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    Home»Finance»Which Online Bank Is Best?
    Finance

    Which Online Bank Is Best?

    By June 22, 2022No Comments9 Mins Read
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    Which Online Bank Is Best?
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    Which Online Bank Is Best?


    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 SEE DETAILS
    Varo 1.2%–5% $0 None Up to 5% APY SEE DETAILS

    Chime

    Best for Customers on a Tight Budget

    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

    Chime Logo

    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

    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 overdraft protection called Varo Advance, access to a network of fee-free ATMs and more. It also offers cash advance loans and a credit builder program called Varo Believe for qualifying customers.

    Varo

    Varo Logo

    APY

    1.2%–5%

    Opening deposit

    $0

    Prime perk

    Credit check builder

    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 1.2% 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.

    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 1.20% APY on savings to any customers, and you can earn 5.00% APY in a given month if you receive at least $1,000 in direct deposits, maintain a minimum balance of no more than $5,000 and keep both of your accounts above a $0 balance during that month.

    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 add instant overdraft protection through the app with a small cash advance loan 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 Money is backed by its own Varo Bank.

    Instant Money Transfer

    With both Chime and Varo, you can send money instantly with no fees to others who use the same app. 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 via email at [email protected], or by phone at 877-377-8276 during call center hours: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Time, and Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Time.

    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 (1.2% for any customer).
    • Nationally chartered bank.


    Cons

    • Small fee for overdraft protection.

    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. 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.

    Yes, Varo Bank, N.A. received approval for a U.S. bank charter in July 2020 and is an FDIC member. Varo Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the financial technology company Varo Money, Inc., which operates the Varo banking app.

    Which Bank is better: Current or Chime?

    Current is an online bank account that offers many of the same features as Chime and other neo bank competitors. Current stands out for offering “savings pods,” which help you save toward specific goals, and separate accounts for teens.

    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.




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