Chime Announces 2025–2026 Chime Scholars Foundation Cohort, Awarding Over $3 Million in Scholarships

Chime Scholars Foundation welcomes 800 scholars, nearly doubling last year’s class in largest cohort to date

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chime^® (Nasdaq: CHYM), a leading consumer financial technology company, today announced its 2025–2026 Chime Scholars Foundation^® (CSF) cohort, awarding over $3 million in scholarships to 800 students across the country.

Chime launched CSF in 2022 to ease financial burdens, boost graduation rates, and open doors to higher-paying career opportunities. The program is designed for ambitious students of all backgrounds, ages, and educational stages to pursue degrees, certificates, vocational training, and more. Chime has taken the 1% pledge, committing millions of shares of its equity over a decade to fund CSF and provide scholarships to more students across the country.

“Chime helps everyday people achieve financial progress by making core banking services helpful, easy, and free. The Chime Scholars Foundation — powered by our 1% pledge — extends that mission by investing in the potential of ambitious students and opening real pathways to economic mobility,” said Chris Britt, CEO and Co-founder of Chime. “I’m proud of this incoming class of scholars and inspired by the growing impact CSF is having in helping the next generation of hardworking students build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

This year’s achievements include:

• Welcoming the largest Chime Scholars class to date–nearly doubling from 438 scholars last year–underscoring Chime’s growing commitment to the program.
• Awarding scholarships to students attending 369 institutions, with 64% pursuing non-traditional pathways such as transfer, community college, certificate, and trade programs.
• Supporting first-generation college students, who make up 65% of the 2025–2026 scholars, in pursuing their education goals.

CSF’s scholarships are helping students achieve meaningful academic and career milestones. Now, in its fourth year, CSF has provided $7 million in scholarship funding to over 1,000 students. Chime scholars have a projected 87% graduation rate, nearly double that of Federal Pell Grant recipients.¹ Within six months of graduation, 72% secure jobs in their field and 86% report reduced financial stress.

“Receiving the Chime Scholarship not only supports me financially but also validates my journey of perseverance and reinvention. I am eager to prove that no matter where you start, passion and hard work can lead to success,” said Ben V., a Chime member and scholar studying cybersecurity.

Scholarship applications for the 2026-27 school year will open in early 2026. For more information, visit Chime Scholars Foundation.

About Chime:

Chime (Nasdaq: CHYM) is a financial technology company founded on the premise that core banking services should be helpful, easy, and free. We offer a broad range of low-cost banking and payments products that address the most critical financial needs of everyday people. Our member-aligned business model has helped millions of people to unlock their financial progress. Member deposits are FDIC-insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, up to applicable limits.²

^1 Predicted graduation rate of all scholars over three cohorts FY23-FY25 using 90% retention rate for future years.

^2Chime^® is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply.