycles.

Learn more in our Current Banking Review

Quicksilver Secured from Capital One

The Quicksilver Secured Card from Capital One requires fair credit and a minimum $200 security deposit, which may rule it out for some folks, but it also earns a whopping 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day without any banking requirements beyond the security deposit.

You could be assigned a credit limit between $1,000 and $3,000, which would give you some borrowing power. And you could be automatically considered for an upgrade to an unsecured credit card in as little as six months and get your security deposit back if approved. But the card has a high APR, so be sure to pay on time.

Learn more in our Quicksilver Secured from Capital One Review

FAQs

Bottom line

We like the Chime Card for people who are new to credit cards. The in-app credit building tools, repayment options, and absence of fees make it easy to build credit while avoiding overspending, late payments, and other mistakes.

But it's not a great option for people who are already set up with another bank, want a credit limit above and beyond their security deposit, or are looking for a pathway to an upgraded credit card.

Other secured cards also make it easier to earn rewards without keeping track of rotating categories or merchant deals.

Learn More

No annual fee, late fees, interest, or foreign transaction fees⁵ <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.</p>

Automatic repayment option helps you avoid running out of funds to pay your bill

No credit check required to open

Author Details

Lindsay Frankel

FinanceBuzz writer Lindsay Frankel is interested in helping people get the most out of their money, whether they're looking for an insurance company, planning a trip abroad, saving for an important expense, or buying something online. She has been featured in several finance publications, including the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Investopedia.