The fastest way to transfer money out of Chime
You can move money from your Chime account to another bank account using an external transfer, which Chime processes through the ACH network. This takes one to two business days and costs nothing. You initiate the transfer from the Chime mobile app or website by entering the receiving bank's routing number and your account number there, then selecting the amount and date.
Chime also offers instant transfers to linked external accounts for a small fee—usually $0.50 to $2.00 depending on the amount and your account type. This moves the money within minutes rather than days. If you need the money today and the standard transfer is too slow, instant transfer is the option to use.
A third option is to withdraw cash from an ATM using your Chime debit card, then deposit it at your other bank in person. This works immediately but requires you to be near an ATM and a branch, and you lose the digital record of the transfer.
Key Takeaways
- Standard ACH transfers from Chime to another bank take one to two business days and have no fee.
- Instant transfers cost $0.50 to $2.00 and move money within minutes, but are only available to accounts you have already linked.
- You must provide the receiving bank's routing number and your account number at that bank before you can set up a transfer.
- Transfers initiated on weekends or after business hours will process on the next business day, not immediately.
Setting up a standard ACH transfer step by step
Open the Chime app and tap the Money tab at the bottom of the screen. Select Transfer Money, then choose Send to Bank Account. Chime will ask whether you want to link a new account or use one you have already linked.
If this is your first transfer to that bank, select Link New Account. Enter the name of the bank, the routing number (a nine-digit code your bank provides), and your account number at that bank. Chime will verify the account by depositing two small amounts—usually under $1 each—into that account within one to two business days. Once you see those deposits, you return to the Chime app and confirm the two amounts to prove you own the account.
After verification, enter the amount you want to transfer and select the date. Chime will show you when the money will arrive—typically one to two business days later. Confirm the transfer, and it will be queued. You can cancel it before it processes, but once it leaves Chime, you cannot recall it.
How instant transfers work and when to use them
Instant transfers move money to a linked bank account within minutes, not days. The fee is $0.50 for transfers under $1,000 and $2.00 for transfers of $1,000 or more. You can only use instant transfer to accounts you have already linked and verified through a standard transfer.
Instant transfer is useful when you need the money urgently—to cover an overdraft at another bank, to pay a bill that is due today, or to move funds before a deadline. Because it costs money, use it only when the speed matters. For routine transfers, the free standard ACH method works fine.
Chime limits how many instant transfers you can make per day and per month. These limits vary by account type, so check your account settings in the app to see your current allowance. If you hit the limit, you will have to wait until the next day or month to send another instant transfer, or use the free standard method instead.
Timing: when transfers actually process
A transfer you initiate on a weekday before 5 p.m. ET will usually leave Chime the same day and arrive at your other bank within one business day. If you initiate it after 5 p.m. ET or on a weekend, Chime treats it as if you sent it the next business day. So a transfer you send on Saturday will not leave Chime until Monday.
The receiving bank then takes its own time to post the money to your account. Most banks post ACH transfers within one business day of receiving them, but some take two. If your transfer shows as "pending" or "in transit" at your other bank, it has left Chime but has not yet been posted there. Do not assume the money is lost—wait until the next business day before contacting either bank.
Holidays also delay transfers. If a transfer is scheduled to process on a holiday, both Chime and the receiving bank will delay it until the next business day. Check your bank's holiday calendar if a transfer seems slower than expected.
What to do if a transfer fails or gets stuck
A transfer can fail if you entered the routing number or account number incorrectly, if the receiving account is closed, or if there is a mismatch between the account name you provided and the name on file at the receiving bank. Chime will usually notify you in the app that the transfer failed and return the money to your Chime account within one to two business days.
If a transfer shows as "pending" for more than three business days, contact Chime support through the app. Tap Help, then Contact Us, and describe the transfer. Chime can check the status with the receiving bank and tell you whether the money arrived there or is still in transit. If the receiving bank received it but has not posted it, Chime will direct you to contact that bank.
If you sent money to the wrong account by mistake, contact Chime immediately. Once a transfer leaves Chime, Chime cannot recall it. Your only option is to contact the receiving bank and ask them to return the funds, which they may or may not do depending on their policy and whether the account holder cooperates.
Linking multiple bank accounts to Chime
You can link as many external bank accounts to Chime as you need. Each one must be verified separately through the two-deposit method before you can transfer money to it. After verification, that account stays linked and you can transfer to it again without re-verifying.
To see all your linked accounts, open the Chime app, go to Money, and select Transfer Money. Your linked accounts will appear in a list. You can remove a linked account by selecting it and choosing Unlink, but this does not affect any transfers you have already sent to that account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from Chime to a savings account at a different bank?
Yes. The transfer process is the same whether the receiving account is a checking or savings account. You will need the routing number and account number for the savings account, and the receiving bank will verify that the account type matches what you entered.
What happens if I transfer money to an account that is not in my name?
Chime will allow you to link and transfer to an account with a different name on it, but the receiving bank may reject the transfer or hold it for review. Banks flag transfers where the sender's name does not match the account holder's name as a potential fraud risk. If this happens, the receiving bank will return the money to Chime, and you will need to contact that bank to explain the transfer.
Is there a limit to how much I can transfer out of Chime at once?
Chime does not publish a single transfer limit, but your limit depends on your account history and verification status. New accounts typically have lower limits than established ones. Check your account settings in the app to see your current limit, or contact Chime support if you need to transfer more than your limit allows.
Do I need a Chime debit card to transfer money to another bank?
No. You can transfer money using only the Chime app or website. The debit card is separate and is used for purchases and ATM withdrawals, not for transfers between banks.
Can I set up automatic recurring transfers from Chime to another bank?
Chime does not offer automatic recurring transfers. You must initiate each transfer manually through the app. If you want to move money regularly, you can set a reminder on your phone to transfer on the same day each week or month.