When I first started using Chime Bank, I was worried that I might not be able to use Zelle with my new Chime account since I had heard it typically only works with brick-and-mortar banks so I decided to do some research to find out if I could use my Chime account with Zelle.
As it turns out, you can use Zelle with your Chime account. To do so, however, you need to connect your Chime account with Zelle from within the Zelle app itself and not directly through the Chime app.
Does Chime Work with Zelle?
To use Chime with Zelle, download the Zelle app and create an account. Link your Chime debit card by entering its details. To send money, open Zelle, select “Send Money,” enter the recipient’s email or phone number, specify the amount, and confirm the transaction. Funds will be deducted from your Chime balance.
- Open the Zelle App
- Link Your Chime Debit Card:
- Confirm Your Setup: Ensure that your Chime debit card is successfully linked to your Zelle account.
- Click on “Send Money.”
- Enter the recipient’s email address or phone number.
- Enter Amount: Specify how much money you want to send.
- Confirm Transaction: Review the details and confirm the transfer.
- Send Money: Tap “Send” to complete the transaction. The funds will be deducted from your Chime balance.
Can Someone Use Zelle to Send Money to My Chime Account?
Yes, anyone can use Zelle to send money to your Chime account.
The transfer just won’t be as quick as it would be if Chime had Zelle integrated natively into their platform.
How to Set Up Chime to Work With Zelle (Step-By-Step)
Using Zelle with your Chime account is a fairly simple and straightforward process though it’s a bit different than banks that have native Zelle support built-in.
1) Download and Install the Zelle app
To use Zelle with your Chime account, you need to first download and install the Zelle app for your device. The Zelle app is available for free for both Android and iOS.
2) Set Up a Free Account
Once you have Zelle installed on your device, you then have to set up a free account in the Zelle app. To do this, it will ask you for your Mobile Number.
Click “Continue“.
3) Find Your Bank
You will be prompted to Find Your Bank. Type in “Chime” where it says “Where do you bank?“. Don’t worry, you won’t actually find that Chime bank comes up in the results.
This is normal and expected. Click on “Don’t see your bank?” to continue.
4) Add a Debit Card
On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to add a debit card. Since you are wanting to use your Chime account with Zelle, you’d use your Chime debit card number.
Once you have done so, click “Continue”.
5) Choose a Password
Finally, choose a password to use with your new Zelle account.
How Fast are Zelle Payments Sent Using Chime?
The biggest drawback to using Zelle with Chime is due to the fact Chime isn’t natively supported currently and because of that, you have to use your debit card to send payments.
This means that your payments aren’t sent as quickly as normal payments through Zelle are sent.
Instead of being nearly instant, the payments can take a few business days to process.
Despite that, this is still your best option for using Zelle with your Chime account.
Are There Fees for Using Chime with Zelle?
There are no fees for sending money using Zelle with Chime or with most other platforms for that matter.
So how does Zelle actually make any money? Good question, take a look at our recent article where we researched how Zelle makes money.
What Is the Transfer Limit for Using Chime With Zelle?
Since you have to use the Zelle app with your Chime account to send others money, the weekly transfer limit is currently $500.
At this time, there is not a specific daily transfer limit as long as you aren’t trying to send more than $500, you should be fine.
What to Do If You Have Issues Setting Up Chime to Work With Zelle
If you follow the information we provide above, you shouldn’t have any problems setting up Zelle to work with your Chime account.
If for some reason you do though, you can try contacting Chime support but they may just tell you they can’t help you since Chime doesn’t natively have Zelle built-in.
You can also try contacting Zelle support to see if they can help you as well.
Wrapping Up
It is possible to use Zelle with your Chime account to send money to and receive money from others.
However, it isn’t as convenient to use as it would be if Zelle was fully supported by Chime like other banks.
Still, if you are looking for a simple way to send money to someone you know like a friend or family member, it’s a good option regardless.
Important: In some cases when trying to connect your Chime account with Zelle, you’ll get an error message saying your debit card is not supported. If this happens to you, there is nothing that we are aware of that you can do to use Zelle with Chime and unfortunately, you are out of luck.
