The bank behind your Chime card is The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank

Chime itself is not a bank — it is a financial technology company that partners with two banks to hold your money. Depending on when you opened your account and which product you use, your deposits are held at either The Bancorp Bank (based in Delaware) or Stride Bank (based in Oklahoma). Both are FDIC-insured, which means your balance up to $250,000 is protected if the bank fails.

Most Chime accounts opened in recent years use Stride Bank. If you opened your account several years ago, you may be with The Bancorp Bank. You can find out which bank holds your account by logging into the Chime app, going to Settings, and looking for account details — or by calling Chime customer service at 1-844-244-6361.

The reason Chime uses partner banks instead of being a bank itself is regulatory: Chime does not have a banking charter, so it cannot take deposits directly. The partner bank is the actual institution that holds your money, processes your transactions, and manages the account. Chime handles the app, customer service, and the features you see on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Chime deposits are held at either The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, both FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
  • Chime is a technology company, not a bank, so it partners with banks to hold customer money.
  • You can find which bank holds your account in the Chime app under Settings or by contacting Chime support.
  • The partner bank processes all transactions and manages the account; Chime provides the app and customer service.

Why Chime uses partner banks instead of being a bank itself

Becoming a bank requires a federal or state charter, significant capital reserves, and ongoing regulatory oversight by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or a state banking regulator. Chime chose the partnership model instead, which lets it move faster and focus on technology and customer experience rather than compliance infrastructure.

This structure is common in fintech. Other companies like Square Cash, PayPal, and Revolut also use partner banks to hold customer deposits. The customer experience is the same — you get a debit card, direct deposit, and a mobile app — but the actual bank is a separate entity.

How to verify your bank and account details

Open the Chime app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Select Settings, then Account. You should see your routing number and account number listed. The routing number will tell you which bank holds your account: The Bancorp Bank's routing number is 021000081, and Stride Bank's is 084003997.

You can also call Chime customer service at 1-844-244-6361 to confirm which bank holds your account. Have your account number or the phone number associated with your account ready. Customer service is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

FDIC protection and what it means for your money

Both The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank are FDIC-insured. This means if the bank fails, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will reimburse you up to $250,000 per account holder per bank. Your Chime account is treated as a deposit account, so your balance is covered under standard FDIC rules.

If you have more than $250,000 in your Chime account, only the first $250,000 is protected. If you need coverage for a larger balance, you would need to split the money across multiple banks or use a service that spreads deposits across multiple FDIC-insured institutions.

What happens if your partner bank changes

Chime has switched partner banks before. In 2020, Chime moved most customer accounts from The Bancorp Bank to Stride Bank. When this happened, customers' account numbers and routing numbers changed, but their money was transferred automatically and no action was required on the customer's part.

If Chime switches banks again in the future, you will receive a notification in the app and by email. Your new account details will be provided, and Chime will handle the transfer behind the scenes. Direct deposits and automatic payments may take a few days to update, so Chime typically gives advance notice so you can update your information with employers or billers if needed.

How to update direct deposit and automatic payments

If you need to provide your bank details to an employer, biller, or other service, use the routing number and account number from your Chime app. For direct deposit, most employers ask for the routing number and account number — you can find both in Settings under Account Details.

If your partner bank changes and your account number changes, you will need to update your direct deposit information with your employer. Chime will notify you of the change, and the company will provide instructions on how to update your details. Most employers allow you to change direct deposit information online through their payroll portal or by contacting HR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my money safe in a Chime account?

Yes. Your deposits are held at an FDIC-insured bank (either The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank), so balances up to $250,000 are protected by federal insurance. Chime also uses encryption and fraud monitoring to protect your account from unauthorized access.

Can I use my Chime account for direct deposit?

Yes. You can set up direct deposit using your Chime routing number and account number. Most employers process direct deposits within one to two business days. You can find your routing and account numbers in the Chime app under Settings.

What if I need to contact the actual bank instead of Chime?

For most issues, contact Chime first — the company handles customer service and account management. If you need to speak directly with the bank (for example, to dispute a transaction with the bank itself), Chime can provide you with The Bancorp Bank's or Stride Bank's contact information.

Does it matter which bank holds my account?

No. Both The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank are FDIC-insured and process transactions the same way. Your experience with Chime is the same regardless of which partner bank holds your account. The difference is only in the routing number and the bank's internal operations.