You can close a Chime account through the mobile app or by calling customer service, and the process takes a few minutes

Closing a Chime account means you are ending your relationship with Chime as your bank. Your debit card will stop working, direct deposits will no longer land in that account, and any remaining balance will need to be moved or withdrawn. Chime does not charge a fee to close the account, and you can do it yourself through the app or ask a representative to do it over the phone.

The timing matters: if you have direct deposits or automatic payments set up, you need to redirect those before you close. Money sitting in the account stays yours, but you cannot access it through the Chime card once the account is closed. The actual closure usually takes effect within one to three business days, though you lose card access when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Close your account through the Chime app by going to Settings, selecting Account, and choosing Close Account, or call Chime customer service at the number on the back of your card.
  • Before closing, withdraw or transfer any remaining balance, because you cannot use the Chime debit card to access money after the account is shut down.
  • Update your direct deposit information with your employer or benefit provider at least one pay period before closing, so future deposits do not fail.
  • Cancel or update any automatic payments or subscriptions that pull from your Chime account, or they will fail and may trigger overdraft fees at the merchant.
  • Chime does not charge a fee to close your account, and the closure takes effect within one to three business days.

Steps to close through the Chime app

Open the Chime app and log in. Tap the profile icon (usually in the bottom right corner), then select Settings. Look for the Account section and scroll down until you see Close Account or a similar option. Tap it.

Chime will ask you to confirm that you want to close the account and may ask why. You do not have to provide a reason, but Chime sometimes uses the feedback to improve. Once you confirm, the app will show a message saying your account closure is in progress. You will lose access to your Chime debit card when ready, though the account itself may take one to three business days to fully close in the system.

Steps to close by phone

Call the number on the back of your Chime debit card. You will reach Chime customer service, which operates 24/7. Tell the representative you want to close your account. They will verify your identity by asking for your name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or other information tied to your account.

The representative will confirm that you have no remaining balance or will ask what you want to do with it. If you have money in the account, they can walk you through transferring it to another bank account or can arrange for a check to be mailed to you. Once you confirm closure, the representative will process it when ready, and your card will stop working right away.

What to do with money still in the account

If you have a balance in your Chime account when you close it, you have three main options: transfer it to another bank account, withdraw it as cash at an ATM before closing, or ask Chime to mail you a check.

The fastest route is usually to transfer the money to another bank account you control. You can do this through the Chime app by going to Transfers or Money Movement, entering the receiving account details, and sending the funds. This typically takes one to two business days. If you want the money when ready, use an ATM to withdraw cash before you close the account. If you prefer not to do either, tell the Chime representative during the closure call that you want a check mailed to you, and provide your mailing address.

Redirecting direct deposits and automatic payments

Before you close your account, you must tell your employer, benefits provider, or any other source of regular deposits that you are changing your bank account. This includes paychecks, Social Security, unemployment benefits, tax refunds, or any other recurring deposits. Contact your employer's payroll department or your benefits provider and give them your new bank account number and routing number. Allow at least one full pay period for the change to take effect.

Similarly, if you have automatic payments set up — subscriptions, loan payments, insurance premiums, utilities — log into each service and update the payment method or account number. If you close your Chime account before updating these, the payments will fail, and you may be charged late fees or overdraft fees by the merchant. Some services will send you a notice that the payment failed, but others will not.

What happens to pending transactions and holds

If you have a pending transaction or a hold on your account when you close it, the hold will typically be released within one to three business days. A pending transaction is money that has been authorized but not yet settled — for example, a gas station charge that is still processing. Once the account closes, the merchant has a limited time to settle the transaction, and it will post to your account even after closure, or the merchant will be unable to collect and the hold will drop.

If you are unsure whether a transaction is still pending, call Chime customer service before you close the account. They can tell you what is outstanding and help you decide whether to wait for it to clear or close anyway. Closing the account does not erase your transaction history, and Chime will keep records of your account for a period of time for tax and legal reasons.

Reactivating a closed account

Once you close a Chime account, you cannot reopen the exact same account. However, you can open a new Chime account at any time using the same email address or a different one. The new account will have a different account number and routing number, so you will need to update your direct deposit information again if you want deposits to go to the new account.

If you closed your account by mistake or changed your mind shortly after closing, contact Chime customer service when ready. If the account has not yet fully closed in the system (usually within the first few hours), a representative may be able to stop the closure. After the account is fully closed, reopening is not possible, and you will need to open a new account instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my money if I close my Chime account?

No. Any balance in your account remains yours. You must withdraw it, transfer it to another bank, or ask Chime to mail you a check before or during the closure process. Chime will not keep the money.

Can I close my account if I have a negative balance?

You will need to pay the negative balance before closing. Contact Chime customer service to arrange payment, or transfer funds from another account to cover the overdraft. Once the balance is zero or positive, you can close the account.

What happens to my debit card after I close the account?

Your Chime debit card will stop working when ready. You can throw it away or cut it up. Chime does not require you to return it. If you open a new Chime account later, you will receive a new card.

How long does it take for my account to fully close?

Your card stops working right away, but the account itself may take one to three business days to fully close in Chime's system. During this time, pending transactions may still post, and you may still see the account in the app.

Can I close my account if I have a pending direct deposit?

Yes, but the deposit will fail if it arrives after the account is closed. Contact your employer or benefits provider to update your account information before you close, or wait for the deposit to arrive and clear before closing.