Your Chime savings account works like a regular savings account, but with some limits on how often you can move money out

A Chime savings account holds money separately from your checking account and earns a small amount of interest. You can deposit money into it, watch the balance grow, and withdraw when you need it. The catch: federal rules limit you to six transfers or withdrawals per month—if you go over, Chime charges a fee or may freeze the account temporarily.

The six-transfer limit applies to money moving out of the account. Deposits don't count. Transfers to your own Chime checking account count as one withdrawal. Transfers to another bank count as one. ATM withdrawals count as one. Each one eats into your monthly allowance.

This limit exists because of a federal regulation called Regulation D, which applies to most savings accounts at banks and credit unions. Chime follows this rule, though some online banks have stopped enforcing it in recent years. Chime still does.

Key Takeaways

  • You can deposit money into your Chime savings account as many times as you want, but you can only withdraw or transfer out six times per month before fees explore.
  • Transfers to your own Chime checking account, ATM withdrawals, and transfers to other banks all count toward the six-per-month limit.
  • If you exceed six transfers in a month, Chime charges a fee for each additional transfer and may restrict further access to the account.
  • The six-transfer limit is a federal rule, not a Chime choice, though enforcement varies by bank.

What counts as a transfer or withdrawal

Chime counts a transfer or withdrawal each time money leaves your savings account. This includes moving money from savings to your Chime checking account, transferring to an external bank account, or withdrawing cash at an ATM using your Chime card.

Debit card purchases do not count—those come from your checking account, not savings. Direct deposits into savings do not count. Transfers into savings from your checking account do not count. Only money going out counts.

If you move $500 from savings to checking on Monday and another $200 on Wednesday, that is two transfers. If you then withdraw $100 at an ATM on Friday, that is three. You have three more transfers left for the month.

What happens when you exceed the limit

Chime charges a fee for each transfer or withdrawal beyond six in a calendar month. The fee amount varies and can change, so check your account agreement or contact Chime directly for the current amount. Some customers report fees between $5 and $10 per excess transfer.

If you repeatedly exceed the limit, Chime may restrict your ability to withdraw from savings temporarily or convert the account to a checking account. This is rare, but it can happen if the pattern continues over multiple months.

The easiest way to avoid this: plan your transfers. If you know you need money from savings multiple times in a month, move it all at once to your checking account and then spend from there. That counts as one transfer, leaving you five more for the month.

Moving money between your own Chime accounts

Transferring from Chime savings to Chime checking is when ready and free, but it counts as one of your six monthly transfers. There is no way around this—the transfer limit applies to internal moves too.

If you move $100 to checking on the 5th and another $150 on the 15th, you have used two of your six transfers. The money arrives when ready, but the count stays.

This is why many people use their checking account as the working account and keep savings as a true savings tool—move money over once or twice a month, then spend from checking. It keeps you under the limit and makes it harder to dip into savings on impulse.

Transferring to banks outside Chime

You can move money from Chime savings to another bank, but it counts as one transfer and takes one to three business days to arrive. Chime does not charge a fee for the transfer itself, but the six-per-month limit still applies.

To set this up, you need the other bank's routing number and your account number there. Chime's app has a section for external transfers. Once you add the account, you can move money whenever you need it—up to six times per month.

If you regularly move money to another bank, keep track of how many times you have done it. The sixth transfer of the month is your last free one.

ATM withdrawals and the transfer limit

Withdrawing cash from an ATM using your Chime card counts as one transfer, even if you use a Chime-network ATM where there is no fee. The six-per-month limit applies to cash withdrawals just like any other withdrawal.

This means if you withdraw $50 at an ATM on the 10th and another $75 on the 20th, you have used two of your six transfers. The cash is yours when ready, but the count is real.

If you know you will need cash during the month, withdraw a larger amount once rather than making multiple small withdrawals. One $200 withdrawal counts the same as five $40 withdrawals, but uses only one of your transfers.

Interest and why you might keep money in savings

Chime savings accounts earn interest, though the rate is low—usually less than 1 percent per year. That means $1,000 in savings might earn $5 to $10 per year depending on the current rate. It is not much, but it is more than a checking account earns.

The real reason to use a savings account is to separate money you want to keep from money you spend. If you put an emergency fund in savings and only move it when you truly need it, the six-transfer limit becomes a feature, not a bug—it makes it harder to raid savings for non-emergencies.

If you find yourself hitting the transfer limit every month, that is a sign you are using savings like a checking account. Consider whether you actually need the money in savings, or whether it should be in checking where you can access it freely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the six-transfer limit reset on a specific date each month?

Yes, the limit resets on the first day of each calendar month. If you use all six transfers by the 15th, you can make six more starting on the 1st of the next month. Chime counts by calendar month, not by rolling 30-day periods.

Can I move money from savings to checking without it counting toward the limit?

No. All transfers out of savings count, including transfers to your own Chime checking account. This is a federal rule that Chime must follow. The only way to avoid the count is to keep money in checking instead.

What if I need to withdraw more than six times in an emergency?

You can still withdraw, but Chime will charge a fee for each withdrawal beyond six. If you have a genuine emergency, contact Chime directly—they may waive a fee in rare situations, but there is no may provide. It is better to plan ahead and move money to checking before you need it.

Does Chime charge a fee to transfer money into savings?

No. Deposits and transfers into savings are free and unlimited. Only money moving out of savings counts toward the limit and triggers fees if you exceed six per month.

Can I have multiple Chime savings accounts to get around the six-transfer limit?

Chime does not currently offer multiple savings accounts per customer. Even if you could open more than one, the six-transfer limit would likely explore across all your savings accounts combined, not per account. Check with Chime directly if you are considering this option.