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Chime Secured Credit Card Review 2025: Cash Back Rewards + No Annual Fee
July 1, 2025
Digital financial technology company Chime® has just launched its newest financial product that's making waves in the credit card industry. The company’s new secured credit card offers something rarely seen in this market segment: actual cash-back rewards. Here's everything you need to know about Chime's latest offering and how it compares to other secured credit cards.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The secured Chime Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
What Is the New Chime Card™?
The Chime Card™ is a secured credit card that earns 1.5% cash back on rotating categories for Chime+™ members. Unlike traditional secured cards that focus solely on credit building, this card combines credit improvement tools with meaningful rewards - a combination that's been largely absent in the secured card market.
Key Features:
- 1.5% cash back on rotating categories (groceries, gas, restaurants)
- No annual fee
- Premium design options, including a titanium finish
- Automatic credit building with responsible use
- Weekly cash-back payouts
To be eligible for Chime+™ status, you must receive a qualifying direct deposit to your Chime® Checking Account in the preceding 34 days. Certain products marketed as Chime+ benefits have additional eligibility requirements. While some Chime+ benefits may have associated fees, none of these fees are mandatory to access Chime+ benefits or to maintain Chime+ status. See Chime+ Terms and Conditions for details. CHIME+ is a Trademark of Chime Financial, Inc.
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3069", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint" : "No Annual Fees" } ]]
Who Can Get the Chime Card™?
The card is exclusively available to Chime+™ members, which is Chime's free enhanced membership tier. To qualify for Chime+, you need to:
- Set up a qualifying direct deposit with Chime®
- Maintain an active Chime® Checking Account
A Chime® Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.
This requirement makes the card accessible to working individuals who use Chime as their primary financial services provider, rather than being available to the general public.
How Does It Stack Up Against Competitors?
The secured credit card market has traditionally been dominated by basic credit-building products with minimal perks. Chime's entry changes this landscape significantly.
Comparison with Leading Secured Cards:
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 1.5% unlimited cash back
- 29.74% APR
- Annual fee: $0
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "430", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint": "Straightforward Cash Back"} ]]
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- Variable APR
- Annual fee varies
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "13316", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint": "No Credit Checks"} ]]
Fortiva® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases
- 35.9% APR (varies by creditworthiness)
- Annual fee: $0 - $175
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3554", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Cash Back Seekers", "headerHint": "1% on All Other Eligible Purchases"} ]]
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
- 1% cash back on purchases
- 35.9% APR
- Annual fee: $0 first year, then $175
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3280", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Cash Back Seekers", "headerHint": "3% on Eligible Gas"} ]]
Basic Secured Cards (No Rewards):
opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- No rewards
- 22.39% APR
- Annual fee: $35
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1397", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Cash Back Seekers", "headerHint": "No Credit Check Required"} ]]
opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
- No rewards
- 17.39% APR
- Annual fee: $35
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "8432", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint": "No Annual Fee"} ]]
opensky® Launch Secured Visa® Credit Card
- No rewards
- 22.39% APR
- Annual fee: $35
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "11105", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint": "No Credit Check Required"} ]]
Milestone® Mastercard® - $1,000 Credit Limit
- No rewards
- 35.9% APR
- Annual fee: $175 first year, $49 thereafter
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3070", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint" : "Guaranteed Credit Limit" } ]]
Indigo® Mastercard® - $1,000 Credit Limit
- No rewards
- 35.9% APR
- Annual fee: $0 - $99
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3071", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Credit Builders", "headerHint": "Guaranteed Credit Limit"} ]]
The Credit Building Advantage
What sets the Chime Card™ apart is its approach to credit building. Unlike traditional secured cards that allow you to carry balances and pay interest, the Chime Card™ requires full payment each month. This structure:
- Prevents debt accumulation
- Establishes positive payment history
- Builds credit without interest charges
- Teaches responsible credit habits
Credit building, stress-free. Turn on Safer Credit Building, and your monthly balance will automatically be paid. On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Results may vary.
Chime+™ Membership Benefits
The card integrates seamlessly with Chime's broader ecosystem of financial services:
- 3.75% APY on savings accounts
- SpotMe® overdraft protection (up to $200)
- Early paycheck access (up to 2 days early)
- Priority customer support
- Exclusive deals that stack with card rewards
The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Chime® Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of August 13, 2025. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The Chime+ APY is available only while you maintain eligibility requirements for Chime+, otherwise the APY for non-Chime+ members will apply. See Chime+ Terms and Conditions for more details.
Who Should Consider This Card?
The Chime Card™ makes sense for:
Ideal Candidates:
- Chime+™ members looking to build credit
- Credit rebuilders who want rewards
- Young adults establishing credit history
- Individuals who prefer simple, fee-free products
Less Suitable For:
- Non-Chime customers (must join Chime+ first)
- Those wanting traditional credit card flexibility
- People needing higher credit limits immediately
- Users preferring multiple redemption options
The Bottom Line
By combining credit building with cash-back rewards and integrating with a comprehensive digital financial services platform, Chime has created a product that addresses real consumer needs. The card's success will likely depend on Chime's ability to attract and retain Chime+™ members while providing competitive rewards and maintaining its fee-free approach.
For consumers already in the Chime ecosystem or considering a switch to digital financial services, this card offers compelling value. Traditional credit card issuers will need to respond by beefing up their own secured card offerings or risk losing market share to fintech competitors like Chime, which are reimagining basic financial products with consumer-friendly features.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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