Chime Scholars Foundation Announces 2026–2027 Cohort

Foundation Awards Nearly $10 Million in Scholarships to Nearly 1,500 Scholars Since 2022

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chime^® (Nasdaq: CHYM), America’s #1 choice for banking¹, today announced its 2026–2027 Chime Scholars Foundation^® (CSF) cohort, awarding $3 million in scholarships to 800 students across the country.

Chime launched CSF in 2022 to expand access to higher education by easing financial burdens, boosting graduation rates, and opening doors to careers that pay more. Now in its fifth year, CSF has awarded close to $10 million in scholarships, supporting nearly 1,500 students across 546 institutions in 41 states. The program has enabled ambitious students of all backgrounds, ages, and educational stages to pursue degrees, certificates, vocational training, and more. CSF is funded by Chime’s 1% pledge, through which the company has committed millions of shares of equity over a decade to expand scholarship opportunities for students across the country.

“Education is one of the most powerful pathways to financial progress and economic mobility,” said Chris Britt, CEO and Co-founder of Chime and CSF Board Member. “Through Chime’s 1% pledge, the Chime Scholars Foundation is investing in ambitious students as they pursue their goals and build meaningful careers. CSF is all about expanding access to opportunity and helping the next generation build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.”

The 2026–2027 class:

• Selected from a record 9,000+ applications — the highest number in the program’s history and more than four times last year’s total.
• 74% are first-generation college students and 100% are eligible for Pell Grants.
• Scholars are pursuing degrees primarily in healthcare (28%), STEM, computer science, and engineering (25%), and business and finance (13%).

Chime scholars have an 87% graduation rate — roughly double the national rate for Pell-eligible students — and nearly 45% of scholars are pursuing trade school or community college pathways. Among Chime Scholars who have graduated, 100% say the program was instrumental in helping them complete their degree.

“With the support from CSF, I can dedicate additional time to studying, completing assignments, and engaging more deeply in my program without the constant concern of balancing educational costs against personal and family obligations,” said Tonya Caston, a Chime Scholar studying Business Management at Phoenix College.

Scholarship applications for the 2027–2028 school year will open in early 2027. 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, payments, lending, and investing products that address the most critical financial needs of everyday people. Our member-aligned business model has helped millions of people to unlock financial progress^TM. Funds in Chime deposit accounts are FDIC-insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, up to applicable limits^*.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. ^1 Based on a blind May 2026 representative survey conducted by Chime using a third-party survey platform, Chime was chosen among listed financial services providers more often by consumers who opened a new personal checking account at a different institution within the preceding six months. Chime offers access to checking accounts used for everyday banking. AMERICA'S #1 CHOICE FOR BANKING is a Trademark of Chime Financial, Inc.   *Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. FDIC deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.