Can I Load My Chime Card at Walgreens? (2023 Guide)
Chime bank has shaken up the world of mobile banking since its launch in 2013. With over 12 million customers as of 2022, Chime provides a no-fee alternative to traditional checking accounts. Its popularity continues growing rapidly.
One of Chime‘s standout features is its debit card that customers can use to spend money from their Chime Spending Account. You can load funds to your Chime debit card in a variety of ways – including by cash at over 90,000 retail locations like Walgreens.
But is loading your Chime card with cash at Walgreens worth it considering there are fees involved? Let‘s dive into the details.
How Chime‘s Fee Structure Compares
Unlike most big banks, Chime does not charge monthly maintenance fees or overdraft fees on its bank accounts. This provides significant savings compared to legacy banks.
However, when it comes to adding money to your account, there are some fees to be aware of.
| Fee Type | Chime | Chase Bank | Bank of America |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Maintenance | $0 | $12 | $12 |
| Overdraft | $0 | $34 | $35 |
| Out-of-Network ATM Withdrawal | $0 (up to 2x per month), then $2.50 | $0 (in-network only) | $0 (in-network only) |
| Cash Reload | Up to $4.95 per transaction | N/A | N/A |
As you can see, while Chime saves you money on monthly and overdraft fees, you‘ll pay every time you reload cash at a third-party retailer like Walgreens.
This is important context when deciding if you should use Walgreens specifically to add money to your Chime account.
How To Load Your Chime Card at Walgreens
The process to load cash onto your Chime debit card at Walgreens is straightforward:
- Bring your Chime debit card and cash to any Walgreens store
- Let the cashier know you want to load funds onto your Chime card
- Specify the amount you wish to load (between $20 and $1,000)
- The cashier will process the transaction and load the money to your card
- Funds will be available in your Chime spending account within 2 hours
Once the money is loaded, you can track the status in the Chime mobile app.
Important Limits & Fees
If you load your Chime card at Walgreens, be aware of these key limits and fees:
- Maximum Amount Per Transaction: $1,000
- Maximum Transactions Per Day: 3
- Monthly Deposit Limit: $10,000
- Walgreens Fee Per Transaction: $4.95
The $4.95 reload fee at Walgreen’s is on the higher end. You may be able to find lower fees at retailers like CVS, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven, and others.
I’ll cover some alternatives below.
Pros of Reloading at Walgreens
There are a few advantages to using Walgreens for cash reloads versus other retailers:
- Wide availability – With over 9,000 stores nationwide, Walgreens has one of the largest retail footprints in the country. So there‘s likely a location convenient for you.
- Generous maximum per transaction – Walgreens allows reloads between $20 and $1,000. Some other retailers have lower per-transaction caps.
- Quick access to funds – You‘ll see the money in your Chime account within 2 hours in most cases.
Cons of Using Walgreens for Cash Reloads
The downsides of loading cash onto your Chime card specifically at Walgreens include:
- High fees – At $4.95 per transaction, Walgreens‘ fees to reload Chime are some of the highest.
- Only accepts cash – Walgreens does not allow Chime card reloads with a debit card, credit card or check. Cash-only.
So while the convenience factor may be high, Walgreens is one of the most expensive choices for adding money to your Chime account.
Alternatives to Walgreens for Cash Reloads
You can reload your Chime debit card at over 90,000 retail locations nationwide. Many charge lower fees than Walgreens‘ $4.95.
Here are some alternative stores to consider with more affordable fees:
| Retailer | Fee Per Transaction |
|---|---|
| CVS | $3.95 |
| Dollar General | $3.95 |
| Rite Aid | $3.99 |
I recommend looking up the retailers in your area through the Chime app and comparing fees. It takes just a few seconds to find the lowest cost option near you.
The process for reloading your card will be the same as at Walgreens – bring cash, specify load amount, funds available within 2 hours.
Tips to Avoid Fees
The best way to avoid fees altogether is to have your paycheck or other regular income direct deposited into your Chime Spending Account. This triggers "Payday Direct Deposits" which provide the following benefits:
- No fees for cash reloads at any retailer
- Early access to direct deposit funds
- Increase in 10% monthly deposit limit (to $11,000)
If direct deposit isn‘t an option, you can link an external bank account to your Chime and transfer funds digitally using bank transfers (ACH transfers). This method is also fee-free.
Both direct deposit and external bank account transfers take 1-2 business days for money to be available in your Chime account.
Is Reloading at Walgreens Worth It?
Whether or not the ~$5 fee per transaction makes sense depends on your specific needs.
If you require instant cash reloads and Walgreens is most convenient, then it may be worth paying their premium fees occasionally.
However, for most Chime users, seeking out lower cost retailers, arranging direct deposit, or linking bank accounts will save substantially on fees over time. Only use Walgreens if the convenience justifies the higher costs.
The Bottom Line
Yes – you can load your Chime debit card with cash at any Walgreens store nationwide. But the $4.95 per transaction fee is steep compared to other retailer options.
I recommend searching for lower cost stores around you first through the Chime app or trying direct deposit/bank transfers to avoid fees entirely. Only use Walgreens if it‘s your most convenient choice and occasional convenience fees are acceptable to you after reviewing alternatives.
