Verdict · Updated April 2026
Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa for College Students
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa is a top choice for college students — ranked #8 of 47 eligible cards on our use-case scoring model. If college students is your primary need, this card is a strong primary pick.
Rank #8 of 4785th percentileStrong primary pick
Reviewed by CardCompare Editorial Board
|Data-driven ranking|Updated April 2026
Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa
Stride Bank · No annual fee
Chime's unconventional secured card has no minimum deposit and charges no interest — ever. You load money to a security account and spend from it, so you literally can't overspend. Automatic payment from your Chime account means no late payments, making it nearly foolproof for building an on-time payment history. Requires a Chime Checking Account.
Full card review
Earn math — College Students profile
Based on typical college students spending of $9,960/year across the categories below.
Annual rewards
$0
Annual fee
$0
Net value
$0
Approvable with no creditZero annual feeBuild credit historyGraduation bonus
Where the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa wins for college students
- Approvable with no credit history — perfect for a first-ever card
- No annual fee — zero cost to keep the account open while building history
Top 3 alternatives for college students
Cards that rank higher than or close to the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa on our college students scoring model.
How the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa performs for other use cases
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa a good card for college students?⌄
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa is a top choice for college students — ranked #8 of 47 eligible cards on our use-case scoring model. If college students is your primary need, this card is a strong primary pick.
How much can I earn with the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa on college students spending?⌄
At the typical college students spending profile of $9,960/year, this card earns approximately $0 in rewards — net $0 after the $0 annual fee.
What are better alternatives to the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa for college students?⌄
Our top 3 alternatives are Discover it Student Cash Back, Discover it Student Chrome, Chase Freedom Rise. Each ranks higher on our use-case scoring model for college students.
What credit score do I need for the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa?⌄
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa typically requires no-credit credit. Approval also depends on income, existing debt, and application history — a score in the stated range doesn't guarantee approval.
Is the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa's annual fee worth it for this use case?⌄
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa has no annual fee — there's no breakeven to clear, so any rewards earned on college students spending are pure profit.
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