Varo vs. Chime: Which Online Bank Is Right for You?

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.

Tired of looking for a branch or navigating a clunky app when you need to manage your bank account?

For anyone who’s ready to walk away from traditional branch banks, an industry of online challenger banks has blown up over the past decade. Technology companies have swooped in to respond to the need for more mobility, better apps and lower fees.

Varo and Chime, two of the top players in the online banking space, compete for customers with no-fee bank accounts and high-yield savings you can set up and manage from your smartphone.

Varo (previously Varo Money) and Chime each offer checking and savings accounts through user-friendly mobile apps and online banking. Here’s how the companies stack up.


Varo vs. Chime at a Glance

Bank APY Opening Deposit Monthly Fee Top Feature

Chime

0.50%

$0

None

Fee-free overdraft protection

Varo

3%–5%

$0

None

Up to 5% APY

Chime

Best for Customers on a Tight Budget

4.5 out of 5 Overall

Key Features
  • Fee-free checking and savings
  • SpotMe fee-free overdraft protection
  • Interest-free credit builder card
Chime is a leader in online banking, offering a no-frills account with features meant to simplify your money management and help you reach savings goals. Chime offers fee-free online spending and saving accounts. It includes built-in automatic saving features, fee-free overdraft protection, access to two fee-free ATM networks and more.
Chime

APY
0.50%
Opening deposit
$0
Prime perk
Built-in savings features

More Information About Chime

Chime is known for fee-free services, so you won’t pay for much. You’ll just pay a $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee, plus any fee charged by the ATM operator. And you could pay up to $4.95 to withdraw or deposit cash through your debit card at a Green Dot retail location.

Is Chime right for you? Read our full Chime review to learn more about its features and see what it has to offer.

Varo

Best for Making the Most of Savings

5 out of 5 Overall

Key Features
  • Fee-free checking and savings
  • Low-cost cash advance
  • Up to 5% APY on savings
Varo offers an online, app-based checking and savings account with built-in automatic savings tools, optional small dollar cash advance loans called Varo Advance, access to a network of fee-free ATMs and more. It also offers a credit builder program called Varo Believe for qualifying customers.
Varo

APY
3%–5%
Opening deposit
$0
Prime perk
Credit builder card

More Information About Varo

Varo was the first banking app to gain approval for a full bank charter in the U.S. That means it’s its own bank, unlike other banking apps, which provide technology and work with national banks to provide the financial services and accounts behind the scenes.

It hasn’t yet taken full advantage of its status to offer a full suite of financial services, but it does offer services beyond its original stripped-down checking and savings account, including a credit builder program and small cash advance loans.

Nearly all Varo features are fee free. You’ll just pay $2.50 to Varo to use an out-of-network ATM, plus third-party ATM fees. And you could pay a third-party fee up to $4.95 to the retailer if you deposit or withdraw cash over-the-counter at a Green Dot location. If you use Varo Advance, you’ll pay a fee between $0 and $5, depending on how much cash you draw.
When you open a Varo savings account, you’ll start with a 3% APY, and you can earn up to 5% on savings balances up to $5,000 as long as you receive at least $1,000 in direct deposits each month and keep both of your accounts above a $0 balance during that month.

Is Varo a good bank? Read our full Varo review to learn more about its features and decide whether it’s a good fit for you.

Varo vs. Chime: Details

Chime and Varo offer most of the same account options aimed at simplifying banking and savings for anyone who’s ready to say goodbye to traditional banks.

Both accounts offer these features:

Fee-Free Checking and Savings Accounts

Both Chime and Varo include a debit account (a.k.a. checking) and optional savings account, both with no monthly fees.

Automatic Savings Tools

Both accounts include simple ways to automatically build your savings account by setting rules to move money from checking to savings when you get paid and when you shop.

High-Yield Savings

Both savings accounts offer higher-than-average APY on your savings account balance.

Chime offers 0.50% APY on savings with no minimum balance requirement.

Varo offers 3.00% APY on savings to any customers, and you can earn 5.00% APY on balances of $5,000 or less in a given month if you receive at least $1,000 in direct deposits, and keep both of your accounts above a $0 balance during that month.* Additional balances above $5,000 will earn Varo’s base 3.00% APY.

Early Direct Deposit

As with many online banks, both accounts make your paycheck available early if you get paid through direct deposit. The money is available in your account as soon as your employer processes payroll, which could be up to two days before the scheduled payday.

Overdraft Protection

Through Chime’s SpotMe overdraft protection program, the company will spot you up to $20 with no fee as long as your account has at least $500 per month in direct deposits. That limit can go up to $200 based on your account activity.

Through Varo Advance, you can avoid an overdraft by getting an cash advance through the app. Varo offers small cash advance loans of $20, $50, $75 or $100, for a fee of $0, $3, $4 or $5, respectively.

A woman with a yellow blouse and red book bag uses an ATM machine.
Getty Images

Cash Deposits

With both Varo and Chime, you can deposit cash into your bank account at more than 60,000 retail locations with Green Dot, which is a function many online banks don’t include.

Bill Pay

With either account, you can pay bills through ACH transfer by giving companies your bank account and routing numbers, or mail a paper check.

Secure Deposits

Both companies provide FDIC-insured accounts up to $250,000 (the typical amount for any bank account). Chime partners with The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank, N.A., and Varo is itself and FDIC-insured Bank.

Instant Money Transfer

With both Chime and Varo, you can send money instantly with no fees to others who their respective apps. Varo Bank also works with Zelle® for money transfers to folks who use other banks.

Second-Chance Banking

Neither company uses ChexSystems, which many traditional financial institutions use to determine your eligibility for a bank account, so a bad banking history won’t necessarily disqualify you for these accounts. Neither company checks your credit report for a banking account or credit builder card, either.

Free ATM Withdrawals

A Chime account gives you access to 38,000 fee-free ATMs in the United States through the MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance networks. Varo’s account connects you to more than 55,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.

A woman peaks up from a book.
Getty Images

Live Customer Support

Talk to a real person from either company via chat in its app, email or on the phone seven days a week.

Reach Chime customer service 24/7 via chat in the app, email at [email protected] or by phone at 844-244-6363.

Reach Varo customer service through online chat via the Varo app, email  [email protected], or call 877-377-8276 during call center hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Federal holidays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.)

Push Notifications

Stay on top of your Varo account balance with optional notifications anytime money moves in or out of your account. Chime gives you the option to receive  a push notification when a direct deposit hits.

Credit Building Programs

Both companies offer a new, secure way to build credit.

Chime’s Credit Builder Visa credit card is a secured credit card with no annual fee, no credit check to apply and no minimum required deposit (an unusual feature for a secured card). It works like a debit card that lets you build credit.

Through the program, Chime members can move money into their Credit Builder account to back the card, make purchases with the card and have the balance automatically paid off from their Credit Builder account. Chime reports activity to credit bureaus, so the card is a less risky way to build or rebuild your credit.

Varo’s Varo Believe program is nearly identical, backing a secured credit card with a dedicated amount of your choice from your Varo Bank account.

What They Don’t Offer

Neither platform offers these features:

  • Joint accounts or additional authorized debit card users.
  • Other financial products, like personal loans, auto loans and mortgages.
  • Refinancing.
  • Small business banking.
  • Paper checks (though you can use bill pay to have checks sent for you).

Varo vs. Chime: Pros and Cons

We’ve gathered the pros and cons of Varo and Chime to help you decide which banking institution is right for you.

Varo


Pros
  • Up to 5% APY for qualifying customers (3% for any customer).
  • Nationally chartered bank.

Cons
  • Small fee for small cash advances over $20.

Chime


Pros
  • 0.50% APY for all customers.
  • Fee-free overdraft protection.

Cons
  • No peer-to-peer transfers with Zelle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Varo vs. Chime

We’ve found the answers to the most commonly asked questions about Varo and Chime.

Are Chime and Varo the Same?

Chime and Varo are distinct companies operating online banking apps, but they each offer similar services, including fee-free savings and checking accounts.

Is Varo Bank a Good Bank?

Varo is a reputable and popular banking app backed by FDIC-insured accounts through Varo Bank, N.A. The mobile bank is a good option for anyone who likes online banking and has simple banking needs that don’t require all financial services to live under one roof.

Is Varo an Actual Bank?

Yes, Varo Bank, N.A. received approval for a U.S. bank charter in July 2020 and is an FDIC member.

*Varo disclosure: APY is accurate as of December 1, 2022. This rate is variable and may change. No minimum balance required to open an account or obtain the stated rates. All Varo Savings Accounts begin earning the Standard Rate of 3.00% APY (Annual Percentage Yield). In order to qualify for the Elevated Savings Rate (5.00% APY on your first $5,000 of savings and 3.00% APY on the rest), you must meet these 2 requirements by the end of the last business day of the month:  (1) Receive direct deposit(s) totaling $1,000 or more; and (2) End the month with a positive balance in both your Varo Bank Account and Savings Account.  If you qualify this month, you will earn the 5.00% APY for next month. You’ll continue to earn 3.00% APY on any additional balance above $5,000.00.  If you don’t meet the requirements, you’ll still earn 3.00% APY on your entire Savings Account balance.

Deposits are FDIC insured to at least $250,000 through Varo Bank, N.A.; Member FDIC.

Contributor Dana Miranda is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® who has written about work and money for publications including Forbes, The New York Times, CNBC, Insider, NextAdvisor and Inc. Magazine.