Costs, licensing, consumer protection Privacy, self-custody, censorship resistance

Chime Card Credit Builder

A plan byChime Card · Visa

4.5/5 1.4/5 · Data verified on

Chime Credit Builder is a completely free card, with no credit check, no interest and no utilization reporting, plus access to over 47,000 free ATMs. It requires a Chime Checking account with a direct deposit of at least $200.

Estimated net annual cost €0/year

Credit Builder

Price
Free
Annual price
Free
Issuance fee
Free
FX markup
0%
Cashback
5%
Cashback currency
USD
Cashback cap
€69
Required staking
Nessuno
ATM fee
0%
ATM limit
47.000+ ATM gratuiti (Allpoint)
Net annual cost
Free

What's included

  • $0 annual fee
  • No interest
  • No min deposit
  • No preset credit limit
  • Reports a tutti 3 bureau
  • Safer Credit Building (autopay)
  • No foreign tx fee
  • 5% cashback su categorie selezionate
0%
FX markup
5%
Cashback
Free
Annual fee
Free
Issuance fee
Custodial
Custody
61
Transparency: Medium
61/100 · see methodology
61
Data exposure: Medium
61/100 · lower is better for sovereignty · methodology

Data & conditions

§ Amounts in USD/GBP are shown in the service's native currency.

Network Visa
Fund custody Custodial (platform holds funds)
Issuance fee Free
Annual fee Free
Free ATM limit 47.000+ ATM gratuiti (Allpoint)
ATM withdrawal Free
FX markup 0%
Cashback 5% in USD · Nessuno
On-chain settlement No
Contactless Yes
Virtual card Yes
KYC Full
Privacy 4/10
Supported countries US · 1+ countries
Estimated net annual cost €0/year
Regulator FDIC / OCC
OAM Italy registration No
Segment B2C
Past incidents [object Object] · [object Object] · [object Object]
MiCA / License status Partner bank charter n/a (US)

Strengths

  • Completamente free; no credit check; no interest; no utilization reporting; 47K+ ATM free.
  • No notable sovereignty advantage documented.

Weaknesses

  • Requires Chime Checking with direct deposit $200+.
  • Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
  • Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
  • Subject to regulation (n/a (US)): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.

Verdict

A D ★ 4.5/5 ★ 1.4/5 Estimated net annual cost: €0/year

It tops the category because it strips out the costs that sink rivals: no fee, no credit check, no interest and no utilization reporting, with 47,000+ free ATMs and dual FDIC/OCC backing. The only friction weighing on the score is the entry requirement, a Chime Checking account with a $200+ direct deposit, but otherwise it is the cleanest cost-risk profile in the group.

Here the verdict flips: however free and well-built, it remains a custodial, full-KYC card, FDIC/OCC-regulated and tied to a US bank account, with no self-custody or on-chain settlement. Being free does not move the needle on this lens, because privacy and independence from the intermediary remain absent.

Privacy & anonymity 30% 1.0
Fund control 20% 0.0
Censorship resistance 20% 1.5
Costs 10% 5.0

Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.

"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.

FAQ

Is Chime Card a safe card?

Chime Card is a custodial card on the Visa network. As a payment card, loaded funds are e-money and are not covered by a bank deposit-guarantee scheme. Fund custody is custodial.

How much does Chime Card cost?

The card has no annual fee. Issuance is free. The FX markup is 0% (no surcharge). See the tier table for full conditions.

Does Chime Card offer cashback?

Yes: cashback goes up to 1.5%, depending on the tier.

Is Chime Card available in Italy?

No, Chime Card is not currently available in Italy.

Is Chime Card custodial or self-custody?

Chime Card uses a custodial model. Funds are held by the issuer: you do not have direct control of the private keys.

Sources

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Update history

✓ Terms unchanged since Jun 14, 2026

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