Consumer complaint received 2025-08-26 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Didn't receive terms that were advertised
Company: Chime Financial Inc
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint regarding what I believe to be a deceptive and unfair promotional practice conducted by Chime Financial , Inc. I respectfully request that your office review this matter and intervene as appropriate, as I have exhausted my attempts to resolve this issue directly with the bank. 

The issue relates to a promotional offer by Chime for new account holders. Specifically, Chime advertised a {$250.00} welcome bonus plus an additional {$100.00} reward ( for a total of {$350.00} ) when opening a new account through a promotional link, provided the customer ( XXXX ) received at least {$500.00} in direct deposits and ( XXXX ) conducted debit card transactions up to the maximum eligible reward. I enrolled in this promotion in good faith, carefully followed every requirement, and have supporting documentation to prove that I met the conditions fully. 

Timeline and Details : XX/XX/year> I opened my Chime account using the promotional link. The official promotional period extended until XX/XX/year>. My enrollment was therefore fully within the stated promotional period. 

Following account opening I received direct deposits exceeding {$500.00}, fulfilling requirement # XXXX. 

Following account opening I conducted debit card transactions up to the maximum amount required to qualify for the {$100.00} additional bonus, fulfilling requirement # XXXX. 

Supporting documentation Attached are account records and enrollment confirmations clearly showing my compliance. 

Despite this, Chime has denied my promotional bonus, asserting that I did not open the account within the promotional period. This claim is factually false. I opened the account on XX/XX/year> XXXX weeks before the promotion ended and there is no ambiguity regarding the dates. Their refusal to honor the terms of the promotion not only causes me direct financial harm but also raises serious concerns about the accuracy and integrity of their promotional practices. 

Broader Concern : While investigating further, I reviewed Chimes official XXXX and other social media channels. I discovered numerous other customers publicly reporting the exact same issue : that they fulfilled all the requirements of the promotion but were later denied their bonus under questionable or contradictory explanations. This suggests a potential pattern of deceptive or misleading promotional practices that misrepresent the actual availability of rewards. Such behavior, if left unchecked, undermines consumer trust and risks broader harm to the banking systems reputation. 

My Request : That your office review this case and require Chime to honor the promised {$350.00} promotional bonus. 

That your office evaluate whether Chimes promotional campaigns comply with federal banking regulations regarding truth in advertising, fairness, and consumer protection. 

That corrective action be taken if a pattern of misleading practices is confirmed. 

Closing : I want to emphasize that I did not intend to escalate this matter externally. I have already contacted Chime multiple times directly to resolve this dispute, but they have repeatedly denied my claim despite clear documentation proving my eligibility. With no other option left, I am respectfully seeking regulatory assistance to ensure fairness and accountability. 

I sincerely apologize for the need to reach your office with this complaint, but I believe it is important to highlight both my personal case and the broader concerns raised by other affected consumers. 

Thank you very much for your time, consideration, and for any guidance or intervention you can provide. I look forward to your response and remain hopeful for a fair resolution. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief