When was the last time you went into a bank? Can’t remember? That may be a sign that mobile banking is taking over. It’s about Chime.

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There are few things more annoying in my life than recurring, nominal bank fees. I find it amazing that few things can rile us up more than looking over a bank statement and finding a $9.99 monthly charge.

Good thing then, that Chime–a new platform that is backed by Bancorp Bank (and FDIC insured)–offers checking, savings, and debit card accounts… fee-free.

Before you decide to start an account with Chime Bank, look over the fine print. In this article, I’ll review Chime Bank in detail, so you can determine if it’s right for you or not. Let’s start with learning more about Chime itself.

What Is Chime?

Many of us are getting fed up with traditional banks. Banking is something that we need to have access to, but the associated fees and other nuisances that go along with it are less than desirable.

So, we’ve been seeking banking alternatives that do things in a more customer-friendly fashion. One such bank is Chime Bank.

Chime Bank is an online or “mobile-only” bank that offers you an alternative to traditional banking methods. If you are sick of having to pay high fees or if you don’t want to deal with overdrafts, then you might be interested in this banking method.

It makes things convenient and offers you a streamlined service that’s easy to understand.

How Chime Works

The layout of Chime is simple: everyone that signs up will have access to a checking account (Chime calls this a “Spending Account”), a savings account, and a debit card.

All the money that you deposit into your Chime account will initially go to your checking account. You can use that money to make everyday purchases with your debit card, use it online like a standard checking account (to send money), or write paper checks using the Chime Checkbook app.

Money from your checking account can be transferred to your savings account. Then, you can choose to keep it there or set up external transfer accounts (there is no charge to transfer cash).

Chime Bank Key Features

Chime Savings Round-Ups

Every time you use your debit card to make a purchase, Chime will automatically round the change up (to the nearest $1). Then, it will deposit that change into your Chime savings account.

For example, if you make a purchase at the grocery store for $44.26, Chime will charge your debit card $45. The additional $0.74 will be transferred into your savings account automatically. This is done for every single purchase you make.

On the surface, this may not sound all too different from other money-rounding apps, like Acorns or Qoins.

Savings round up bonuses will be deposited every Friday, and the max amount of bonus money you can earn as a result of these round ups is $500 annually. When you consider the example above, I would venture to say that hitting the $500 figure in a single year would require many thousands of annual purchases. It would be very difficult to do (meaning the cap should not be considered a negative factor).

High Yield Interest Rate of 0.01%

Unlike traditional banks that are now paying an APY north of 1%, Chime pays only a 0.01% APY.  Your savings account, essentially will not earn an annual interest rate, so parking your money there for an extended period of time is not a wise decision.

That said, you have the ability to transfer out of the Chime savings account to an external account whenever you wish. On a balance of $10,000, a high yield savings account earning 1.15% APY would net you $115 in interest for the year.  That’s money left on the table if you decide to keep your savings in Chime.

Related: Best Online Savings Accounts with High Interest

Automatic Savings Feature + Checkbook

Chime allows all of its members to have direct deposits placed into their checking accounts. From there, users can choose to set up an automatic savings feature, which allows 10% of your direct deposit to automatically be placed in your savings account for direct deposits over $500.  You’ll find this in your Chime account.

Chime Checkbook allows you to send a paper check free of charge, to anyone you need. The app can be found on any mobile device or in your Chime online account. Plus, there is no limit to the number of checks you can send each month. However, there is a limit of $5,000 per check sent and $10,000 per month in total amount of checks sent.

ATM Access

You can enjoy many free ATM’s to withdraw money from your account when you sign up for Chime Bank. The ATM network is robust with more than 38,000 free ATM’s through the MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATM networks. If you use an out of network ATM, then the fee will only be $2.50, which is better than most traditional banks.

Automatic Deposits and No Foreign Transaction Fees

You can make use of features such as an automatic deposit for your paycheck. This makes it possible to get your paycheck early and is one convenience that draws people to the bank.

You also won’t have to put up with any annoying foreign transaction fees so those who travel abroad can rest easy.

Open a Chime account

Chime Bank Pricing & Fees

The reasons why you would generally incur a fee on your checking account are somewhat universal.  They are:

• Your average daily balance dropped below the required amount to keep the account fee-free.
• You did not make enough debits from the account in a month.
• The account you had signed up for was discontinued, and you were automatically enrolled in a different program… one that now incurs fees.

However, Chime does not charge for any of these things.

In fact, the only fee you will ever find from using your Chime savings, checking, or debit card account is if you make a withdrawal from an ATM that is not on their network.

No minimum fees, no monthly fees, and no overdraft fees. Ever. But that’s not the only reason to consider using Chime for your everyday banking needs.

Also, the fact that there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about is a real upside for people who travel out of the country regularly. If you travel out of the country on business or if you have family in another country, then you will not have to worry about fees hampering your experience. The fees are kept to a minimum here, and that is the most positive aspect of this banking option.

Chime Signing Up

Signing up for Chime shouldn’t be overly complicated, but it is not always instantaneous. Some users have reported not getting their bank account card for up to two weeks after signing up.

This can be quite an inconvenience for some and is something you will want to consider before moving forward. The actual application process is simple enough, but you may wind up waiting longer to take advantage of the account than you would like.

You will only need to provide the standard forms of identification to get things started. Getting an account is easy enough to make this a practical option for most people. As long as you have a smartphone, it should be simple to sign up and then manage your account as necessary.

Just remember that there are no traditional bank branches for you to rely on so you will be doing everything using your smartphone.

Chime Bank Security

The security of your money is very important, and you want to make sure that you can trust any bank before doing business with them. Thankfully, Chime Bank has the fundamental security credentials you would expect from a bank.

They are partnered with the FDIC so you can feel confident that your money will be in good hands if you use this bank. You can set up both a checking (again, called a spending account) and a savings account with no problems.

Being this is a mobile-only bank, you may not get the same help you would at a traditional bank. If you do encounter security problems, it will likely be more difficult to resolve these issues. They do not have the same robust support structure that most traditional banks do, so remember this before you sign up.

Chime Bank Mobile Support & Accessibility

The mobile support and accessibility of this banking option is its best feature, aside from the lack of fees. You will be managing your bank account entirely from your mobile phone.

This means that the bank is structured around mobile support and accessibility, to begin with. You can access your banking information at any time and can make whatever moves are necessary on the fly.

Keeping track of how much money is in your account will always feel effortless. You won’t be left guessing and should be able to keep your money moving smoothly. This is a straightforward experience that allows you to do what you need to do without making it a hassle.

Open a Chime account

Chime Bank Customer Service & Support

Customer service and support staff might be lacking when you use Chime. Being a mobile-only bank puts it at a disadvantage in several ways.

For example, you’ll never have the option to talk with someone about any problems you are experiencing face-to-face. If there is an unresolved issue with your account, then you must try to solve it over the phone.

Chime Bank is not a large bank either. They do have essential partnerships and are a credible operation. Regardless, the level of their customer support staff is not up to the same standard as many traditional banking options. This could wind up harming your overall experience and will make some people shy away from signing up.

If you are worried about having a tough time with the customer service situation, then go with a different bank. Using Chime won’t be as easy if you’re expecting a robust customer service platform.

The customer service agents are there and will work to assist you. Just understand that customer service is not an area where Chime Bank shines.

Pros & Cons

Alternatives

One of the alternatives to using Chime Bank will be signing up with a more traditional bank. Choosing one of the big branches in your area might be more beneficial to you.

These large banks can also act as lenders when you need loans, so it’s helpful to build a relationship with a renowned bank. There are other options closer to what Chime Bank offers as a mobile-only option, too.

You could consider signing up at Simple. This is another fee-free checking account you can take advantage of. It has no monthly fees and a 0.01% APY. It might be worth it to consider going this route instead, so take your time to consider your options before moving forward. It is another all-digital option, but it might be better than Chime Bank in a few key ways. This option will still have some downsides that Chime Bank does.

If none of these options work for you, check out our list of free checking accounts you can open right now.

Bottom Line – Is Chime Right for You?

When you consider what Chime has to offer, this is a terrific offer for anyone in need of a fee-free debit card and a fee-free checking account.

To anyone that cannot use a cash back credit card to make routine purchases, this is a fantastic alternative. For this reason alone, I would highly recommend Chime.

I’d also recommend Chime to anyone in need of an online checking account.  The ability to send paper checks without cost is a huge plus, and it would be nice not to have to worry about unnecessary banking fees.

That said, this is not the place to park your savings.  I appreciate that Chime offers the ability. Without paying a substantive interest rate, though, there are better (high yield) savings accounts available to earn a respectable return. Utilize the Chime savings account and take advantage of their automated savings tools, but also be smart and set up external savings accounts. Interest rates are on the rise and it would be foolish to miss out.

Open a Chime account

Topics: Banking

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