Chime Bonuses: $100 for a Referral

Chime currently offers a referral bonus, in which you and a friend can each earn $100. Chime used to offer a direct deposit signup bonus of $100 that you could earn within 30 days of signing up for the Chime Checking account after meeting the requirements, but as of October 2024, that offer has expired.

All Chime’s bonuses at a glance

Chime’s best bonus offer

At this time, Chime only has one account bonus in the form of a referral bonus, so that’s the best option by default. The fintech has one checking account called the Chime Checking Account. By successfully referring someone to open that account and meet deposit requirements, you and a friend can each earn $100.

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

Compare more bank account bonuses

Chime only offers a referral bonus, and it’s pretty easy to earn if you’ve got some family or friends in need of a checking account. But if you’re looking for a bigger signup or direct deposit bonus, or Chime just isn’t the fintech for you, compare more bank account bonuses here.

• SoFi terms and conditions

  New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
  SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.00% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% 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 12/3/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
  
  SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
  
  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 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 $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/termsSee list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
  
  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.

Frequently asked questions

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, but as of 2024, that bonus is currently the $100 direct deposit bonus with the same requirements.
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.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Bethany Hickey

Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. 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

Bethany's expertise

Bethany has written 448 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal finance
• Banking
• Auto loans
• Insurance
• Cryptocurrency and NFTs