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Chime Card Review

A secured Visa with no annual fee, no late fee and no interest, because it structurally cannot carry a balance. Built for a first card or a rebuild.

CSBy the CreditStepUp teamUpdated August 30, 2026
✓Edited by CreditStepUp editorial

We review cards on the terms issuers publish: APR, fees, rewards and eligibility. We do not accept payment for a favorable review.

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The verdict

Most first cards charge you for the privilege of building credit: an annual fee, a punishing APR, a locked-up deposit. This one charges nothing and cannot put you in debt, because you can only spend money you have already moved over. Payments report to all three bureaus. The requirement is a Chime checking account, and everything else follows from that.Jump to:Full review
See how to apply On Chime's site
Chime Card (secured Visa)
Regular APRNo interestissuer terms, checked Aug 30, 2026
Intro APRNot applicable
Annual fee$0
Security depositNo minimum deposit required
Welcome bonusNone
Credit neededNo credit check
Rewards5% back on a category of choice each month with qualifying direct deposit

Rates and fees

More details

  • A Chime checking account is required to apply.
  • You move money from checking into a secured account; that balance becomes your spending limit.
  • Payment activity is reported to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
  • 5% cash back on one category of your choice each month, which requires qualifying direct deposit.
  • Issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. and usable anywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
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Pros and cons

Pros

  • No credit check to apply

  • No annual fee, no late fee, no interest

  • No minimum security deposit

  • Reports to all three bureaus

  • Cannot lead to revolving debt

Cons

  • Requires a Chime checking account

  • Your limit is only what you move over

  • 5% cash back needs qualifying direct deposit

  • No welcome bonus and no travel perks

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Full review

The mechanic is what makes this card different. You move money from your Chime checking account into a secured account, and that amount becomes what you can spend. When you use the card, you are drawing on funds you already set aside. Chime reports the activity to all three bureaus as payment history and utilization, which is the part that actually builds a score.

Because the card cannot hold a balance, there is nothing for interest to compound on. That is the honest explanation for the headline: no APR, no late fee, no annual fee. It also means the failure mode that ruins most first credit cards, spending beyond your means at 28% interest, is not available to you here.

Two things to set expectations on. Your limit is whatever you move over, so this will not help with a large unexpected expense the way a traditional card might. And the 5% cash back on a chosen category depends on qualifying direct deposit, so treat it as a bonus for people who already bank with Chime rather than the reason to open the account. After six to twelve months of on-time history, most people use the score they have built to qualify for an unsecured rewards card.

» MORE: Compare all eight cards side by side

The basics

Best for: a first card or rebuilding credit

Annual fee: $0

Card network: Visa

Credit needed: none, no credit check

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How it compares

Chime Card (secured Visa)
See how to apply
Regular APRNo interest checked Aug 30, 2026
Annual fee$0 annual fee
Intro APRNo credit check
Credit neededNo credit score required
Chase Freedom Flex
See how to apply
Regular APR18.24% – 27.74% variable APR checked Aug 30, 2026
Annual fee$0 annual fee
Intro APR0% for 15 months
Credit neededGood to excellent credit
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards
See how to apply
Regular APR17.49% – 27.49% variable APR checked Aug 30, 2026
Annual fee$0 annual fee
Intro APR0% for 15 billing cycles
Credit neededGood to excellent credit

Published issuer terms, checked Aug 30, 2026. Credit building depends on your full credit picture and is never guaranteed.

Compare before you applyEight cards, one page, same set of numbers for each.
See the comparison

Frequently asked questions

Is this a debit card?
No. It is a secured Visa credit card. It feels debit-like because you can only spend what you have moved over, but the activity is reported to the credit bureaus as a credit account.
Do I need a Chime account?
Yes. A Chime checking account is required to apply for the card.
Can a late payment still hurt me?
Yes. There is no late fee, but missed payments and collections can still damage your credit, so treat the due date seriously.

About the author

CS

CreditStepUp Team

We compare credit cards on the terms issuers publish and update our pages when those terms change.