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Chime

Highly recommended

Banks & cards · 4.5 / 5 · 18+ · USA

$100 after a qualifying $200+ direct deposit. Strong for gig workers.

Chime is a free account, not a gimmick bank. The $100 is real but it is not instant: you must receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200+ within 45 days. If you drive for a delivery app or have a paycheck, changing the account and routing numbers in your payout method is usually enough. We recommend it as a long-term backup bank, not as something you open and nuke the next morning — bonuses have holding rules. Confirm the current referral limit in the app.

Open official signup
Signup bonus
$100 when you receive a qualifying $200+ direct deposit within 45 days
If you refer later
Referral bonus per friend who completes the deposit requirement
Cashout
Chime checking · Bonus lands in the Chime account
Speed
After the qualifying deposit posts
Best for
Delivery / gig workers who can point payouts at a new routing number
First-month range
$0–$100 if you actually use it

How to do this

  1. 01Join Chime with the referral link.
  2. 02Finish identity verification and open the spending account.
  3. 03Add Chime as a payout method wherever you get paid.
  4. 04Receive $200+ qualifying direct deposit within 45 days, then claim the $100.

Worth it because

  • + Large, well-known $100 bonus
  • + No monthly fee
  • + Fits gig-app payouts
  • + Useful as an actual backup bank

The catches

  • − No bonus without a qualifying direct deposit
  • − 45-day window
  • − Closing too fast can forfeit the bonus — read the terms

Chime bonus terms change. Qualifying direct deposit, timing, and eligibility are set by Chime. This is a referral link; we may be compensated. SmartMoney is an affiliate site — we may earn when you use these links. Read the company’s current terms before you apply.

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