Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) Review 2026

No deposit, no annual fee, 0% APR — requires an active Chime spending account.

Get started at Chime (issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.) → Pre-qualify (where available) with a soft credit pull — no score impact.

Building credit — Built for establishing or rebuilding credit — no minimum score

ClearValue Rating: 4.1 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)

Editorial3.6
Cost5.0
Value3.9
Access3.8

Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.

At a glance

Who Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) is best for

Chime account holders who want to build credit without locking up any cash as a deposit.

Pros

Cons

Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) requirements

Chime account: Must have an active Chime spending account
Deposit: $0 — no security deposit required (per Chime, Jun 2026)
Residency: U.S. residents 18+

Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) rates & fees

Chime Card has no annual fee, no security deposit, and a 0% APR — there is no interest because you can only spend funds you move from your Chime spending account.

Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) alternatives

Discover it® Secured (Discover Bank) — Better if you want cash-back rewards and an automatic graduation path
Read review Get started at Discover Bank →
Capital One Platinum Secured (Capital One, N.A.) — Better if you want a major-bank secured card with $49 minimum deposit
Read review Get started at Capital One, N.A. →
Self Visa® Credit Builder Card (Self Financial (issued by Lead Bank or First Progress)) — Better if you want to build savings and credit simultaneously
Read review Get started at Self Financial (issued by Lead Bank or First Progress) →

Bottom line

Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder) — No deposit, no annual fee, 0% APR — requires an active Chime spending account. Best for: Chime account holders who want to build credit without locking up any cash as a deposit.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.

Questions about Chime Card (formerly Credit Builder)

How does the Chime Card build credit without a deposit?

Per Chime (verified June 3, 2026, at chime.com): the Chime Card works by letting you move money from your Chime spending account to a secured account that acts as your credit limit. You then spend that amount, and Chime reports the payment behavior to all three bureaus monthly. Because you can only spend what you've moved to the card, APR is effectively 0% — there's no balance to carry. The CFPB confirms that on-time payment history is the primary driver of credit-score improvement (consumerfinance.gov).

Do I need direct deposit to get the Chime Card?

Per Chime (verified June 3, 2026): you need an active Chime spending account to use the Chime Card. Chime may require that you have received at least one qualifying direct deposit into your Chime spending account. Verify current eligibility requirements directly at chime.com before applying, as account requirements have changed over time.

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.

How we rate

Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).

Scored consistently across every product and independent of any compensation. Full methodology →

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The full lineup

See all picks, methodology, and side-by-side comparison in Best Secured Credit Cards 2026.

Advertiser disclosure: some links are from our partners — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Rankings and editorial assessments are independent of compensation.