You can deposit cash into your Chime account at thousands of retail locations, including Walgreens, Walmart, 7-Eleven, CVS, and Dollar General. The process takes just a few minutes at the register, and your funds typically show up in your account within two hours.
Where to Make a Cash Deposit
Chime partners with a wide network of retailers across the country. Some of the most common locations include Walmart, 7-Eleven, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Speedway, Circle K, Sheetz, Pilot Flying J, Travel Centers of America, Royal Farms, Cumberland Farms, Kwik Trip, and Kum & Go. To find the nearest option, open the Chime app and check the Cash Map, which shows participating stores near you along with their specific deposit limits.
Walgreens stands out as the best option if you want to avoid fees. Cash deposits at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations are completely free. At other retailers, expect to pay a fee per transaction. The exact amount varies by store, so check before handing over your cash. These retailers may also set their own daily, weekly, or monthly limits on how much you can deposit or how often.
How the Deposit Process Works
You have two ways to deposit cash at a retail partner: using the in-app barcode or swiping your physical Chime card.
To use the barcode method, open the Chime app and tap “Move,” then tap “Deposit Cash.” This pulls up a unique barcode tied to your account. Bring your phone and your cash to the register, ask the cashier to scan the barcode, and hand over the amount you want to deposit. The cashier processes it like any other transaction.
If you prefer using your card, tap “Deposit with card” in the app instead. You can use your Chime Visa Debit Card, your secured Credit Builder Visa Credit Card, or your secured Chime Visa Credit Card. At the register, swipe the magnetic strip on the card reader. Chip inserts and manual card number entries are not accepted, so the magnetic strip needs to be in working condition. If your strip is damaged, you’ll need to request a replacement card through the app or at chime.com before you can deposit this way.
Deposit Limits
Chime allows you to deposit between $20 and $1,000 per day, though the exact maximum depends on the specific retailer. The Cash Map in your app shows the deposit ceiling for each store near you, so it’s worth checking before you make the trip. You can make up to three deposits within any 24-hour period.
Keep in mind that individual retailers may impose their own additional limits on frequency or total amounts per week or month. If you need to deposit more than $1,000 in a single day, you won’t be able to do it through retail locations alone. In that case, transferring money electronically from another bank account or receiving a direct deposit are alternatives worth considering.
When Funds Become Available
Cash deposits at retail locations typically post to your Chime checking account within two hours of a successful transaction. That’s faster than many mobile check deposits or bank transfers, which can take one to several business days. Once the deposit posts, the money is available to spend, transfer, or withdraw immediately.
If your deposit hasn’t appeared after a couple of hours, make sure the transaction completed successfully at the register. The cashier should have given you a receipt confirming the deposit amount. Hold onto that receipt until you see the funds reflected in your account, since it’s your proof of payment if anything goes wrong.
Keeping Costs Down
Since Walgreens deposits are free and most other retailers charge a fee, the simplest way to save money is to make your deposits at Walgreens or Duane Reade whenever possible. If no Walgreens is nearby, consolidating your cash into fewer, larger deposits rather than several small ones also helps, since fees are typically charged per transaction rather than as a percentage of the amount.
For regular income you receive in cash, setting a weekly routine of one deposit can minimize both fees and trips. And if someone else needs to get money into your Chime account, having them send it through a peer-to-peer payment app or bank transfer avoids retail deposit fees entirely.