The Chime card was really popular for awhile, it had great deals that were similar to AmEx sync deals and you could load it with debit cards. Unfortunately they cut back on who was targeted for deals and added fees for most debit cards that earned rewards/needed to be unloaded. To make matters worse, Chime charges you a $5 fee per month if the card hasn’t been used in 180 days.
A reader recently let me know that they forgot about this card and only noticed when they logged in and saw that they were charged a bunch of fees. I just wanted to remind everybody to make sure to use this card at least once every 180 days to avoid these fees. It’s not all bad news though, it looks like Chime is starting to open new deals to everybody again, so you should check the card regularly to see if there is anything of interest. Travel With Grant regularly posts about these deals, so make sure you follow his blog and him on Twitter if you don’t fancy regularly checking your account. Here are some of the deals they have recently offered:
Does Chime still charge this fee now?
If your account is at $0, they shouldn’t charge you any fees right…? lol
Also wondering this
I guess I’ll find out! $0 balance right now, last transaction was 4/3. I should be finding out on 10/3!
Lol, I wrote on their facebook page that I thought they should email their customers after the first $5 fee so they knew about this instead of just continueing to charge them $5 every month secretly. They deleted my commment.
They seem like a pretty dishonest company. Anyone know how to close their chime account online?
Thanks
What is definition of use. If I just load and use checkbook feature will I be hit with a fee?
Yeah, that would work. Even just doing one of those two should work.
You sure they opened offers to everybody again?
Maybe I’m just seeing them again because I haven’t done anything with my account recently. You not seeing them anymore? I presume a lot of the deals that Grant posted are completely filled now which is maybe why you’re not seeing them.
Will, am I missing something here? They removed debit card loading? I just did this on Saturday and do that all the time in order to qualify for the top-tier APY on my CCU checking account…
Yeah Will is just wrong here. I still have the debit card loading option.
I think he meant “free” debit card loading with all banks. They started charging a 3% fee when loading with certain rewards/”unusual” debit cards (similar to what evolve did), so it was not as lucrative anymore – they mention the 3% in their terms and conditions:
Bank debit card: minimum of $25 and maximum of $200 per load per day; within minutes of approved transaction. A fee up to 3% may apply.
I’m guessing he meant that they cut down on how many debit cards are allowed. Buxx used to be allowed, for example.
Guys! I’m pretty sure we all know what he MEANT but what he actually SAID is just wrong. Using Chime to reach a number X of debit card transactions for bank bonuses etc. is a very live endeavor. Add in the odd good gig (though not as good as say Amex Sync offers but comparable to Bank Amerideals) and you still have a prepaid card worth keeping if you have a need for it. I’m just not comfortable putting all required 12 debit card transactions on my Redbird so I split it between the 2 and mix the odd Square cash payment in between.
I’ve updated the post to fix my mistake, thanks for the heads up.