Does Chime Show Pending Deposits?

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Designed to give people access to affordable and helpful banking services, Chime®* is a fintech company offering fee-free checking and savings accounts and a credit card through an online platform.¹ Its top-rated app has a rating of 4.8 in the App Store and 4.6 in Google Play.

If you’ve recently joined the millions of people who have downloaded the Chime app, you may have questions about the features, including whether Chime shows pending deposits. The answer is yes. Chime shows pending deposits in the app. Read on to learn more about how long it takes for deposits to show up in your account.

How To View Pending Deposits in Your Chime Account

To see pending deposits in your Chime account, follow these steps:

1. Open the Chime app.
2. Locate the “View Transactions” option. Tap it, and you should see all pending transactions at the top of the screen.
3. You’ll notice some transactions are in gray while others are in green. Pending deposits are displayed in gray. This changes to green after the transactions have cleared and you have access to all of the money you deposited.

The pending deposits you see in your Chime account are from checks you deposit. Direct deposits and cash deposits never show up as pending. This is because direct deposits immediately clear when Chime receives them — and why you can get your money up to two days early when you set up a direct deposit through Chime.² Cash deposits made through a local retailer typically post to your account within two hours.³ External transfers do not show up in your account until they clear and the issuing bank has released the funds.

What Time Do Chime Deposits Hit?

The time you can expect to see deposits in your Chime account varies depending on the type of transaction. Chime credits your account as soon as it receives a direct deposit. This can be anywhere from 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. on the day of the deposit, and you should have access to the funds no later than 9 a.m. on payday.

When you send money to or receive money from other Chime members, the transaction should appear in your account instantly.⁵ Cash deposits made through a participating retailer like Walgreens or Circle K stores should post to your account within two hours.

Transfers from external accounts can take up to five business days to clear. If you initiate the transfer from the external account, you should see the money within three business days. Transfers initiated in the Chime app and mobile check deposits can take longer.⁶

What Are Pending Transactions?

Pending transactions are credits and debits the bank is still processing. For example, a restaurant may charge your account the amount of the food and drinks you purchased, but it can take a day or two before it submits the final amount, including the tip. Similarly, the bank may hold a check deposit you make at an ATM or when you deposit a check from another bank.⁴ In most cases, you’ll have access to the money the following business day, and you should see it in your account as a pending transaction until then.

A pending deposit is money the bank has not fully released to your account. When you have pending transactions, Chime adjusts your available-to-spend balance so you see what will be in the account after the transaction is complete. This is a helpful feature that makes it easier to keep track of your balances and avoid overdrawing the account or dealing with a declined transaction.

How Long Does It Take for a Deposit To Clear?

Most deposits clear within one business day, but sometimes banks hold the funds for up to five business days. This can happen when the bank suspects there may be an issue with the deposit — for example, if you frequently overdraw your account, have recently opened the account or redeposit a check that had previously been returned. Banks also may hold some of the funds if you deposit a check with more than $5,000. This gives the bank time to verify the transaction and make sure the funds will be released by the issuing bank.

Final Take

Chime is a great option for those who want a completely free checking and savings account with no frills and a credit card designed to build a credit score for those who need a boost in this department.^{7, 8} The app is user-friendly, with convenient features and terminology so you can monitor your accounts quickly and easily. Being able to receive your direct deposits up to two days early is an added bonus.

However, Chime isn’t a bank and isn’t the right option for everyone. If you need full banking services, including certificates of deposit and loans, check out more traditional financial institutions or full-service online banks.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.

¹ There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.

² Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Chime generally makes these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to two days earlier than the scheduled payment date.

³ Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your selected Chime Account. Barcode and debit card cash deposits land in the Checking Account. Credit Builder card cash deposits first go through your Card Account and then land in your Secured Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade.

⁴ Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over-the-counter advance fees may apply. See here for details.

⁵ Funds are automatically debited from your Checking Account and typically deposited into the recipient’s Checking Account within seconds. Pay Anyone transactions will be monitored and may be held, delayed or blocked if the transfer could result in fraud or another form of financial harm. Sometimes instant transfers can be delayed.

⁶ Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member’s direct deposit enrollment status.

⁷ The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.

⁸ To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit or Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer-to-peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.

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