For years, Chime’s Credit Builder Secured Credit Card had one job: help you build credit with no interest, no annual fee, and no credit check. It did that job well, but it never paid you back. That changed with the Chime Card, which now replaces Credit Builder for new members and layers 1.5% to 5% rotating cash back on top of the same credit-building foundation.
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants. If you already have Credit Builder, your old card keeps working during the transition, but Chime is nudging everyone toward the upgrade. Here’s what’s actually changing, how the cash back tiers work, and whether switching is worth a few taps in the app.
What’s the same, and what’s new
The good news: the Chime Card keeps everything that made Credit Builder useful for people rebuilding or establishing credit.
- Still secured, still no credit check — money in your Chime Checking Account moves to a Secured Deposit Account that acts as your spending limit.
- $0 annual fee, no interest (0% APR), no late fees, no foreign transaction fee.
- No minimum security deposit.
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).
What’s new is the rewards engine. With a qualifying direct deposit, everyday purchases now earn cash back in rotating categories such as groceries, gas, restaurants, travel, and monthly bills. How much you earn depends on your Chime membership tier.
The cash back tiers, side by side
Cash back is tied to how much you direct-deposit into your Chime Checking Account in the prior 34 days. Higher deposits unlock better rates. The 2% and 5% category rewards are capped at $1,500 in eligible purchases per month.
| Tier | Direct deposit needed (past 34 days) | Cash back rate | Monthly cap on category spend | Max monthly reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chime (base) | A qualifying direct deposit | 1.5% on rotating categories | Uncapped 1.5% | No fixed cap |
| Chime Plus | $200+ single, or $400+ combined | 2% on a category of choice | $1,500 | $30 |
| Chime Prime | $3,000+ in qualifying deposits | 5% on a category of choice | $1,500 | $75 |
Plus and Prime are free membership tiers — there’s no subscription fee. You’re placed into them automatically based on your deposits. The categories rotate over time, and you view the current eligible categories (and, for Plus/Prime, pick your category) inside the Chime app.
Worked examples: what you’d actually earn
Example 1 — The grocery shopper (Chime Prime). You get paid $3,200 a month by direct deposit, so you’re a Prime member. You set your 5% category to groceries and spend $500 on groceries that month. You earn 5% × $500 = $25 back. Over a year at that pace, that’s about $300.
Example 2 — Hitting the cap (Chime Prime). Same Prime member, but a big month: $2,000 spent in your 5% category. Only the first $1,500 earns 5% (that’s $75 — the monthly max), and spending above the cap in that category no longer earns the bonus rate.
Example 3 — The part-timer (Chime Plus). Your paycheck deposits total $450 a month, so you’re at Plus (2%). You choose gas and spend $300. You earn 2% × $300 = $6 that month.
Example 4 — No direct deposit. If you don’t have a qualifying direct deposit, you can still use the card to build credit exactly as before — but you won’t unlock the cash back rewards. For pure credit-building, the Chime Card is still a fine, fee-free tool.
Should you switch?
For most current Credit Builder users, switching is a low-risk win — you keep the credit-building features and add the chance to earn rewards. Consider your own situation:
- Switch if you have (or can set up) a qualifying direct deposit into Chime. That’s the key that turns on rewards. If your paycheck already lands in Chime, you’re leaving money on the table by not upgrading.
- Switch if you spend regularly in everyday categories like groceries and gas — that’s where the rotating bonuses live.
- It matters less if you use Chime purely to build credit and route your paycheck elsewhere. You’ll still build credit, just without cash back.
One honest caveat: the $1,500 monthly cap means the headline 5% tops out at $75 a month. It’s a nice perk on top of fee-free credit building, but it won’t out-earn a premium unsecured rewards card for heavy spenders. Treat the cash back as a bonus, not the main event.
How to switch, step by step
- Open the Chime app and look for the Chime Card offer in the “Discover more” section on your home screen.
- Choose your card design. Evergreen/Classic finishes are free; premium finishes like Titanium cost about $50 plus tax, and Onyx is available to Prime members.
- Confirm your details — name, address, and Social Security number.
- Review and agree to the Chime Card terms of service.
- Set up (or confirm) a qualifying direct deposit to unlock Plus or Prime cash back.
- Wait for the card to arrive, typically in 7–10 business days. Your old Credit Builder card keeps working in the meantime.
Your credit history built with Credit Builder carries over to the Chime Card, and reporting to the bureaus continues uninterrupted — so switching shouldn’t reset the progress you’ve made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will switching hurt my credit score or reset my history?
No. There’s no hard credit check to upgrade, and the credit history you built with Credit Builder carries over to the Chime Card. Chime continues reporting to all three bureaus, so your account age and payment history stay intact.
Do I have to switch, or can I keep Credit Builder?
Credit Builder is closed to new applicants, but if you already have it, your existing card continues to work. You can upgrade to the Chime Card directly in the app when you’re ready — there’s no forced deadline shown in the app, though upgrading is what unlocks cash back.
What if I don’t have a direct deposit?
You can still get and use the Chime Card to build credit with no annual fee and no interest. Cash back rewards, however, require a qualifying direct deposit into your Chime Checking Account within the prior 34 days. No deposit means no rewards, but full credit-building still applies.
How is the cash back paid out?
Cash back is tracked automatically in the Chime app based on your tier and your chosen (or the current rotating) category, up to the $1,500 monthly cap for Plus and Prime. Check the Rewards section of the app for your current category and earned balance.
The bottom line
The Chime Card takes a solid, no-frills credit builder and adds real rewards for people who bank with Chime. If your paycheck already direct-deposits into Chime, upgrading is close to a no-brainer: same fee-free credit building, plus 1.5%–5% back on everyday spending. Just keep expectations realistic — the $1,500 cap keeps the rewards modest — and treat cash back as a bonus on top of the card’s real strength, which is helping you build credit safely.
WalletWisp is an independent, informational resource and does not provide financial advice. Verify current terms, rates, and eligibility with Chime before making decisions.
