Chime is a popular online fintech company with banking partners. It offers digital checking and savings so you can manage your money without traditional branch visits. One of its convenient features is mobile check deposit, which lets you snap a photo of your check and add funds directly to your account. But how quickly will that money be available once you deposit it?
How fast is Chime’s mobile check deposit?
Chime has checking and savings, and you can deposit checks in the app. However, Chime’s mobile check deposit is not instant.
With Chime’s mobile check deposit, funds will take about one to five business days to clear. This is similar to traditional check processing times. The exact timing depends on factors like the type of check, the deposit amount and your account history.
If you need faster access, some banks and apps do offer instant or same-day availability with their mobile check deposits.
SoFi Checking and Savings
If you’re looking for a bank with instant mobile check deposit, consider SoFi®.
Up to 3.80% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements or by paying the SoFi Plus subscription fee every 30 days
Get up to a $300 bonus with direct deposits of $5,000 or more
$0 account or overdraft fees
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Can an instant mobile check deposit be delayed?
Yes, even if a bank offers instant mobile check deposit, it can still be delayed.
Common reasons for delay include being a new customer, depositing after the bank’s cut-off time, submitting a check type that isn’t eligible for instant clearing or depositing a check over the daily limit. Delays can also happen if your account is overdrawn, flagged for review or if the bank is experiencing technical issues.
What types of checks does Chime accept for mobile deposit?
Chime accepts most standard checks that are made out to you, including:
Personal checks
Business checks
Payroll checks
Government-issued checks
Other bank-issued checks
However, Chime typically does not accept:
International checks
Traveler’s checks
Money orders
Savings bonds
Third-party checks (Checks made out to someone other than yourself)
Always check the mobile deposit feature in your app — if a check type isn’t eligible, you’ll usually see an error message when trying to deposit. Also, make sure you endorse the check appropriately.
Alternatives to instant mobile check deposit
Since Chime doesn’t have instant mobile check deposit, here are some alternatives if having your check instantly is important to you:
Check-cashing services. Retailers and check-cashing stores can provide immediate access to funds, usually for a fee.
Direct deposit. Setting up direct deposit with your employer often gives you the fastest, most reliable access to paychecks, and some banks even offer early payday.
In-person bank deposit. Depositing a check directly at a branch or ATM may process faster than mobile deposit in some cases. Unfortunately, Chime doesn’t accept ATM or branch deposits.
Third-party apps. Services like Ingo Money or GO2bank can offer near-instant mobile check deposits, but usually charge a fee.
Bottom line
Chime does not currently offer same-day or instant mobile check deposit. Most Chime mobile deposits take a few business days to clear, depending on the check type and your account history.
If you need faster access to funds, alternatives include setting up direct deposit (with the possibility of early payday), cashing the check at a retailer or check-cashing service, depositing at another bank or using a third-party service like Ingo Money or GO2bank.
Compare other top checking account options that might suit your needs better.
See how mobile check deposit works at other banks
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Summer Nevins is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder. After almost a decade of working in banking and financial services, she quickly realized her true passion is to educate consumers about the complicated facets of all things money. Summer has channeled her passion for personal finance education into writing and since 2020 has written for various clients and publications. She’s recently been working with Influencers like Erika Kullberg and continues to contribute to other finance publications. She holds a BS in Management and Finance and an MBA specializing in Data Analytics from Western Kentucky University. See full bio
