Chime (issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.)
Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) Review 2026
No deposit, no interest, no annual fee — for Chime account holders building credit.
Who Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) is best for
First-time applicants who already have a Chime spending account and want to build credit with zero upfront cost.
At a glance
- Deposit minimum
- $0
- APR
- 0%
- Annual fee
- $0
- Reports to
- All 3 bureaus
No security deposit (per Chime, Jun 2026)
No interest charged (per Chime, Jun 2026)
No annual fee (per Chime, Jun 2026)
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion (per Chime, Jun 2026)
Pros
- +Zero deposit, zero annual fee, 0% APR — no financial risk for first-time cardholders
- +Spend only what you move from Chime spending account — impossible to overspend
- +No hard credit pull at application (per Chime, Jun 2026)
- +Reports to all three bureaus monthly
Cons
- −Requires an active Chime spending account — not available to non-Chime users
- −No formal graduation path to a traditional unsecured card within Chime
- −No rewards program
Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) requirements
- Must have an active Chime spending account
- US residents 18+
Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) alternatives
Top alternatives worth comparing from Best First Credit Cards 2026.
Discover Bank
Discover it® Secured
Better if you want cash-back rewards and an automatic graduation path
Capital One, N.A.
Capital One Platinum Secured
Better if you want a major-bank card with a low deposit option
Petal Card, Inc. (issued by WebBank)
Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card
Better if you have stable income and want an unsecured card without any account requirement
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Read the full guide →Bottom line
Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) scores 4.2 / 5 on the ClearValue Rating — a deterministic editorial composite from the product's own published fees, terms, and eligibility. Best for: First-time applicants who already have a Chime spending account and want to build credit with zero upfront cost.
◆ How we scored it
The ClearValue Rating, broken down.
- Cost
- 35%
- Fit & approval odds
- 30%
- Speed & terms
- 20%
- Transparency
- 15%
Cost (35%), Fit & approval odds (30%), Speed & terms (20%), Transparency (15%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation. Full methodology →
Frequently asked
Questions about Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder)
Is the Chime Card a good first credit card?+
For existing Chime users: yes. The Chime Card has zero fees, 0% APR, and requires no deposit — making it one of the lowest-risk first credit card options available. Per Chime (verified June 3, 2026): it reports to all three major bureaus monthly, which is the primary requirement for a credit-building card. The limitation is that it requires an active Chime spending account and doesn't have a formal path to a traditional unsecured card within Chime's product lineup. If you don't already use Chime, a secured card with a major bank issuer may be a better starting point.
Is ClearValue Lending a bank or card issuer?+
No. ClearValue Lending is not a bank, card issuer, lender, or financial advisor. The Chime Card is a product of Chime Financial, Inc., issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. APRs, deposit requirements, fees, and terms are determined solely by Chime and its issuing banks and may change — verify current terms at chime.com before applying.
Related guides
Independent editorial review. ClearValue Lending is a business & personal financing platform — not a lender, broker, or financial advisor. Some links are affiliate links; the issuer may pay a referral commission at no cost to you, which never changes the score. Specific product terms vary; verify with the issuer before applying. See privacy policy.
https://clearvaluelending.com/reviews/chime-card-credit-builder-first