A $0-fee secured card that skips the credit check and interest charges. You set your spending limit, turn on autopay, and Chime reports your progress to all three bureaus.
Rates, fees, and offers
Chime Credit Builder Visa® Secured Card Overview
Chime Credit Builder is a no-annual-fee, no-interest secured Visa aimed at people starting or rebuilding credit. There’s no hard credit check to apply. Instead of a traditional credit limit, you move money into a secured account and that amount becomes your spending limit—more like a “charge-card style” experience you fully control. In the app you can enable Safer Credit Building, which automatically pays your statement from those secured funds each month, helping you avoid missed payments. Chime reports your on-time activity to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion monthly.
Another quirk that can help thin files: Chime doesn’t report a utilization percentage because there’s no preset limit, which can prevent high-utilization dings (though it also won’t help utilization-based score gains). You can use the card abroad with $0 foreign transaction fees once you toggle on International transactions. To qualify, you’ll need an active Chime Checking Account; many users set up direct deposit to keep things seamless.
If you want rewards or a graduation path to an unsecured card, you’ll likely look to other issuers later. But for rock-bottom costs, guardrails, and straightforward credit building, this card is hard to beat.
Top features & our take
No interest & $0 annual fee
Pay no interest and no annual fee—ever. That keeps costs near zero while you build credit.
No credit check to apply
Applying won’t trigger a hard inquiry, easing rejection anxiety for newcomers and rebuilders.
Safer Credit Building (autopay)
Turn it on to auto-pay your statement from your secured funds, reducing the risk of late payments.
Reports to all three bureaus
Monthly reporting to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion helps you establish payment history fast.
No utilization percentage reported
Because there’s no preset limit, utilization isn’t reported—helpful if a small limit would otherwise look maxed out.
How Chime Credit Builder can help you improve your credit score
Credit scores are heavily driven by on-time payments. Chime’s setup is built for that: move money to the Secured Deposit Account (that’s your spending limit), use the card for everyday purchases, and enable Safer Credit Building so your balance is automatically paid each month. Chime then reports your payment activity to all three bureaus monthly, helping you establish a positive payment history.
Because there’s no utilization percentage reported, you won’t get penalized for “high utilization” on a low limit—a common issue for thin files. The tradeoff: you also won’t gain points from showing low utilization, so once your score rises, consider adding a traditional secured/unsecured card to round out your profile.
Smart habits: keep a small, regular spend you can auto-pay, add calendar reminders, and avoid letting any balance sit beyond 54 days, which could trigger a late mark. Over 3–6 months, these patterns can move you toward fair credit—setting you up for better rates and more card options.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔No credit check, no interest, no annual fee — ultra-low cost of ownership
- ✔Reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion monthly
- ✔Safer Credit Building autopay helps protect your payment history
- ✔No utilization percentage reported (avoids high-utilization dings)
- ✔$0 foreign transaction fees; easy international toggle in-app
Cons
- ✖No rewards or sign-up bonus
- ✖No direct graduation path to an unsecured Chime credit card
- ✖Out-of-network ATM fees may apply
- ✖Utilization not reported (won’t help that specific score factor)
Who can benefit — and who should look elsewhere
Who can benefit from this card?
- Credit Newcomers: First card with no hard check, no interest, and simple guardrails.
- Credit Rebuilders: Need clean on-time payments without risking high-utilization marks.
- Budgeters & travelers on thin files: $0 FX fees and a limit you control keep spending predictable.
- Gig workers with variable income: Easily adjust your spending limit week to week.
Who should look for a different product?
- Rewards seekers: Try Discover it Secured or Capital One Quicksilver Secured if you want cash back.
- Looking to “graduate” in-house: Some secured cards offer clearer upgrade paths (e.g., Discover it Secured).
- Want utilization to help scores: A traditional secured card that reports a limit can let you show low utilization.
- Need to carry a balance: This card isn’t designed for revolving balances; consider low-APR/0% intro cards once eligible.
How to apply
- Open a Chime Checking Account.
- In the Chime app, apply for Credit Builder (no credit check).
- Move money to the Secured Deposit Account to set your spending limit.
- Turn on Safer Credit Building for automatic monthly payments.
- Use the card regularly and let Chime report to all three bureaus each month.
FAQ
Does Chime run a credit check?
No. There’s no hard credit check to apply for Credit Builder.
Is there any interest or annual fee?
No interest and $0 annual fee.
What’s the minimum deposit?
No fixed minimum. Your limit equals whatever you move into the Secured Deposit Account.
Does it report to all three bureaus?
Yes. Chime reports monthly to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Can I use it abroad?
Yes. Enable International transactions in-app; Chime charges $0 foreign transaction fees.
Conclusion
Chime Credit Builder Visa is a low-friction way to start or rebuild credit: no credit check, no interest, and a limit you control. With autopay and monthly reporting to all three bureaus, it’s designed to protect your payment history and minimize gotchas. If you want rewards or a clear upgrade path, you’ll likely move to another issuer later. But as a safe, simple credit-building starter, it delivers.
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