So you’re using a Chime card, but it ran out of balance. Maybe you’re far from the place where you usually get your load, but you need to top up immediately. Or perhaps it’s your first time to use the Chime card, so you need to load it.
You’ve come to the right place.
Almost 197 million people have been using digital banking since 2021 to pay bills, save money, and transfer funds.
But before you can do these things, your account needs to have money in it.
We understand the hassle of running out of balance on your card.
So, we've scoured the web for the updated places where you can load money to your Chime card, read reviews from other Chime card users about their favorites, and checked Chime's official site.
This way, you can find the cheapest place to load your Chime card and avoid paying excessive fees. Don’t skip reading!
Places to load your Chime card
Chime has over 90,000 retail partners where you can load your card. You can check out the list below for Chime reload locations.
But first, take note of Chime’s deposit limit. You can deposit up to three times every 24 hours for a maximum of $1,000. You can also deposit only up to $10,000 per month.
You can use this button to find these stores near you:
CVS
CVS is a retail pharmacy store that offers over-the-counter and prescription drugs, as well as beauty products. You can also reload your Chime card in any of their branches. The pharmacy has over 9,000 locations in 49 states.
Here’s how you can load money to your Chime account.
- Go to the cashier’s counter, then inform the staff that you want to add money to your Chime card.
- Give the card and the amount you wish to be loaded into your account.
- Pay the fees, which depend on your location and the money you added to your card.
- Receive your Chime card from the cashier.
There’s no minimum deposit required at CVS, but it charges a $4.95 fee for every $500 reload. But take note that these amounts may differ depending on the branch. You may contact the store near you before going there.
Deposits are usually credited to your account within two hours. You’ll receive a text message on your phone number. If you haven’t received any notification, you can check your balance by logging into your Chime account.
Walgreens
It's one of the largest pharmacy store chains in the US, with more than 9,000 stores. You can buy prescription and over-the-counter drugs, specialty food, and beverages in any of its locations.
The Store Locator page allows you to find the nearest Walgreens store in your neighborhood.
You can check out the steps below to deposit cash into your Chime account.
- Go to any Walgreens cash register.
- Hand over your cash and Chime card to the cashier.
- Wait for the confirmation of your transaction.
Walgreens doesn’t require a minimum deposit, and according to Chime’s website, you can deposit for free at any Walgreens store. However, some users reported that they paid $4.95 per transaction.
You can call any Walgreens store or use the app to be sure about the fees.
- Open the Chime app, then tap “Move Money.”
- Click “Deposit Cash,” then select “See Locations Near Me.”
- Choose from the results and click “info” to see fees per transaction.
Walmart
Walmart is one of the biggest retail chains in the world. You can shop for inexpensive groceries and kitchen and art supplies from this store.
Walmart has a Store Locator where you only need to enter your city, zip code, or state to find the nearest branch out of its more than 4,000 locations.
Here’s how you can reload your Chime card.
- Go to Walmart’s Money Center counter or customer service desk.
- Inform the staff that you want to load money to your Chime card.
- Give the total cash amount, including the fee.
Walmart doesn’t require any minimum deposit, but it collects a $3.74 fee whenever you reload your Chime account. However, some users say that they paid up to $4.95 to load their card.
You can contact the nearest Walmart store to be sure about the fees. This way, you can budget your money easily.
It’s also important to take note of Walmart’s store hours. Most branches open around 7 to 8 a.m. and close from 10 to 11 p.m., even during public holidays. But they have different opening and closing hours on Christmas day.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven convenience stores have been the go-to places for people who want quick snacks. You can also reload your Chime card in one of 9,000 7-Eleven stores in the country.
The website has a Store Locator where you can find the nearest branch in your area. Simply type your zip code, state, or city.
Here’s how you can reload your Chime card.
- Go to the counter and ask the cashier to load your account.
- Hand over your Chime card and cash.
- Wait for the cashier to swipe and load your card.
7-Eleven doesn’t require any minimum deposit, but it charges $4.95 for every transaction.
Dollar General
Dollar General offers inexpensive products, such as food, snacks, housewares, and cleaning supplies. It’s a leading retail chain with over 18,000 branches in the US.
You can find a Dollar General near you by visiting the Store Locator page and providing your zip code, city, or state.
You can follow these steps to load your Chime’s account balance.
- Go to Dollar General’s cashier desk.
- Provide your card and cash to the cashier.
- Wait for the top-up confirmation.
Like other retailers, Dollar General doesn’t impose a minimum deposit, but you must pay the $3.95 transaction fee. It’s considered a convenience fee since you can expect the deposited amount within a few minutes to two hours.
Speedway
Speedway operates convenience stores and gas stations with almost 3,900 branches in the US.
You can search the nearest Speedway using the Store Locator page to inquire ahead of time.
Here’s how you can add money to your Chime card.
- Go to any Speedway cash register.
- Inform the staff that you want to reload your card.
- Give the Chime card and cash amount.
- Wait for the cashier to confirm your transaction.
The Chime cash deposit fee is $4 in most Speedway stores, and there’s no minimum deposit.
Major banks
Where to load a Chime card for free?
You can transfer money from your bank to your Chime account for free. You can also deposit cash without leaving your house. But transactions may take up to five business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
Also, this feature is only available for major banks:
- Bank of America
- Charles Schwab
- Chase
- Citibank
- Fidelity
- Navy Federal
- PNC Bank
- SunTrust
- TD Bank
- USAA
- U.S. Bank
- Wells Fargo
You can follow the steps below to link your bank account to your Chime card.
- Log in using the Chime app.
- Under “Move Money,” choose “Transfer from other banks.”
- Tap “Click your external bank account.”
- Select your bank and type your login credentials.
After that, you can start using the app to transfer funds.
How long do you need to wait for the money to reflect in your account?
Your Chime card might have varying wait times depending on how you add money.
If you used the bank transfer method, you could expect the funds within five business days. So, you should choose other ways if you need the money immediately.
If you reload your card at retail stores, gas stations, and pharmacies, you can wait up to two hours after a successful transaction. But most users reported that their money was reflected in their Chime accounts within a few minutes.
Can you load money to your Chime card using an ATM?
Chime doesn’t allow cash deposits through an ATM, so you need to choose from its retail partners or major banks.
Although you can’t reload your card, you can conveniently withdraw from any ATM. Chime collects a $2.50 fee and has a $500-limit daily.
Reload Chime card easily
You can increase your card's balance without paying more than $5. It’s best to deposit as much cash as possible if you want to make the most out of the additional fee.
But if you want to reload your Chime card for free, you can opt for a bank transfer, but you need to wait for up to five working days before the money is credited to your account.
Either way, you can effortlessly load your Chime account and use your card for paying bills, sending money, and shopping online and in-store.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
