Chime used to offer a referral bonus and a direct deposit bonus, but unfortunately, both have expired as of April 2025. The direct deposit signup bonus offered $100 that you could earn within 30 days of signing up for the Chime Checking account after meeting the requirements, and the referral bonus offered $100 for both you and the referred person.
Past Chime bonuses at a glance
Bonus type
Bonus amount
Requirements
Learn more
Chime® Checking Account direct deposit bonus (EXPIRED)
$100
Activate the promotion in the app within three days of account signup, and activate the physical Chime Visa Debit Card within 30 days of account opening. Set up a qualifying direct deposit of at least $200. You’ll receive the $100 direct deposit bonus within 10 days.
Looking for a Bonus? SoFi Checking and Savings Offers up to $300
With SoFi Checking and Savings get paid up to two days early. Set up direct deposit to automatically get your paycheck up to two days early every time you get paid
Get up to a $300 bonus with direct deposits of $5,000 or more
Up to 3.80% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements or by paying the SoFi Plus subscription fee every 30 days
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Compare more bank account bonuses
Since Chime isn’t offering any new account incentives right now, compare more bank account bonuses here.
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What does Chime consider qualifying direct deposit?
Chime accepts qualifying direct deposit of an ACH from an employer, payroll provider, benefits payer or gig economy payer. In other words, Chime considers verified income as qualifying direct deposit. These requirements also apply to its referral bonus, requiring the referred person to set up $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits for you both to earn the $100 referral bonus.
Chime does not consider these deposit methods and other similar deposits as qualifying direct deposits to earn running account bonuses:
Bank ACH transfers
Peer-to-peer transfers, such as transactions from Cash App or Venmo
Trial deposits from other banks or institutions
Cash loads or deposits
One-time direct deposits
Tax refund deposits
Mobile check deposits
Is Chime a bank?
Chime is a fintech, not a bank. It provides banking services through its bank partners.
Are there banks with immediate signup bonuses?
Rarely. Most welcome or signup bonuses for bank accounts come with direct deposit, balance or activity requirements, and after you meet those conditions, you’ll earn the bonus. In many cases, you’ll receive your bank account bonus 30 to 90 days after meeting the requirements.
Does Chime have a $50 signup bonus?
Chime used to offer a $50 direct deposit bonus for its Chime Checking Account, and then a $100 bonus, but as of 2025 both of these offers are expired.
How to get SpotMe bonus on Chime
The Chime SpotMe bonus is a temporary increase in your SpotMe limit, not a true “cash” bonus like its direct deposit bonus with its checking account. To earn SpotMe bonuses, you must participate in a Chime promotional campaign. These are limited-time offers, occasionally offered by Chime.
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
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Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio
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Cardless cash provides a convenient way to use an ATM without their card. If you often go out without your wallet, or want to make it easier for family members to take out money, this is a feature that deserves a second look.
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