Aug 7 (Reuters) - Chime beat Wall Street
estimates for second-quarter revenue on Thursday, driven by
strong demand for its digital banking and financial services, in
its first results following a blockbuster U.S. listing.
Younger customers in the U.S., disillusioned with fees and
limited flexibility at large banks, have increasingly turned to
digital-first startups that offer low-cost banking, early direct
deposits and higher-yield savings accounts.
Chime's revenue rose 37% to $528 million in the three months
ended June 30. Analysts on average had expected $495.2 million,
according to estimates compiled by LSEG.
The company went public in June in a blockbuster U.S.
initial public offering that raised hopes of a lasting rebound
in investor demand for high-growth tech listings. The stock is
up 25% from its IPO price.
"This was a breakout first quarter as a public company for
Chime, driven by accelerating year-over-year growth, expanding
margins, and continued product execution," Co-founder and CEO
Chris Britt said.
Average revenue per active member grew 12% to $245 in the
quarter, the company said.
Chime offers a suite of no-fee financial products through
its bank partners, including a secured credit card to help users
build credit, short-term liquidity tools like early pay access
and small-dollar loans, and a deposit sweep program that
distributes funds across regional banks.
The company says its payments-based banking model is better
suited to serve everyday Americans, who often have limited
credit histories and rely more heavily on debit transactions
than traditional lending products.
Purchase volume - the total dollar value of transactions
using Chime-branded debit or credit cards - rose 18% in the
quarter to $32.4 billion.
The rise in volume underscores resilience in consumer
spending, with users continuing to rely on debit cards for
everyday expenses such as groceries, gas and bills - a trend
that has held firm despite broader economic uncertainty.
Gross profit came in at $461 million in the quarter versus
$333.7 million, a year earlier.
(Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj
Kalluvila)