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Chime Vs Ally: Which Is Better for Online Banking?

 1 year ago
source link: https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/chime-vs-ally-online-banking
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Chime vs Ally: Which is better for online banking?

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Chime vs. Ally, both logos side by side on dark blue patterned background with gold coins

Chime and Ally are both strong overall. Chime; Ally; Alyssa Powell/Insider

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Insider's experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The bottom line: You'll likely prefer Ally to Chime if you're searching for a strong high-yield savings account, money market account, or CD. Chime may be a better choice if you're opening a checking account because you'll be able to deposit cash at Walgreens locations.

Find the right savings account for you

Chime and Ally are two online banking platforms with strong checking and high-yield savings accounts.

Your choice between the two could come down to the nitty-gritty of what you want out of an account. We've broken down the features, pros, and cons of both companies, and declared the winner for each section.

Compare Ally and Chime
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  • 631a30f50a329a0011e38162?width=400
    Chime
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Standout feature Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Robust savings and budgeting tools
Savings APY Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
2.35% APY
Standout feature Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Deposit cash for a free at Walgreens locations
Savings APY Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
1.50% APY
Learn more
On Ally's website

Pros and cons of Chime

ProsCons
  • Receive your paycheck up to 2 days early

  • No foreign transaction fees

  • Deposit cash at select retailers (free cash deposits at Walgreens; may deposit cash at other select retail locations but you might be charged a fee)

  • No joint accounts
  • No paper checks
  • No physical locations
  • You must open a checking account to be eligible for a savings account
  • No CDs, money market accounts, loans, mortgages, or investment accounts

Pros and cons of Ally

ProsCons
  • Receive your paycheck up to 2 days early

  • 24/7 live customer support

  • Also has CDs and a money market account

  • Also has mortgages, auto loans, and investment accounts

  • No overdraft fees

  • More savings tools

  • No way to deposit cash
  • No physical locations

Chime vs. Ally savings account comparisons

 Chime Savings AccountAlly High Yield Savings Account
APY1.50%2.35% APY
Minimum opening deposit$0$0
Monthly service feeNoneNone
Perks
  • Deposit cash for a free at Walgreens
  • Rounds your debit card purchases up to the nearest dollar and puts the spare change in savings
  • Savings buckets feature lets you separate savings to create specific goals
  • Surprise savings tool automatically transfers extra change from your checking account to help you save
Caveats
  • No physical branches
  • No way to deposit cash
Next stepsLearn MoreLearn more

The Ally High Yield Savings Account will likely stand out to you if you're looking for a savings account with strong budgeting features.

Ally has several robust savings tools. For example, you can save for specific savings goals through a feature called savings buckets. You can assign labels for a goal and track your progress by setting a goal amount. You'll also be able to automatically transfer extra change from your checking account to help you save.

Chime's savings account lets you round up debit card purchases to help you save, but its savings tools aren't as robust.

Something you'll also want to keep in mind is that you must open a Chime Checking Account to qualify for the Chime savings account.

Winner: Ally

Ally has more robust savings tools than Chime, including savings buckets to save for various goals and Surprise Savings to help you save more money.

Ally Ally High Yield Savings Account
Ally High Yield Savings Account
4.75/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
2.35% APY
Minimum Deposit Amount
On Ally's website

Ally High Yield Savings Account

Ally Ally High Yield Savings Account
On Ally's website

Deposit Details

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
2.35% APY
Minimum Deposit Amount
Editor's Rating
4.75/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star

Pros & Cons

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Highlights

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Additional Reading

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Chime vs. Ally checking account comparisons

 Chime Checking AccountAlly Interest Checking Account
APYNone0.10% to 0.25% APY
Minimum opening deposit$0$0
Monthly service feeNoneNone
Perks
  • Connect your account to Zelle to pay family and friends
  • Early direct deposit
  • No overdraft fees for overdrafts up to $200 with SpotMe, if you qualify
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Request checks to be sent to recipients online
  • Deposit cash for a free at Walgreens
  • Earn interest on your account
  • No overdraft fees
  • Early direct deposit
  • Free overdraft protection 
  • No incoming wire transfer fees
  • Connect your account to Zelle to pay family and friends
  • Refunds up to $10/month in out-of-network ATM fees
  • Access to 43,000 free ATMs
Caveats
  • No physical locations
  • $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee
  • No physical locations
  • Doesn't accept cash deposits
Next stepsLearn MoreLearn more

Deciding between Chime and Ally checking accounts will likely depend on minor preferences.

The most notable distinction between the two accounts is how you'll deposit cash into the account.

The Chime Checking Account lets you deposit cash for free at Walgreens. You may also deposit cash at other select retail locations but you might be charged a fee (up to $4.95 per transaction).

If you'd like to deposit cash at Ally, you'll have to take extra steps. You'll need to deposit cash at an external bank account, then transfer the money to your Ally checking account. Usually, transactions take a few business days to process.

You'll also want to consider whether you want to earn interest on your checking account. Usually checking accounts don't earn interest. However, the Ally Interest Checking Account pays 0.10% to 0.25% APY depending on your account balance.

Winner: Chime

Chime makes your regular banking activity easier. You won't pay foreign transaction fees, and you're able to deposit cash.

Chime Chime Checking Account
Chime Checking Account
4.25/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Minimum Deposit Amount
On Chime's website

Chime Checking Account

Chime Chime Checking Account
On Chime's website

Deposit Details

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Minimum Deposit Amount
Editor's Rating
4.25/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star

Pros & Cons

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Highlights

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Additional Reading

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Chime vs. Ally CD and money market account

Chime doesn't offer CDs or a money market account. Ally has three types of CDs: high-yield CDs, no-penalty CDs, or Raise Your Rate CDs that increase your rate if Ally's rates go up during your term.

Ally's money market account pays a competitive interest rate. It also provides you with a debit card and paper checks, making it a convenient savings tool for stashing your emergency fund and accessing money quickly if necessary.

Winner: Ally

Ally will be your go-to option in these categories, because Chime doesn't have a money market account or CDs.

Ally Ally High Yield Certificate of Deposit
Ally High Yield Certificate of Deposit
4.5/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.00% to 3.50% APY
Minimum Deposit Amount
On Ally's website

Ally High Yield Certificate of Deposit

Ally Ally High Yield Certificate of Deposit
On Ally's website

Deposit Details

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.00% to 3.50% APY
Minimum Deposit Amount
Editor's Rating
4.5/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star

Pros & Cons

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Highlights

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Additional Reading

Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Ally Ally Money Market Account
Ally Money Market Account
4.25/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
2.35% APY
Minimum Deposit Amount
On Ally's website

Ally Money Market Account

Ally Ally Money Market Account
On Ally's website

Deposit Details

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
2.35% APY
Minimum Deposit Amount
Editor's Rating
4.25/5
A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star

Pros & Cons

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Highlights

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Additional Reading

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Chime vs. Ally trustworthiness and BBB rating

Ally does not have any public scandals. Chime has one recent controversy: The platform used the URL "Chimebank.com" and the words "bank" and "banking," even though Chime isn't licensed to work as a bank. Although Chime is insured through a bank, it's technically a banking platform, not a bank.

The Better Business Bureau measures companies by evaluating responses to customer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices. The BBB gives Ally a C- and Chime a B-, mainly due to not responding to all of the customer complaints on the BBB website.

Winner: Ally

It's a close race in trustworthiness, but Ally slightly edges out Chime. However, we aren't saying that Chime is ultimately untrustworthy.

Both Chime and Ally are strong companies overall, and your choice between the two will probably come down to what you want out of a checking or savings account.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chime or Ally better? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Deciding between Chime and Ally will likely depend on which accounts you'd like to open.

Ally offers CDs and money market accounts, which Chime doesn't have. If you'd like to open a Chime savings account, you'll also have to open a Chime checking account first.

Chime may be a stronger option if you're searching for a checking account that makes it easy to deposit cash into your bank account. At Ally, you'll have to deposit cash into an external bank account and transfer the money.

Which banking platform, Chime or Ally, has the higher interest rate? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Personal Finance Reviews Editor
Laura Grace Tarpley (she/her) is a personal finance reviews editor at Insider. She edits articles about mortgage rates, refinance rates, lenders, bank accounts, wealth building, and borrowing and savings tips for Personal Finance Insider. She was a writer and editor for Insider's "The Road to Home" series, which won a Silver award from the National Associate of Real Estate Editors. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). She has written about personal finance for over six years. Before joining the Insider team, she was a freelance finance writer for companies like SoFi and The Penny Hoarder, as well as an editor at FluentU. You can reach Laura Grace at [email protected]. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services »
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Junior Banking Reporter
Sophia Acevedo is a junior banking reporter at Insider who covers banking and savings for Personal Finance Insider. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). She joined Insider in July 2021 as a fellow for the Personal Finance Insider Reviews team. Before joining the Insider team, she was a freelancer based in Los Angeles and worked briefly in publishing. She also graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2020. You can reach out to her on Twitter at @sophieacvdo or send a quick email at [email protected]. Read more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services >>
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