Chime is an app with a debit card tied to an online checking account without any particularly noteworthy spending bonuses. It does have some terrific new account and referral bonuses, however.
Currently, Chime has an InBoxDollars offer that pays $510 on new accounts enrollments. InBoxDollars is a portal similar to Swagbucks or MyPoints that gives you rewards “cash” which you can redeem for 3rd-party gift cards – one of which is PayPal, meaning that for those with a PayPal account, rewards can effectively be cashed out.
The $510 is awarded in two chunks – $10 when you successfully enroll for Chime and $500 after completing two, $200 “direct deposits.”
The Deal
- Earn $510 InBoxDollars (worth $510 cashed out via PayPal) when clicking through and opening a new Chime account, then receiving two “direct deposits” of $200 or more.
- Expires 1/31/25
Direct link to offer (InBoxDollars landing page)
Key Terms
- Must complete the following steps:
1. Sign up with Chime between 1/1/25 and 1/31/25 to earn $10 Cash Back.
2. Download the Chime App.
3. Access your new Chime account number and routing number from the app.
4. Add your Chime account number and routing number to your payroll contact or service to make payroll direct deposits into your Chime account.
5. You must have at least two (2) consecutive qualifying payroll direct deposits of at least $200 each to your Chime account to earn $500 Cash Back. The first payroll direct deposit must be received within 30 days of your account signup date.*
- Other terms which are applicable:
- Must be a new Chime member and enroll via the offer link above between 1/1/25 and 1/31/25 to earn. Offer may be completed only one (1) time per user.
- Must set up qualifying payroll direct deposit and receive two (2) consecutive qualifying payroll direct deposits of more than $200 each, the first one of which must be received within 30 days of your Chime signup date.
- The Qualifying Direct Deposit is a deposit of $200 or more by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) that comes from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer OR a deposit by Original Credit Transaction (OCT) from your gig economy payer. NOTE: Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer-to-peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, wire transfers, and cash loads or deposits are NOT qualifying payroll direct deposits.
- Allow up to 31 days from the date of the first payroll direct deposit into your Chime account for your award to be credited to your account.
- After the 31-day period has elapsed, if you still have not received your reward, please contact our Help Center promptly and provide proof of your qualifying activity.
Quick Thoughts
I don’t do deals that require me to actually change direct deposit information, but in most cases there are multiple options as to what the bank/service will credit as a “direct deposit.” Doctor of Credit has a very useful page listing data points of what counts as a direct deposit with Chime, and my primary bank was one whose transfers worked.
The entire process takes less than five minutes and there is no hard pull. However, this screen that pops up is worth noting:
Don’t auto-agree as the bottom two options as that will enroll you in a secured credit card that you almost surely don’t need.
(h/t: DOC)
Just got this message:
“We’re sorry!Unfortunately, based on the information provided, we were unable to open a Chime Deposit Account for you at this time. Due to security reasons, our Member Services team is unable to provide you with any further information.”
I only have ~3 months history at my new apartment which I just moved to. Any reason that could be it?
then just got an email saying that I was approved for an account..
Did Chime in 2022- can I do them again or is there a once per lifetime on them at all?
I just opened the chime account 10 mins ago. Turn out it was more complicated because I started out on a PC then it asked me to download App to finish the acct setup.
Question: when I go to InboxDollars activities I only see the $5 reward for signing up the new InboxDollars account, no mention of my new Chime account. Does it take a while to show up?
Update: showed up under pending activities over night.
Auto agree – yes, don’t do this, cause I didn’t realize it when I did their offer a few weeks ago and accidentally signed up for their Credit Builder credit card. 🙁
Signed up for InboxDollars, but I’m getting an error message when I try to click through to the Chime offer. I am prompted to enter a phone number, but each time I do, I get this:
“There was a problem sending your verification code. Please note: Prepaid or VOIP phone numbers are not allowed at this time.Please re-enter your phone number.”
Tried several browsers, incognito, and a different number. Nothing worked.
DoC does not have any recent DPs for Chime. Does anyone know if Bank of America or Chase count?
Chase didn’t work for me a couple months ago. Neither did Fidelity CMA. I’m considering doing this for P2 but going to troll the DoC comments carefully for DPs that actually work.