Chime doesn't make it very clear that you can add your account to Cash App. Instead, they like to focus on telling you to take out a savings account with them, or a debit card. However, as this guide demonstrates, it's entirely possible to add Chime to Cash App without much difficulty. When you deposit cash to your Chime Spending Account, it is transferred by a third party to your account. Your funds will be FDIC insured once the bank holding your account receives the funds from the third party. Was this article helpful? Yes, I found my answer.

Stimulus payments and Chime

If you are a Chime member, you will be able to find out more about the status of stimulus payments on this page. We will be adding more details as we receive information regarding processing and payment timing.

Please note that our member support agents do not have information on the status of Economic Impact Payments.

Updated Jan 11th, 2021

If you have not received a stimulus payment yet, you may be impacted by an IRS error.

The IRS recently announced that it will reissue payments for all those affected by Feb 1. Most members should receive payment via direct deposit, or in some cases, paper checks.

We will continue to make payments available as soon as they arrive and keep you updated.

We've got your back

We’re offering temporary access to $200 of spending power through SpotMe to a random selection of eligible Chime members before their stimulus payments arrive.

Direct deposit your stimulus with Chime›

No hidden fees¹. Grow your savings automatically. Fee-free overdraft for eligible members².

Check my payment status›

Get information from the IRS on the status of your Economic Imapct Payment

We've got your back 💚

If you have questions regarding the stimulus payment and your Chime account, please check out our FAQ below.

If you’re eligible for an economic impact payment, but haven’t gotten it yet, it’s likely that the IRS will send you a paper check or debit card. This is expected to start soon and continue throughout the month of January.

If you received the previous stimulus payment as a direct deposit and haven’t received a second stimulus payment, the IRS likely routed your payment to tax preparer companies instead of your account. These payments were rejected and returned to the IRS. If you were impacted, you’ll either receive a paper check or a debit card from the IRS. If you do not receive your payment in any form, then you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return.

To check the status of your payment, go to IRS.gov/eip and use the Get My Payment tool.

For more information check out the IRS stimulus FAQs.

As with all direct deposits, Chime will make your money available the moment we can. Unfortunately, we have no way to track the status of your payment until it arrives in your account, but you may get your stimulus check early.

We’re offering temporary access to $200 of spending power through SpotMe to a random selection of eligible Chime members. The new SpotMe limit is temporary and limits will be adjusted to normal levels once stimulus payments are distributed.

Also, this increase cannot be combined with any offers or other bonuses. The maximum SpotMe limit is $200. Learn more here.

Your increased SpotMe limit is not an advance from Chime, a loan, or an addition to the government stimulus. It’s simply a step toward helping make the expected payment available to use as soon as possible.

Protect yourself from scams. If someone is offering you a faster stimulus payment in exchange for money or information, they are a scammer. The IRS has noted a wave of new schemes involving Stimulus Payments. Most schemes involve attempts to collect your personal or financial information in order to receive your payment sooner, but other schemes may involve first sending you a bogus check and requiring that you call in with or mail in additional information.

If you are the target of a scam, you can report it to the IRS by emailing phishing@irs.gov. For more information, see the IRS’s Coronavirus scams page.

Goodbye hidden bank fees.

Over 38,000 fee-free MoneyPass® and Visa® Plus Alliance ATMs. No monthly fees. No minimum balance fees. No overdraft. No deposit required.

Learn how we collect and use your information by visiting our Privacy Policy›

To make sure the transaction you are making is surcharge-free, look for the MoneyPass® or Visa® Plus Alliance logo on a sign at the ATM or displayed on the ATM screen. Learn more about ATM fees here.

Skip the ATM fees

While most financial institutions will allow you to use their ATMs for free, most of them charge a fee when you use one that’s out-of-network (not affiliated with the bank)

The big banks offer thousands of free ATM locations, but that availability usually depends on the number of brick and mortar branch locations they have. In fact, there are hundreds of U.S. cities where some of the largest banks haven’t set up shop, or where only a few machines are scattered across town.

With a mobile bank like Chime, you can access over 38,000+ ATM machines without having to worry about fees.

Want to avoid ATM fees?

Fees can sometimes add up to be a big problem. Most banks will charge you a fee for using an ATM that is out-of-network. In other words, if you use a machine that is not officially affiliated with your bank you may be charged a fee by the operator and also by your own bank. The best way to avoid fees is to find a bank with a fee-free ATMs and an ATM that is within your bank’s network. Therefore, before choosing a bank, it might be a good idea to check the available locations that belong to that bank.

Many banks offer thousands of fee-free ATM locations, but if you bank with a traditional bank that availability may depend on the number of brick and mortar branch locations. In fact, there are hundreds of cities nationwide where even some of the largest banks have not reached yet, or where only a few machines are scattered across town. Alternatively, mobile bank accounts such as Chime allow you to locate over 38,000+ fee-free ATM machines directly from their mobile app. That’s larger than the fee-free networks at Chase, PNC, Bank of America, CitiBank, or Wells Fargo. Chase with 18,500 and Bank of America with around 16,000 are the only ones that come even close to that number of options. Wells Fargo and PNC have somewhere around 10,000 and CitiBank has a very unenviable position with only 3,300 at its disposal. All of this should be taken into consideration when choosing the best option.

Fees Charged by Other Banks

Chime Deposit Cash Limit

All banks have different rules concerning fees and requirements and the same thing applies to ATM fees. When it comes to using an out-of-network machine, there may be an immediate operator fee which can sometimes go as high as $10 per withdrawal. Additional fees can also be charged by your own bank. As for the non-network fees, these charges fluctuate between $2 and $3.50, depending on the bank and the selected account. An international transaction fee also exists which for most banks stands at $5 plus a conversion rate of around 3% of the amount withdrawn.

It is important to mention is that there is often no notification of this fee during transactions. Chase, Bank of America, CitiBank and Wells Fargo charge $2.50 for using an out-of-network ATM, while for PNC it is a little higher at $3. There are certain exceptions where this fee can be waived but it typically requires the account holder to be enrolled in top-tier services that the bank provides.

ATM Fees are on the Rise

Across the nation, the fees for non-network transactions have hit an all-time record and are now 55% higher than in 2008. Since the recession, this fee has been steadily on the rise and it now averages around $4.70 with no signs of stopping. Some metro areas in the U.S. have already exceeded a $5 fee per transaction. Pittsburgh has a fee of approximately $5.19. It is closely followed by New York City at $5.14 for non-network transactions. Washington D.C. and Cleveland both charge about $5.11. Atlanta rounds out the highest fees at $5.04. Additionally, it is speculated that two more cities will soon be joining this list. Phoenix is currently at $4.96 and Denver at $4.92.

Chime Deposit Cash

On the other hand, there are places with fees below the average. First is Dallas, where a total average out-of-network fee stands at $4.07 which is more than sixty cents lower than the nationwide average. Milwaukee with $4.19 and San Francisco with $4.23 are close behind, followed by Seattle and Cincinnati that both have the fee at $4.30. St. Louis and Chicago are also on the list with fees of $4.41 and $4.44, respectively.

How to Avoid Fees

There are numerous strategies you can employ in order to avoid fees. Use your bank’s app to locate machines that are nearby. Of course, this may only be beneficial if you have chosen a bank with several options in your desired location. You could be in for an unpleasant surprise if your bank only has a limited number of branches or ATM machines in your area.

More Options to Avoid Fees

Withdraw cash less frequently but in higher amounts. This can help you lower the amount that you would have to pay for fees. The negative of this particular technique is that you may find it easier to spend, misplace, or lose the cash you now have in hand.

Some banks do have a way for account holders to waive all ATM fees, including out-of-network fees, but it does come with a price. Upgrading from a standard checking account to a high yield account offers benefits but also brings new monthly service charges. These charges can be avoided only if very strict requirements can be met, and they can also bring a lot of headaches to account holders that choose to do this. Also, this technique does not eliminate operator fees.

Choose the cash back option when paying. Many pharmacies, grocery stores and retailers such as Walmart, Target and Costco also allow you to receive cash back if you are using a debit card, such as Chime, at the time of a purchase without any fees. If you are shopping at any of these stores, it’s a great opportunity to grab extra cash. Not just that, but Chime gives cash back even when paying for some bills, such as cable and phone. Chime also allows you to locate over 30,000+ cash back locations where you can take out cash fee-free with a purchase.

Another strategy to avoid fees may present itself the next time you are out with a group of friends Offer to pay for the group meals or drinks in exchange for cash. You can avoid the fees and be the most popular friend at the table.

Why Choose Chime as your Financial Service Provider?

If you are looking for a checking and savings with no hidden fees, Chime account might be the best option for you. Chime is one of the fastest growing bank accounts in America with over 4 million accounts opened.

Chime has no hidden bank fees. No monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no overdraft. Chime can also save you money even when traveling overseas with no foreign transaction fees that for other traditional banks go up to 3%. Chime does have a $2.50 fee out of network ATM fee, but this can be avoided by using one of their fee-free ATMs. If you consider the 32,000 fee-free options compared to all others previously mentioned and how easy you can locate them using your mobile device you can feel safe and be certain that you will practically never have to pay for this fee.

Chime Deposit Cash Locations

Learn how we collect and use your information by visiting our Privacy Policy›