Chime transfers to another bank take one to three business days, not minutes
Chime does not offer instant transfers to external bank accounts. When you move money from Chime to another bank, the transfer uses the ACH network (Automated Clearing House), which is a batch system that settles once per business day. A transfer you start on a Monday morning will land in the other account by Wednesday or Thursday, depending on when Chime submits the batch and how quickly the receiving bank processes it.
If you need money in another account today, Chime offers a workaround: you can withdraw cash at an ATM or get cash back at a store, then deposit it yourself. But if you are moving money between accounts you own, the ACH route is the standard path.
Key Takeaways
- ACH transfers from Chime to another bank take one to three business days and are free.
- You need the receiving bank's routing number and your account number at that bank to set up the transfer.
- Chime processes outgoing ACH transfers once per business day, usually in the morning, so timing your request matters.
- If the receiving bank does not recognize the account number or routing number, the transfer will bounce back to Chime within two to three business days.
How to start an ACH transfer from Chime
Open the Chime app or log into chime.com. Tap or click Send Money or Transfer (the exact label varies by app version). Select Transfer to Bank or External Account. You will be asked for the name of the bank, the routing number, and your account number at that bank.
Enter the amount you want to move. Chime will show you the expected arrival date—usually two to three business days out. Confirm the transfer. Chime will send a confirmation number to your phone or email.
Once submitted, the transfer cannot be cancelled through the app. If you need to stop it, contact Chime support immediately by phone or in-app chat. The sooner you reach them, the better your chances, because Chime submits batches of transfers to the ACH network once per day, usually between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Eastern time.
What information you need from the receiving bank
Before you start the transfer, gather two pieces of information from the bank where you want the money to land. The routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies the bank itself. The account number is the number of your specific account at that bank, usually printed on your checks or visible in the bank's app.
If you do not have a check or cannot find the account number, log into the receiving bank's app or website. The account number is almost always displayed on the dashboard or in account settings. You can also call the bank's customer service line and ask them to read both numbers to you.
Double-check both numbers before you submit the transfer. A single digit wrong in either one will cause the transfer to fail. The receiving bank will reject it, and the money will return to your Chime account—but this takes two to three extra business days.
Why the transfer takes multiple days
The ACH network does not move money in real time. Instead, it collects transfer requests throughout the day and settles them in batches at set times. Chime submits its batch once per business day. The receiving bank then processes that batch the next business day. If you submit a transfer on Friday afternoon, Chime may not submit it until Monday, and the receiving bank may not process it until Tuesday.
Weekends and federal holidays add extra days because the ACH network does not operate on those days. A transfer submitted on Friday evening might not arrive until the following Wednesday.
Some banks offer next-business-day ACH, which means they process transfers faster on their end. But Chime's submission schedule is what matters most. Even if the receiving bank is fast, you are still waiting for Chime to send the batch.
What happens if the transfer fails
If the routing number or account number is wrong, the receiving bank will reject the transfer. The rejection code tells you why: invalid account, account closed, or routing number not recognized. Chime will notify you by email or in-app notification, usually two to three business days after the transfer was submitted.
The money returns to your Chime account automatically. You do not have to do anything to get it back. Once it lands in Chime (another one to two business days), you can try again with the correct information.
If the transfer succeeds but lands in the wrong account because you entered the wrong number, that is a different problem. The money is now in someone else's account, and you will need to contact that bank and ask them to reverse it. This is why verifying the account number is critical.
Alternatives if you need money faster
If you cannot wait two to three business days, withdraw cash from a Chime ATM or get cash back at a store using your Chime debit card, then deposit it at the other bank. This works the same day if you deposit before the receiving bank's cutoff time (usually 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. local time).
Some banks and payment apps offer instant transfers between accounts, but Chime does not participate in most of these networks. Chime does offer Chime SpotMe, which is an overdraft feature, but that does not help you move money to another bank faster.
If you regularly need to move money between accounts quickly, consider keeping a small amount in cash on hand or using a payment app like Venmo or PayPal to move money to someone else, then having them send it to your other bank account. This is slower than a direct transfer but faster than waiting for ACH if the other person can move quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from Chime to my savings account at the same bank?
If both accounts are at the same bank, the transfer may be instant or same-day through the bank's internal system, not through ACH. Log into the bank's app and look for a Transfer Between Accounts option. This is usually faster than going through Chime.
What if Chime says the transfer is pending but it has been more than three business days?
Contact Chime support. A transfer stuck in pending status for more than three business days is unusual and may indicate a problem with the receiving bank's account number or routing number. Chime can check the status on their end and tell you whether the receiving bank rejected it.
Do I get charged a fee for transferring money out of Chime?
No. Chime does not charge fees for ACH transfers to external banks. The receiving bank also does not charge you to receive an ACH transfer. Some banks charge their own customers a fee to send money out, but Chime does not.
Can I set up a recurring transfer from Chime to another bank?
Chime does not offer automatic recurring transfers through its app. You can set up a recurring transfer at the receiving bank instead, if that bank supports ACH debits from external accounts. This pulls money from Chime on a schedule you set.
What if I transfer money to the wrong person's account by mistake?
Contact Chime support immediately and provide the transfer confirmation number. Chime can try to recall the transfer if it has not been processed yet. If it has already landed in the other account, you will need to contact that bank and ask the account holder to return the money. Chime cannot force a reversal once the money has been accepted by the receiving bank.