You can close your Chime account through the mobile app or by calling customer service, but you need to settle any outstanding balance first.

Closing a Chime account takes about five minutes if you do it through the app, or longer if you call. The process itself is straightforward: you log in, navigate to settings, and confirm the closure. The harder part is what comes before—making sure you have no pending transactions, no direct deposits scheduled to arrive, and no outstanding balance on your account.

Chime does not charge a fee to close your account. Once closed, you lose access to your debit card and any funds in the account become inaccessible through Chime's system, so you need to withdraw or transfer everything first.

Key Takeaways

  • Withdraw or transfer all money from your account before closing, because you cannot access funds after the account is shut down.
  • Cancel any automatic payments or recurring transfers linked to your Chime card, or they may fail and create overdraft fees.
  • Wait for any pending direct deposits to clear, or contact your employer to redirect future deposits to a different account.
  • You can close your account through the Chime app under Settings, or by calling 1-844-244-6361 and speaking to a representative.
  • After closure, your debit card stops working when ready, so do not rely on it for any transactions.

Steps to close your account through the Chime app

Open the Chime app and log in with your username and password. Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then select "Settings." Scroll down and look for "Account" or "Close Account"—the exact wording varies slightly depending on your app version, but the option is always in Settings.

Tap "Close Account" and Chime will show you a confirmation screen listing any remaining balance and warning you that the action is permanent. Review this screen carefully. If you have money in the account, you will see the amount displayed. If the balance is zero and you have no pending transactions, tap "Confirm" or "Close Account" to finish. Chime will send a confirmation email to the address on file.

The account closes when ready. Your debit card becomes inactive right away, though Chime may take a few business days to fully remove it from their system.

Closing your account by phone

Call Chime customer service at 1-844-244-6361. Have your account number and the phone number associated with your account ready. Tell the representative you want to close your account. They will ask you to confirm your identity, check your balance, and warn you about the permanent nature of the closure.

If you have a balance, the representative can walk you through transferring it to another bank account or withdrawing it at an ATM before closing. Some customers find the phone route slower because you have to wait on hold and move through the representative's script, but it can be helpful if you have questions or if the app is not working.

What to do with your money before closing

You have three options: transfer the balance to another bank account, withdraw it at an ATM, or ask Chime to mail you a check. The fastest is a transfer to another account you own at a different bank—this usually takes one to two business days. ATM withdrawal is when ready if you have a Chime card and access to a MoneyPass ATM (Chime's network). A mailed check takes seven to ten business days.

Do not close your account with money still in it unless you have arranged one of these three methods first. Once the account is closed, Chime's customer service cannot retrieve the funds for you, and you will have to file a dispute or contact your state's banking regulator to recover the money—a process that takes weeks or months.

Stopping automatic payments and recurring transfers

Before you close your account, log into the Chime app and check your transaction history for any recurring charges or transfers. Look for subscriptions, gym memberships, streaming services, or automatic bill payments linked to your Chime card. You need to cancel these through the original merchant or service provider, not through Chime.

If a payment tries to go through after your account is closed, it will fail and may trigger an overdraft fee from Chime—even though the account is no longer active. The fee may be reversed if you contact Chime within a few days and explain that you closed the account, but it is easier to cancel the recurring charges beforehand. Go to each service's website or app, find the payment method settings, and remove or update your Chime card.

Redirecting direct deposits

If you receive regular direct deposits from an employer, government benefit, or other source, contact the organization and ask them to change the deposit account before you close Chime. Provide them with your new bank account number and routing number. This usually takes one to two pay periods to take effect, so do it as soon as you know you are closing your account.

If a direct deposit lands in your closed Chime account, Chime will reject it and send it back to the sender. The sender may then try to redeposit it, which can delay your payment by several days. Some employers charge a fee to reprocess a returned direct deposit, so notifying them early saves you money and hassle.

What happens to your Chime card after closure

Your physical debit card becomes unusable when ready when you close your account. You do not need to destroy it, but you can cut it up or throw it away. Chime will deactivate the card number in their system, so even if someone finds it, they cannot use it to make purchases or withdraw money.

If you have a virtual card number through Chime (used for online shopping), that also stops working. Any pending transactions that have not yet cleared may still go through for a few days after closure because the card networks take time to process them, but Chime will not honor them and they will be reversed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reopen my Chime account after closing it?

Chime does not allow you to reopen the same account once it is closed. You can open a new account, but it will have a different account number and routing number. If you think you might want to use Chime again, consider pausing or freezing the card instead of closing the account entirely—contact customer service to ask about this option.

What if I have a pending transaction when I close my account?

Pending transactions may still process for a few days after closure because the card networks operate independently of Chime's system. Once processed, Chime will reverse them since the account no longer exists. This can create confusion with merchants, so wait until all pending transactions have cleared before closing.

Will closing my Chime account hurt my credit score?

No. Chime is a checking account, not a credit product, so closing it does not affect your credit report or score. Credit bureaus only track credit accounts like credit cards, loans, and lines of credit.

How long does it take for Chime to fully delete my account?

Your account closes when ready when you confirm closure through the app or phone. Chime may keep records for seven to ten years for regulatory and tax purposes, but you lose access to the account and its funds right away.

What if I forgot my login information and cannot access the app?

Call Chime customer service at 1-844-244-6361 and tell them you want to close your account. They can verify your identity using your Social Security number, date of birth, and phone number, then close it for you over the phone without needing your password.