A Chime virtual card is a digital version of your physical card, offering a unique number for secure online shopping, subscriptions, and contactless in-store payments via mobile wallets (Apple/Google Pay), letting you make purchases immediately without waiting for the physical card to arrive, all linked to your main Chime account for security and convenience.
Key takeaways
A virtual credit card is a temporary, unique card number linked to your existing credit card account, designed to protect your real card information during online purchases.
Virtual credit cards are digital credit cards that function like physical credit cards—but without the plastic. Rather than providing the same card number to multiple vendors, companies can limit their exposure to potential fraud by generating different 16-digit card numbers and expiration dates for each transaction.
The new Chime Card™ is a no-annual-fee secured credit card that allows cardholders to earn up to 1.5% cash back in rotating categories. Additionally, it doesn't require a credit check for approval, and there are no late fees or interest.
The $100 bonus that Chime offers is from the Standard Referral Program. You can invite a friend to join Chime using your referral link. If they meet the requirements, your friend will get $100 and you can get up to $200, depending on the current offer. Read What is Chime's Standard Referral Program?
To get a Chime $200 bonus, you typically need to either be referred by an existing member and meet specific direct deposit criteria, or be eligible for their SpotMe feature which can cover overdrafts up to $200 after setting up qualifying direct deposits. The main path to a referral bonus involves a friend signing up with your link and getting a single $200+ direct deposit within 45 days, rewarding both of you.
Amazon Chime will no longer accept new customers beginning February 19, 2025. Existing customers can continue to use Amazon Chime features, including Business Calling, scheduling and hosting meetings, adding and managing users, and other capabilities supported through the Amazon Chime administration console.
You use your Chime virtual card by finding its details (number, CVV, expiry) in the Chime app under Profile > Cards, then using those details for online/in-app purchases, or adding it to Apple Pay/Google Pay for tap-to-pay in stores, linking to its security features. It works like your physical card but digitally, allowing immediate use before the physical one arrives and offering added security.
A debit card you can count on.
Unlock your financial future with a Chime Visa ® Debit Card. Avoid replacement fees and maintenance fees, control your debit card security from your app, get cash back with Chime Deals2, and get cash from over 47,000 fee-free ATMs.
Yes, you can use a virtual card at an ATM, but only if it's added to a digital wallet (like Apple Pay, Google Pay) and the ATM supports contactless/cardless transactions (NFC or QR code); traditional virtual cards are for online use, not in-person, but digital wallets bridge that gap at compatible ATMs, requiring your phone to be charged and your bank to support the feature.
The difference between a physical card vs virtual card
The main difference is in their design. A traditional credit card shows your account number, CVV code and expiration date clearly printed on its front and back. A virtual credit card exists only in digital format, without a physical presence.
A virtual card is a digital version of your physical Chime card. It has its own unique card number but shares the same PIN and is linked to the same Chime Account as your physical card. Both your physical and virtual cards are linked to the same Chime Checking Account.
To get $500 from Chime, use their MyPay® service by setting up qualifying direct deposits ($200+ twice in 34 days), which unlocks access to up to $500 of your future pay, fee-free within 24 hours or instantly for a small fee, with repayment automatically handled by your next paycheck. You must meet eligibility in your state and have direct deposit set up.
Yes, you can tap with a virtual card by adding it to a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, then using your phone to tap the contactless reader at checkout, which uses the card's details securely without needing the physical card. Alternatively, some virtual cards allow manual entry of the card number, expiration, and CVV directly at the terminal.
Using Apple Pay works just like transferring money with a debit card: Open the Chime app and tap Move. Select Transfer money.
US fintech Chime has been fined $3.25 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for failing to issue balance refunds quickly enough to consumers after their checking and savings accounts were closed.
Chime's holding banks are The Bancorp Bank, N.A and Stride Bank, N.A. You can view the bank associated with your Chime account: In the Chime app, tap Move Money.
Amazon is shutting down its Chime service because it had limited adoption outside Amazon, the company is adopting partner solutions like Zoom and Microsoft Teams internally, and AWS is shifting focus from end-user apps to core infrastructure, making way for better, more integrated tools. New customers stopped being accepted in February 2025, with full service ending February 20, 2026, allowing migration for existing users.
A big thing about Chime is that once you open a Chime account, you get your own Chime referral link. You'll earn $100 for every person you refer to Chime and the person you refer will also earn $100 once they open a Chime account with your link and meet the bonus requirements.
Your base SpotMe limit is set automatically by Chime and starts at $20. Over time, it may increase—up to a maximum of $200 — based on things like: How often and how much you receive in qualifying direct deposits. Your spending activity with your Chime card.