Cathy Desmet
Chime’s SpotMe program allows you to make overdraft transactions with your debit card (up to a certain limit) without paying additional fees.
It also allows you to overdraft by withdrawing cash from an ATM, cash back transactions, or over-the-counter withdrawals.[1]
With the Chime SpotMe program, you can use your debit card to make purchases that overdraft your checking account, up to your predetermined overdraft limit.[2]
However, in order to use the SpotMe program, you must be making a “qualifying transaction” — it will not work for things like Pay Friends/Split Bill or ACH transfers.[3]
How SpotMe Works
SpotMe allows Chime account holders with monthly direct deposits of $200 or more an overdraft cushion of a set amount.
Your SpotMe overdraft limit will start at $20 and may increase over time (up to $200) based on your account history and activity.[4]
There are no fees for using SpotMe; Chime will simply deduct the overdrawn amount from your next direct deposit.
Chime will automatically decline any transaction at a store checkout that would take your Chime account beyond your individual overdraft limit.[4]
If you’re not careful, however, you may incur out-of-network cash withdrawal fees. Pulling cash from an ATM outside of Chime’s fee-free ATMs will often incur a small fee.[3]
Note that SpotMe only covers debit card transactions; it does not cover the following:[4][3]
- ACH transfers (including Venmo and Square Cash)
- Transfers to a Chime savings account
- Chime checkbook transactions
- Pay Friends transfers
You might also be interested in our list of banks that offer overdraft lines of credit or ATM overdraft policies listed by bank.
Lindsey Desmet
Loren Eaton
William Lipovsky