Chime: A New Way of Banking
Get paid earlier, boost your savings and raise your credit score with this digital bank.
Chime has been provides simple, intuitive online banking services with no monthly fees, no fees for foreign transactions and no minimum balance requirements.
Why Switch Banks?
When was the last time you went into a bank? Can’t even remember? That may be a definite sign that mobile banking is taking over. Now with the global pandemic, we’re even less inclined to visit a branch.
Not only that, but if you sign up with direct deposit, you’ll get a $50 bonus added to your account!
People don’t talk about it quite as much as they were when wall street crashed in 2008, but big banks are the worst. Aside from the fact that they’re full of crooks, big banks provide terrible customer service, charge outrageous fees, and generally profit from your lack of funds. You should probably stop giving them your money now.
Unfortunately, short of going the way of my depression-era great-grand parents and stuffing it in mattresses and burying it in the tomato garden, quitting big banks is a difficult thing to do.
Banking in Today's Modern World
Studies show that millennials have a high distrust of banks and many would prefer to simply do all banking through apps. Over half of young people reported they don’t think that their bank offers anything unique compared to other banks.
To most millennials, checking and savings accounts are outdated, and a whopping 70% of them believe that the way we pay for things will be totally different within five years. Why would you stick with a tired and greedy old bank when the future of money is about to change completely?
There is hope, however. You can cut yourself out from big banks. It’s entirely possible to never set foot in a bank again and lead an enriched, financially responsible lifestyle.
Banking that has your back
No monthly fees, no hidden fees, no minimum balance required. 100% Free banking.
Chime is a digital bank that prides itself on profiting with customers, not off of them.
Since 2014, Chime has been providing simple, intuitive online banking services with no monthly fees, no fees for foreign transactions and no minimum balance requirements.
Chime also offers “second chance banking” options for customers whose past credit mistakes have made it difficult for them to get access to a traditional bank account.
There are no physical branches, so all of the bank’s accounts are either managed online or through its mobile app.
Why we left our "regular" bank for Chime
My first bank was Bank of America — Here’s a situation that occurred more than once: It’s a Friday and your direct deposit is getting paid in. You also have some bills due today. What does BofA do? They run all of your debits (bills) before your credits (paycheck), so even though you had the money in there that same day, they overdraft your account to the tune of $35 each.
One overdraft fee triggers another, and the next thing you know, you’re $300 in the red. Not only would I be broke, I’d also have to fudge my way through some terrible phone call to straighten out the fees—only one of which would they reverse.
We got fed up with them and jumped on an introductory $300 promotion with Chase. With their $12 a month checking account fee & other hidden fees it didn’t take them long to take that money right back off us.
I finally came to the realization that all big banks are the same, greedy and for profit, with ongoing contributions to the horror that is the financial crisis. I was ready to ditch them all.
That’s when I found 100% free banking with Chime.
Better (FREE) Banking with Chime
100% fee-free banking. No fees. Ever.
Since joining Chime two years ago, I have not paid a single bank fee, not one. I get my money direct deposited 2 days earlier, and I never have to worry about waking up to a negative balance. It’s been a completely different experience to every other “traditional” bank I’ve been a part of, and I would never go back.
With Chime there are NO FEES. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No monthly service fees. No foreign transaction fees. No transfer fees. Plus, over 38,000 free ATMs nationwide.
Join me and save hundreds in bank fees! With 100% free banking with Chime, you will not only save a lot on fees, but lose the headache of bank worries. Chime does more than any other bank when it comes to helping its customers save.
Get Paid Early with Chime Bank
With Chime direct deposit you can get your money up to 2 days before payday! Ka-ching!
Get a jump on payday: You can receive your paycheck up to two days earlier than at a traditional bank if you set up direct deposit — Chime processes your employer’s check immediately instead of waiting like other banks may.
Chime offers a program that accelerates your direct deposits, making them available to you up to two days early. Once you establish direct deposit into your Spending Account, you’re eligible and can choose to receive your payment up to two days early, as soon as your employer deposits it.
Is Chime a Legit Bank?
Chime is a mobile-only bank, so it’s not like your traditional neighborhood branch. However, it still has all the fundamentals of a regular bank, such as FDIC insurance, so it’s a safe place to keep your money. It has a “spending” account, as well as a savings account.
Chime’s mobile app excels where it counts — customers have rated the iOS version 4.8 out of 5 stars and the Android app 4.6 out of 5 stars. What’s more, daily balance updates and real-time transaction alerts can help customers stay on top of their spending. And if your card goes missing, you can block transactions using the Chime app.
In addition to having low fees, Chime opts out of using screening tools that most banks use to determine whether a person will be blocked from getting a bank account if they’ve had one closed in the past. This can make Chime a helpful banking solution if you’re trying to restart your financial life.
Chime for Travel
Why Chime is perfect for Digital Nomads
We travel a lot, and international fees can really add up. Not having to worry about the transaction fees lets us worry less and enjoy more.
These foreign transaction fees (at other banks, typically 1% to 3% of the amount of your purchase) can really add up quickly when shopping or withdrawing money from ATMs while you’re abroad.
In 2019 we went of a month-long European vacation, visiting the U.K., Spain and Germany. When we returned I added up all the foreign transaction fees, and it was over $300! Each time we used our card we were paying extra. With Chime, there are no international or foreign transaction fees.
Better Banking with Chime
Other great features:
–$50 bonus for signing up with direct deposit. Plus, an additional $50 bonus for each friend or family member who signs up with your link!
-Thousands of ATMs: You’ll have access to over 38,000 fee-free MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs.
-No checks: If you need to send a check, Chime will send one on your behalf through its Checkbook feature. There’s no limit on how many checks you can send, but you’re limited to $5,000 per payment and $10,000 in a calendar month. Your account must be open for at least 30 days to be able to use the feature.
-Chime is both a bank account and an app to manage that account. When you open an account here, you get a Spending Account and a Savings Account. You’ll also receive the Chime Visa Debit Card.
-The accounts are FDIC-insured. They have features that millennials have come to expect, including no monthly minimums or fees, no overdraft fees, and plenty of fee-free ATMs.
-Automatic savings program. When you spend $2.25 on coffee, Chime will round up the transaction to $3 and toss the extra $.75 into your savings account.
-No Fees. Chime’s accounts are fee-free, and so is its automatic savings program.
-Paycheck Savings. When you set up your Chime accounts, you can automatically move 10% of your paycheck over to savings.
All in all, if you’re looking for a way to save your virtual change, Chime is an excellent option. Just complete an average of two transactions per day (including online bill pay), and you can easily save around $400 in a year.
Sign up to Chime and enroll in direct deposit for a $50 bonus today!
Looking for Ways to Make Money Online?
I had a dream of quitting my corporate job, working online and travelling the world. Two years ago, that dream became a reality. While Covid-19 may have halted our travel plans for the time being, I am SO grateful to be working from home and not on the frontlines.
Here are some articles about making money online that allowed me to quit my job and work from home full time:
