For years, Chime’s secured card was known for one thing: helping people build credit without the traps of interest, credit checks, or annual fees. In late 2025, Chime gave it a full makeover — a new name (the “Chime Card”), a refreshed look, and, for the first time, real cash back on everyday spending. If you’ve heard the card “now earns rewards” and wondered what changed, here’s the plain-English breakdown.
What Exactly Is the New Chime Card?
The Chime Card is a secured Visa credit card — the evolution of what used to be called the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa Credit Card. “Secured” means your spending is backed by money you’ve already set aside, so there’s no traditional credit line the bank is lending you. What’s new is that the card now layers a cash back rewards program on top of its credit-building foundation, plus updated card designs.
The core credit-building mechanics haven’t changed. There’s no credit check to apply, no annual fee, no interest, and no late fees. Chime reports your activity to all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), which is how the card helps your score grow over time.
How the secured structure works
Instead of a preset credit limit, your spending power comes from a Secured Deposit Account. You move money from your Chime Checking Account into that secured account, and that amount becomes your available-to-spend balance. There’s no minimum security deposit required, so you decide how much to put in. Because you’re spending money you already funded, you can’t overspend into debt — and Chime can automatically pay off your balance from your deposit so payments are reported as on-time.
The Rewards: How Cash Back Actually Works
This is the headline change. The Chime Card now earns cash back — but the rate you get depends on your Chime membership tier, which is tied to your qualifying direct deposits. You also pick one bonus category each month (think groceries, gas, dining, travel, utilities, phone, or cable/internet).
| Tier | Cash back rate | Direct deposit needed (rolling 34 days) | Monthly cash back cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chime+ trial (no qualifying deposit yet) | 1.5% on eligible purchases | None during trial | Varies by trial terms |
| Chime Plus | 2% on your chosen category | $200+ single deposit, or $400+ cumulative | $30 |
| Chime Prime | 5% on your chosen category | $3,000+ in qualifying direct deposits | $75 |
For the 2% and 5% tiers, cash back applies to up to $1,500 in eligible purchases per calendar month in your selected category. Spend beyond $1,500 in that category and the extra purchases simply stop earning the bonus rate for the month. Because the rate is tied to your membership tier, keeping qualifying direct deposits flowing is what keeps the higher rewards switched on.
Worked example
Say you’re a Chime Prime member (you receive a $3,000+ paycheck via direct deposit) and you pick groceries as your category. You spend $1,200 on groceries this month:
- $1,200 × 5% = $60 cash back
If you’d spent $2,000 on groceries, only the first $1,500 earns the bonus — so you’d hit the $75 monthly cap (1,500 × 5% = $75) and the remaining $500 wouldn’t earn the 5%.
Now compare a Chime Plus member with the same $1,200 in groceries: $1,200 × 2% = $24 cash back. The jump from Plus to Prime is the real reward incentive for routing a full paycheck through Chime.
Fees and the Optional Titanium Upgrade
The Chime Card stays true to Chime’s fee-free reputation on the things that matter most, but there are a few optional costs worth knowing.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Interest / APR | None (secured, pay-as-you-go) |
| Late fees | $0 |
| Credit check to apply | None |
| Minimum security deposit | $0 |
| Standard card design (Classic Black or Evergreen) | Free |
| Titanium finish (optional) | $50 + tax |
| Out-of-network ATM withdrawal | $2.50 |
You still get access to 47,000+ fee-free ATMs (including many at Walgreens, CVS, and similar retailers), plus instant card freeze/unfreeze, real-time transaction alerts, and fraud monitoring in the app.
Who Qualifies for the New Chime Card?
Eligibility is refreshingly simple compared with most credit cards:
- You need a Chime Checking Account. The Chime Card is opened alongside it — you can’t get the card on its own.
- No credit check is required to be approved for the card itself, so a thin or damaged credit history doesn’t automatically disqualify you.
- To earn cash back, you’ll want qualifying direct deposits. Setting up payroll or benefits deposits is what unlocks the Chime Plus (2%) and Chime Prime (5%) tiers.
Once approved, a physical card typically arrives in about 7–10 business days. If you already have the older Credit Builder card, Chime offers an in-app path to switch over to the new Chime Card so you can start earning rewards.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re building or rebuilding credit and already bank with Chime — or are willing to route your paycheck there — the new card is a genuine upgrade over the old rewards-free version. The catch is the direct deposit requirement: without a qualifying deposit, you’re not earning the headline 5%. And the monthly caps ($30 for Plus, $75 for Prime) mean this is a solid everyday-spending sidekick rather than a high-roller rewards card. For its target audience, though, getting any cash back on a no-fee, no-interest secured card that reports to all three bureaus is a rare combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have direct deposit to use the Chime Card?
No — you can use the card and build credit without direct deposit. But to earn the 2% (Chime Plus) or 5% (Chime Prime) cash back tiers, you need qualifying direct deposits within the rolling 34-day window. Newer members may see a Chime+ trial offering 1.5% back before that requirement kicks in.
How is my credit limit set?
There’s no fixed credit limit. Your spending power equals the amount you transfer into your Secured Deposit Account, and there’s no minimum deposit. You can add or adjust funds to control how much you’re able to spend.
Does the Chime Card charge interest or late fees?
No. Because it’s a secured card backed by your own deposit, there’s no APR, no interest charges, and no late fees. The main optional costs are the $50 Titanium card finish and the $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee.
Can I switch from the old Credit Builder card to the new Chime Card?
Yes. Existing Credit Builder members can move to the new Chime Card through the Chime app to access the cash back program and updated designs, without losing their credit history on the account.
The Bottom Line
The redesigned Chime Card keeps everything people liked about the old secured card — no credit check, no annual fee, no interest, and credit reporting to all three bureaus — and adds cash back of up to 5% on a category you choose each month. Just remember the rewards are powered by your membership tier, so qualifying direct deposits are the key that unlocks the best rates. Pick your bonus category with your real spending in mind, keep your deposits flowing, and the card can quietly pay you back while it builds your score.
WalletWisp is an independent, informational resource and does not provide financial advice. Verify current terms, rates, and fees directly with Chime before applying.
