Disclaimer: Chime is not sponsored, endorsed, partnered, or otherwise affiliated with Zelle. All references to the Zelle company and brand are purely informational and no endorsements are implied.
Whether you’re splitting the dinner bill with friends, paying your roommate your half of the rent, or giving your niece or nephew some birthday money, – using a peer-to-peer money transfer service makes sending money much easier.
Rather than mail a check or withdraw cash from an ATM to pay a loved one, you can open your smartphone, tap a few buttons, and send money digitally, from your account to theirs – and they can do the same for you.
Zelle® is one of the most popular ways to transfer money from one bank to another, but it doesn’t work with every financial institution or type of account. So does Chime work with Zelle? Below, we’ll walk you through how to use Zelle with Chime and review other ways to send and receive money through the Chime app.
Does Chime work with Zelle?
The short answer is no. Chime does not support transfers directly with Zelle. Chime is not a bank, but a financial technology company offering banking services through our partner banks. Our partner banks are not a part of Zelle’s program, so Chime is not directly compatible with Zelle, either.
That means Zelle is not integrated within the Chime app the way it might be with other mobile banking apps. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use Chime with Zelle; you just have to download the Zelle app separately. Keep reading for more on how you can use Chime with Zelle outside of the Chime app.
Alternatively, you can use Chime’s Pay Anyone feature. Both Chime members and non-members can receive money through Pay Anyone.
Chime is compatible with most common peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like Venmo®, Cash App®, and PayPal®.
Can I use Zelle with Chime? How to use your Chime account with Zelle
Although Zelle is not available in the Chime mobile banking app, you can still connect your Chime account on Zelle. We’ll walk you through how to set up Zelle with your Chime account below – but also look at some alternatives.
Linking Chime to Zelle with a debit card
If some of your friends and family like to use Zelle to send and receive money, it may make sense to link your Chime card to Zelle. To do this:
- First, you’ll need to download the Zelle app and create an account.
- Within the Zelle app, follow the prompts to connect your account. Zelle will ask you for your financial institution’s name; although Chime is not in the Zelle app, you will still type in “Chime.”
- When Chime doesn’t load as an option, Zelle will prompt you with “Don’t See Your Bank?” Tap this option and enter your email address.
- From there, you can connect Zelle to your Chime account by entering your Chime Visa® Debit Card number.
- Once you verify your identity, you can start sending money from and receiving money into your Chime account via the Zelle app.
Sending and receiving money with Chime’s “Pay Anyone” feature
Zelle isn’t your only option for sending and receiving money digitally. In fact, Chime offers a convenient option directly in the app. It’s called Pay Anyone, a money transfer feature that comes fee-free with every Chime Checking Account.
As a Chime member, you can send money to anyone – fee-free and instantly.¹ That means you can even send money to friends and family who aren’t Chime members; you just need their email address or phone number.
You can also receive money from other Chime members who send you money via Pay Anyone. But if your friends and family aren’t Chime members and need to send you cash, you’ll need to connect your Chime account to a third-party P2P app.
Using Chime With Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal
Zelle isn’t the only third-party option for sending money online. In fact, many of your friends and family may not have access to Zelle through their bank or credit union.
In those cases, you can use apps like Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal to send and receive money if the person you’re exchanging money with doesn’t use Pay Anyone. Just note that these third-party services may have fees for transfers, especially instant transfers.
How to send and receive money in the Chime app
So how does Pay Anyone work within the Chime app? You’ll find it’s really simple. Let’s walk through the steps:
Sending money in the Chime app
Follow these steps to send money to a friend or family member in the Chime app:
- Tap Pay Anyone: Tap the Pay button on the home screen and find the person you want to pay: You can find Chime members by entering their $ChimeSign. If you’re paying someone who doesn’t bank with Chime, you can enter their phone number or email address.
- Fill out the payment details: Enter how much money you want to send. You can also include notes about the payment – including GIFs and emojis.
- Tap Pay to send money: Chime members receive money instantly. If you’re sending to a non-Chime member, they’ll have 14 days to enter their debit card information and claim the money. Please note that the non-Chime member will need a valid U.S. debit card to receive funds.
Chime tip: Sending money to a non-Chime member? Tell them how much you love banking through Chime. You can even send them a referral link and earn $100* if they sign up and receive a qualifying direct deposit!
Receiving money in the Chime app
As a Chime member, receiving money via Pay Anyone is effortless. When another Chime member sends you money, it gets deposited into your checking account instantly² – no action is needed from you!
If you receive money through Pay Anyone but don’t have a Chime account, the text or email notification will prompt you to click a secure link. You’ll need to enter a few personal details, including your debit card number, and the money will transfer to your account.
You’ll also see an option to sign up for a Chime account!
Sending and receiving money through Chime is easy – even without Zelle
Zelle is not available within the Chime app, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use Zelle and Chime together. You’ll just have to download the Zelle app and link your Chime debit card to start sending and receiving money via Zelle.
But if you want a more seamless experience, sign up for a Chime Checking Account and start using Pay Anyone directly in the app. It’s easy to use – and it’s fee-free!
FAQs
Can I connect Chime to Zelle?
A direct connection with Zelle is not available in your Chime mobile banking app; instead, you can use Chime’s Pay Anyone feature to send money. That said, you can still download the Zelle app, input your Chime debit card details, and send and receive money using the Zelle app.
What bank name is Chime on Zelle?
You cannot find Chime as an option in the Zelle app when you search by bank name. Instead, you’ll need to select “Don’t See Your Bank?” and enter your email. From there, you’ll be able to enter your Chime debit card to connect your Chime account to Zelle.
Chime is a tech company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Chime’s bank partner(s).
How do I get my money from Zelle to Chime?
To transfer money from Zelle to Chime, you need to download the Zelle app and connect your Chime debit card. Once your identity is verified, you can move money from Zelle into your Chime Checking Account. You can also move money into Chime using direct deposit, transferring from another bank, or depositing cash.