5 Little-Known Perks of Banking With Chime

Popular banking app Chime recently released a new feature, Chime Deals. I've been banking with Chime for a couple of years now. This no-frills company isn't like SoFi, banging out features left and right; when Chime releases something new, it's an event, minus the drums.

If you're not paying attention, it can be easy to overlook Chime's under-the-hood perks. New users especially may be clueless. Chime advertises itself as a young-person-friendly mobile app, which it is, but the specifics are a lot more interesting.

In addition to typical banking services, Chime offers Chime Deals, a Cash Map, Credit Tracking, partner deals, and Bills. Keep reading for more on each of these little-known perks below.

1. Chime Deals: Discounts on gas, grocery, and restaurants

Chime has finally upped its debit and credit card game with Chime Deals. Users check out nearby deals in the app, activate the deal they want, and use it within four hours. It's a lot like what Cash App and Robinhood offer, but the map takes center stage.

What that looks like: Say I want to buy gas. I'd open my Chime app and scroll down to Chime Deals. From the map, I'd select the nearest gas station, ARCO. I'd tap the deal for details: a $0.20 per gallon discount. Nice. I'd activate the deal and drive to ARCO. At the pump, I'd swipe my Chime debit card or Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card. My approximately 4% discount would automatically apply.

Right now, my Chime Deals map looks a bit sparse. There's a bunch of ARCOs, a 76 offering 12% cash back, and a Lee's Sandwiches deal offering 12% back. I'll check back in next month to see if more businesses partner with Chime.

2. Cash Map: ATMs near me

Chime offers a majorly convenient perk, the Cash Map, to folks to use cash. Users check the map to find de-facto ATMs at Chime's partners, many of which are fee free. Chime partners with Walgreens to let users transfer money to and from Chime at over 8,000 Walgreens locations.

What that looks like: Say I want to withdraw cash. I'd open my Chime app and select the Cash Map icon. Under "Withdraw," I'd see both a map and a list of Chime partners that offer withdrawals. I'd select the nearest option, Rite Aid, and check details: it offers a free-fee ATM and cash back on purchases. I'd click "get directions" and drive to the location for my money.

Near me are a ton of places I can withdraw and deposit cash, including Rite Aid, Walgreens, and 7-11. The Cash Map could save cash users a lot of time searching for ATMs.

3. Credit Tracking: My FICO® Score

Chime tracks your credit score in the app. It's my favorite feature. Recently, I applied for an auto loan and was worried my educational debt would worsen my rate. So I checked my FICO® Score. It was as simple as opening the Chime app and scrolling down to "Credit Tracking." It's free, and there's no ding to your credit score. Chime notifies me every time my credit score changes.

What Chime doesn't give is a detailed breakdown of your credit score. I can see recent movements, but that's it. To see a detailed breakdown of my score, I use Credit Karma. (It's free, so long as I don't purchase anything via one of its ads.)

4. Partner Deals: Personal finance products

Chime partners with personal finance services to offer users loans and insurance. To Chime's credit, it doesn't shove these deals down users' throats. They're actually hard to find in the app. I've got to scroll to the very bottom and click "See my offers."

I don't typically go for affiliate products. They vary in quality, and Chime probably gets paid no matter which one you use. But I have used Insurify through the app, and it was useful for comparing car insurance quotes to my current rate. It may be worth looking into, though I'd do a bit more research than what's offered through the app.

5. Bills: My recurring payments

Chime shows users their recurring payments in one place, the Bills tab. Subscriptions, credit card payments, and lease payments show up in mine. It's a nifty way to check how much I'm paying via my Chime account.

To view subscriptions, open Chime and scroll down to "Bills." You'll get a monthly average and a breakdown of how much you spent on what, in order of most to least recent. If you've forgotten about a subscription you pay for through Chime, it'll show up here.

These perks are worth considering before switching banks. If it's not your speed, steer clear. But if you like the convenience Chime offers, dive a little deeper into the banking app's main features, interest rates, and fees (or lack thereof). They're worth checking out.