Chime Alternatives: Banks and Apps Like Chime
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Discover the best Chime competitors that can offer you better rewards and a wider range of account options.
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Build Credit While You Bank
- Get Paid Up to 2 Days Faster
- Build credit and earn points with every swipe
- 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
- No credit check, minimum balance or hidden fees
BMO Smart Advantage Checking - $400 Cash Bonus
Open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking online and get a $400 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 120 days of account opening. Offer is limited to one per customer and is not available for existing BMO personal checking customers (including signers on joint accounts) or those who have closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months. Conditions apply.
High Interest Checking - Up to 1.10% APY
- Earn up to 1.10% APY
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- APY is based on the account balance and making at least 10 qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions of $10.00 or more per statement cycle.
Golden Checking - 0.10% APY
- Interest-bearing checking account for age 55+
- No fees
- Free personal checks
Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY923 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 12/14/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.
Rewards Checking Plus - Up to 2% Cash Back
- Up to 2% cash back on purchases.
- No monthly fees
- Get paid up to 2 days early.
- Maximize your rewards with direct deposit.
Key Smart Checking® - $200 Bonus
- Earn a $200 cash bonus when you open a Key Smart Checking account by 12/8/23 and make one direct deposit of at least $500 within 60 days.
- Convenient banking at 40,000+ KeyBank and Allpoint ATMs.
- Key Smart Checking® is a no monthly maintenance fee account
- Set custom alerts so you can receive text or email updates about the account information that's important to you.
- Move money easily with Zelle, mobile check deposit, online banking and more.
- Enjoy chip security, Tap & Go technology and all benefits of Mastercard.
- FDIC Insured. Up to the maximum allowable limit.
Chime is a popular digital app that offers great technology and high APY. But Chime is not a bank, Chime is a financial technology company.
Check out how Chime alternatives like Axos Bank, Quontic Bank, and Ally Bank stack up in this review.
The Top 5 Alternatives to Chime
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Chime provides a great alternative banking option, especially for people who can't open a traditional bank account due to a bad ChexSystems score.
However, Chime is not without its limitations. Below, review the top Chime alternatives you should consider.
Rewards Checking Plus - Up to 2% Cash Back
- Up to 2% cash back on purchases.
- No monthly fees
- Get paid up to 2 days early.
- Maximize your rewards with direct deposit.
Build Credit While You Bank
- Get Paid Up to 2 Days Faster
- Build credit and earn points with every swipe
- 40,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
- No credit check, minimum balance or hidden fees
1. Axos Bank - Better Rewards
Unlike Chime, Axos is an actual FDIC-insured banking institution — not a fintech company that provides banking services through a third-party bank.
Whether Axos is right for you depends on what you're prioritizing in a bank. Overall, Axos offers more account options and better rewards than Chime, but their technology isn't as fast or user-friendly.
If you heavily rely on features like push notifications or transactions, Axos may not be the best alternative for you (but there's plenty more to choose from further down).
Rewards Checking - Up to 3.30% APY
- Use promo code SUNNYBONUS and apply by December 31st, to earn up to a $300 bonus!
- Up to 3.30% APY
- Zero monthly maintenance fees
- Zero overdraft or NSF fees
- Zero minimum monthly balance reqs
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
- Online debit card management
- Simple, 3-step process for direct deposit
- Only $50 to open an account
Essential Checking
- Unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No annual fee
- No overdraft or non-sufficient funds fee
CashBack Checking - Earn up to 1.00% Cash Back
- Earn up to 1.00% cash back on signature-based purchases
- Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement
- No monthly maintenance fee
- $50 minimum balance required to open account
First Checking - 0.10% APY
- Joint checking account for 13-17 year olds
- No fees
- Up to $12 domestic ATM fee reimbursements per month
Golden Checking - 0.10% APY
- Interest-bearing checking account for age 55+
- No fees
- Free personal checks
Chime vs. Axos takeaway: Axos may come up short in the technology factor, but this digital-only bank offers better rewards and more accounts to choose from than Chime
2. Quontic - Better Checking Options
Quontic is a community development bank that gives back by using deposits to help lower-income families secure mortgage financing.
This bank really shines in the checking account space. They offer three distinct and impressive account options: High-Interest Checking, Cash Rewards Checking, and the first-ever Bitcoin Rewards Checking.
However, like Axos, Quontic falls short due to slow and unimpressive technology. It also requires a $100 minimum deposit for each account, compared to $0 for Chime.
High Interest Checking - Up to 1.10% APY
- Earn up to 1.10% APY
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- APY is based on the account balance and making at least 10 qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions of $10.00 or more per statement cycle.
Cash Rewards Checking
- Get 1.00% Cash Back on All Eligible Debit Card Purchases
- $100 minimum opening deposit
High Yield Savings - 4.50% APY
- 4.50% APY
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly service fees
Chime vs Quontic takeaway: Quontic has a feel-good mission behind their banking, plus an impressive suite of checking accounts with modern features that Chime doesn't offer
3. Ally Bank - More Financial Services
Ally was originally the financial sector of General Motors, then called GMAC.
Now, Ally is a full-service online bank with competitive rates. While Ally offers a higher savings account APY than Chime, they also pay interest on checking accounts.
In addition, Ally provides paper checks, a feature Chime does not have. If you need to use a traditional paper check as a Chime account holder, your only option is to have a pre-printed check mailed to the recipient from Chime corporate HQ, which can be time-consuming.
In addition to spending and savings accounts, Ally offers IRA retirement accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and home, auto, and personal loans.
Interest Checking
- 0.10% APY for daily balances less than $15,000
- 0.25% APY for daily balance over $15,000
- $10/month rebate for ATMs outside of Ally Network
- $0 minimum opening deposit
- No fees to open or maintain account
- FDIC insured
- Daily compounding interest
Personal Checking Account - $200 Bonus
Open a new Ally Bank Spending Account. Use promo code GET200 at account opening. Set up and receive qualifying direct deposit of at least $1,500 within 90 days of account opening.
Online Savings Account - 4.25% APY
$0 minimum opening deposit. No minimum balance requirement. No fees to open or maintain account.
Chime vs. Ally takeaway: Ally provides far more traditional banking products than Chime, a good option for those who want a one-stop-shop bank
Discover Online Savings - $150 Cash Bonus
To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY923 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 12/14/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.
4. Varo - Higher Savings APY
Varo is Chime's most similar alternative — in fact, the offerings from these two companies are virtually identical.
Like Chime, Varo only offers checking, savings, and credit-builder (called Varo Believe) accounts.
Varo customers can also receive their direct deposits two days early and have access to 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs with their Visa debit card, just like Chime.
Varo's savings account pays a higher interest rate than Chime's. You can get 3.00% APY on entire balance, with chance to earn 5.00% APY (on up to $5,000) when you meet requirements. This includes receiving $1,000+ in direct deposit and ending the month with a positive balance in your account.
Online Savings Account
- Earn 3.00% up to 5.00% APY
- No minimum to open
- No monthly maintenance fee
- Member FDIC
Chime vs. Varo takeaway: Varo is as close as you can get to Chime without actually using Chime.
5. Capital One 360 - Better Accessibility
Capital One 360 offers competitive banking options, including checking and savings accounts, business and commercial bank accounts, and auto loans.
Capital One 360 Savings has higher savings APY than Chime.
For starters, Capital One customers can deposit cash into their account with no fees and have access to "branch" locations using Capital One Cafes.
Capital One is also the only Chime alternative this writer has personal experience with that meets or exceeds Chime's technology — including app simplicity, user-friendliness, and security.
Personal Checking Account - $350 Bonus
Open a new 360 Checking account. Use promo code BONUS350 at account opening. Set up and receive 2 or more qualifying direct deposits of at least $250 each within 75 days of account opening.
360 Checking Account
- $0 opening minimum
- No monthly service fee
- No minimum balance requirement
- 0.10% APY
- 40,000+ Allpoint ATMs
MONEY Teen Checking Account
- No monthly service fee
- No minimum balance
- Free debit card for kids
- Parental controls
360 Performance Savings - 4.30% APY
- 4.30% APY
- $0 opening minimum
- No monthly service fee
- No minimum balance requirement
Chime vs. Capital One 360 takeaway: Capital One 360 offers the high APYs and less overhead that people love about modern banks plus the in-person support of traditional brick-and-mortar banks
Yes. One major perk of Capital One compared to the alternatives on this list is the ability to deposit cash into your checking or savings account at Capital One ATMs or Capital One Cafe locations.
UFB High Yield Savings - Earn up to 5.25% APY
- Earn up to 5.25% APY*
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No minimum deposit required to open an account
- Access your funds 24/7 with easy-to-use digital banking tools
Chime Pros and Cons
Not sure if you're ready to pass on Chime? Review these pros and cons for a quick recap of the best and worst points about this digital-only financial technology company.
Pros
- 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY).
- Up to $200 SpotMe fee-free overdraft protection[1]
- Improve your credit score risk-free with a Credit Builder account
- 60,000+ fee-free ATM locations
- Compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay
Cons
- Mediocre APY compared to some alternatives
- No physical branch locations
- Poor customer service: the most-frequent complaint in negative Trustpilot reviews
- Pay Friends service is only available if both parties have Chime accounts
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chime's banking services are provided by either The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A. Both are FDIC-insured institutions, so your money will be safe in the event of a bank default.
How to Choose the Right Bank for You
With the number of new digital banks offering great rewards constantly expanding, it can be difficult to decide on what banking option is best suited for your needs. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding on your next financial institution:
Low Fees
The average monthly fee for interest checking accounts nationwide is $16.19. That means the average person wastes over $194 per year on maintenance fees![2]
When deciding on a bank account, make sure you find one that does not charge monthly maintenance fees and does not require a minimum average balance.
All five alternatives listed above meet this criteria, but you can find even more great fee-free bank accounts.
High Interest or Rewards
Are you a spender or a saver?
Several companies listed above provide the option to decide between a high-interest checking account (for savers with high account balances) and cash-back rewards checking accounts (best for big spenders).
Always choose a bank that incentivizes you to use their services with cash rewards in the form of interest or cash back.
After all, banks make their money by lending out your deposits in the form of loans — using a system called fractional-reserve banking.
Big ATM Network
If you use cash, you don't want to have to pay a fee every time you use your debit card at the ATM.
Most banks allow you to view their ATM network using a map feature so you can make sure you have fee-free locations nearest you.
The Varo ATM locator tool is only available in the company's mobile app. However, it uses the same network as Chime.
Ability to Grow with You
One big drawback of Chime and Varo is the limited number of account options available.
If you have a checking and savings account, you've basically maxed out the usefulness of these companies.
Alternatives like Capital One, Axos, Ally, and Quontic offer account options like money market accounts, CDs, investment accounts, and loans that will be useful if you graduate past the point of living paycheck to paycheck and even have a full emergency fund.
If you reach that milestone (congratulations!), you don't want to have to switch banking institutions in order to open secondary savings accounts for specific goals like a home, car, or retirement.
The Bottom Line
While Chime offers a solid lineup of features, high APY compared to traditional banks, and easy-to-use technology, there are many alternatives to Chime that offer better rewards and more account options.
Always make sure to shop around to make the most out of your banking experience. Determine what your banking must-haves and nice-to-haves are to find the best bank for your needs.
References
- ^ Chime. Fee-Free Overdraft with SpotMe, Retrieved 10/20/2022
- ^ Bankrate. Survey: Bank overdraft fees tumble to 13-year low while ATM fees are back on the rise, Retrieved 10/22/2022
Chase Total Checking® - $200 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit
- Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY923 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 12/14/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.
Bank of America Business Advantage Checking Account - $200 Bonus Offer
- Open a new eligible business checking account by December 31, 2023
- Make Qualifying Deposits* of $5,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the new eligible business checking account
- Maintain an average balance of $5,000 for the next 60 days (day 31-90) during the maintenance period**
**The maintenance period begins thirty-one (31) days after account opening and ends ninety (90) calendar days after account opening.
Member FDIC
Citi Priority - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus
- Earn up to $2,000 when you open a new eligible Citi checking account and enroll in the offer the same day
- New to Relationship customers can choose their Relationship Tier.
- Within 20 days of opening, deposit the minimum amount of new-to-Citibank funds.
- Maintain a minimum balance for 60 consecutive calendar days from the 21st day.
- If your balance falls to a lower Balance Level at any point during the maintenance period, the bonus changes.
- Bonus will be paid within 30 days after you successfully complete all required activities.
- Restrictions apply.
CIT Bank Platinum Savings - 5.05% APY
- 5.05% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
- 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly maintenance fee
- Member FDIC
Write to Justin Barnard at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
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