Where to Load Chime Card for Free Near You (2025 Walgreens Guide)

Just like with other online banks like Chime, Chime members get access to a few things.

Here are some of its most popular features:

• No Monthly Fees: There are no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements for a Chime checking account.
• Chime Visa® Debit Card: You get a debit card that works anywhere Visa is accepted.
• Large ATM Network: Members get fee-free access to more than 60,000 ATMs.
• Helpful Features: Chime also offers a fee-free overdraft feature (SpotMe®), works with many cash advance apps, and has a tool to help you build your credit history.

And yes, most popular cash advance apps work with Chime.

Where Can I Add Money to My Chime Card for Free?

The only place to add money to your Chime card for free is Walgreens.

Just like there are many places where you can load your Cash App card, there are many retailers that allow you to load money onto your Chime card as well, but most of them charge a fee.

You can deposit cash into your Chime Checking Account at more than 8,500 Walgreens locations without having to pay a fee.

How to Load Your Chime Card for Free at Walgreens

Thanks to a direct partnership with Chime, you can load your Chime card for free at Walgreens stores.

You can make up to three deposits every 24 hours. The maximum amount you can deposit is $1,000 every 24 hours and up to $10,000 every month.

By the way, in the New York and New Jersey metro areas, most Walgreens stores are branded as Duane Reade. So keep that in mind if you live in those areas. The process is exactly the same and still completely free at either store.

The process is handled entirely through the Chime app and the Walgreens/Duane Reade register.

Here’s exactly what to do.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: The first step is to visit your local Walgreens or Duane Reade store. You can visit this page to find a Walgreens or Duane Reade location near you. You’ll need to head into your local store to load your Chime card. Before going in, open your Chime app and log in to your account.
• Step 2: Inside your Chime account, tap on the “Move Money” button on the home screen and choose  “Deposit Cash.” The app will then create a unique personal deposit barcode for you. This is what the cashier needs to scan.
• Step 3: Take your phone and your cash to the cashier at any Walgreens or Duane Reade store. Tell them you’d like to add money to your Chime account. They may refer to this as a “cash reload.”
• Step 4: The cashier will then scan the barcode on your phone, then hand them the cash you want to deposit.

That’s it! You have just deposited cash into your Chime card. Now the money is usually available in your Chime account within a few minutes. But sometimes it could take longer. So make sure to get a receipt from the cashier just in case.

Deposit Limits for Walgreens & Duane Reade:

• Per Transaction: $1,000.00
• Per Day: $1,000.00
• Per Month: $10,000.00

Other Places Where I Can Add Money to My Chime Card Near Me

Although Walgreens and Duane Reade are the only two retailers where you can load a Chime card for free, there are many other places to load your card if you’re willing to pay a fee.

So your only option for loading your Chime card 100% free is through Walgreens. But, there are many other places to load your card if you’re willing to pay a fee.

Thanks to Chime’s partnership with the Green Dot network, you have access to deposit cash at over 75,000 stores.

Important: At any of these locations, you are depositing cash directly into your Chime Checking Account, not “loading the card” itself. Your Visa debit card then immediately has access to these funds for you to spend.

You’ll have to pay a third-party fee of up to $4.95 per transaction if you choose these stores.

Most Popular Deposit Locations (Fee-Based):

• Walmart
• CVS
• 7-Eleven
• Dollar General
• Family Dollar
• Rite Aid
• Speedway

Complete List of Other Possible Locations:

Many regional convenience stores, grocery chains, and travel centers are also part of the network, including:

• Circle K Stores
• Cumberland Farms Corp
• GPM Investments
• Holiday Station Stores
• Krause Gentle (Kum & Go)
• Kwik Trip Inc.
• Pilot Travel Centers (Pilot Flying J)
• Royal Farms
• Sheetz Inc.
• TA Operating LLC (Travel Centers of America)

How to Fund Your Chime Account via Bank Transfer (Free)

Going to a retail store to deposit cash isn’t the only way to fund your Chime account.

You can also link an external bank account that you own to your Chime Checking Account and then transfer money from your bank account to your Chime account.

Here’s how to link an external bank account to your Chime account:

1. Open the Chime app and select “Move Money.”
2. Tap on “Transfers.”
3. You will be prompted to select your external bank from a list and enter your login credentials for that bank.
4. Once authenticated, the account is instantly linked.

Once you’ve done that, your external bank account will be instantly linked to your Chime Checking Account.

Then, you’ll be able to make unlimited transfers from the external account to your Chime Checking Account.

Keep in mind though that this method is not instant; funds typically take up to 5 business days to appear.

Currently, Chime supports transfers from the following banks:

• Chase
• Bank of America
• Wells Fargo
• Citi
• US Bank
• USAA
• Fidelity
• PNC Bank
• Capital One 360
• TD Bank
• SunTrust
• Navy Federal
• Charles Schwab

Chime says that it hopes to add more banks in the near future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are a few commonly asked questions about topping off a Chime card and their answers.

Can I load my Chime card at an ATM?

No, you cannot add cash to your Chime card at any ATM. You can only use ATMs to withdraw cash. You have to go to a retail location like Walgreens or Walmart to deposit paper money.

What is the deposit limit for Chime?

You can deposit a maximum of $1,000 per 24 hours and up to $10,000 total per month.

What happens if I deposit more than the limit?

Your transaction will be declined at the register.

Why didn’t my cash deposit show up?

Cash deposits are usually available within minutes. If your money doesn’t appear within two hours, make sure you keep your receipt from the store and contact Chime support directly through the app or by phone.

Final Verdict: What’s the Best Way to Load a Chime Card?

At the end of the day, adding cash to your Chime Checking Account comes down to a simple choice between cost and convenience.

If you are a fee-conscious user like me, your best bets are:

• For free cash deposits, go to Walgreens or Duane Reade.
• For fee-based cash deposits, most major retailers like Walmart and CVS will work.
• For free electronic transfers, use the bank transfer option, but plan ahead for the 2-5 day processing time.

By understanding the difference between the direct partnership and the third-party networks, you now know exactly where to load your Chime card for free.