Chime is a mobile banking app that offers customers the ability to deposit checks into their account using their smartphone. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of how to use Chime’s check deposit feature and answer some of the most commonly asked questions about it.
Can I deposit a check into my Chime account? You can deposit a check into your Chime account. Chime offers a mobile Check deposit function. You can use your phone camera to take a picture of the front and back of your check, and then deposit the funds into your account.
This mobile check deposit feature is only available 30 days after a person is sent at least $200 of payroll through direct deposit.
Chime bank is a mobile-first bank that offers unique features like no minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees, a free credit builder and early direct deposit payouts.
This makes Chime an attractive option for people who want to avoid the traditional banking system.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of depositing a check into your Chime account. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How do I Deposit a Check into My Chime Account?
Chime users can deposit checks by following a simple mobile check deposit process.
The process is conducted through the app and can easily be completed using your phone without the need to go into a bank. It means there are no additional fees, no making lines or filling out physical forms. The process also takes a few minutes to complete.
Here are the steps:
- Launch the Chime App on your phone
- Tap on the option “Move money”
- You should be taken to the “Add funds” screen with several options available
- Choose “Mobile Check Deposit”
- Select the target account for the deposit whether checking or savings.
- Type in the amount written on the check
- Take a clear picture of the check; front and back. Use a good camera and ensure there are no blurs.
- Review the details of the deposit
- Confirm your deposit and you are done.
After completing the steps, you just need to wait for the clearing time of the check. Check clearing times vary depending on the bank but it normally takes 2-5 business days.
With Chime, you can wait up to a week to have the money in the account. If your check exceeds that time you should follow up with your bank to identify what the issue might be.
It’s important to choose the account where you want to deposit the check wisely. If you intend to use the money soon, make sure it is the checking account.
When you use a check to deposit money to a savings account, you will not be able to withdraw it at an ATM or make purchases with the amount.
Also, if you want Chime to clear the check earlier, you should deposit during a business day. Non-business-day deposits take longer to be processed.
Preparing a Check for a Deposit to Chime
To ensure a check deposit goes through smoothly you need to make some preparations before the actual deposit.
These are similar preparations people have to make in the case of physical check deposits.
Double Check the Information
The hassle of retrieving a wrong deposit can be taxing to a person and hence you should aim to get it right the first time.
Even though Chime is FDIC insured, you can avoid a lot of phone calls and follow-ups by just double-checking the details.
This includes your name, routing number and the account number.
Confirm the Check Validity
Make sure the check is not stale. Checks are stale if they are not withdrawn within 6 months. Chime can still process a stale check but it may incur some deductions which can be avoided.
If you have a stale check, you can always request a fresh/new one from the issuer of the check.
Void Your Check After Completion
Identity theft is quite common and sometimes these individuals use checks whose details have been left intact. Even if you choose to file your check after the deposit, make sure you have erased any of the important recognizable details.
If you aim to use the check later for reference, you can simply draw large letters on it, spelling “VOID”; front and back.
Pros of Using Chime
Chime offers some encouraging perks to users and we have mentioned one of the main ones which is that it is FDIC insured.
To go into more detail, Chime users are insured for up to $250,000 per deposit in the event of bank failure. Some of the other pros include;
- No fees. Chime has gotten rid of some of the common traditional fees other big banks offer. The lack of some of these fees saves you some money in the long run.
- Higher interest on savings. The Chime savings account pays 0.50% APY. That’s quite high considering the national average interest on savings accounts is 0.06%.
- Numerous and Well Spread Out ATMs. Even though Chime does not have a physical location it has a lot of ATMs approximately 38,000 of them across different locations.
- Easy to qualify to use the App. A lot of people are rejected by banks because they have a negative history with banking. However, Chime can still offer these people a chance to create an account and bank.
- Automated Saving tools. Chime offers various automated tools that help people develop better saving habits.
- Early receipts of direct deposits
- Chime is a reliable app with a good rating. It is rated at 4.8 at the app store and 4.6 at google play. The app is easy to use and can serve you on the go. Furthermore, users receive account notifications and transaction alerts when they make transactions.
Finally, the app offers more control to an individual. For example, if you lose your card, you can disable transactions yourself to prevent fraud and later get a replacement for free.
Final Thoughts
For a person getting started on their financial journey, Chime can be a reliable tool for all the basics thanks to its user-friendliness. The saving tools are also quite reliable for people who want to improve their financial habits.
However, it falls a little short when it comes to offering the full array of banking services such as not having branches or physical locations.
So it might be a noticeable change for people who are used to the in-person service.
