Chime Financial will acquire longtime banking partner Stride Bank for $590 million in cash, rename it Chime Bank, N.A. and operate it as a wholly owned subsidiary after closing. The transaction would bring Stride's national bank charter and banking infrastructure in-house, giving Chime greater control over account operations, product development, funding and its planned expansion in lending. Chime expects net synergies exceeding $100 million from lower sponsor-bank fees, expanded lending products and a lower cost of funds. It plans to consolidate its banking activities under Stride after the deal closes in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals, while keeping assets below $10 billion for the foreseeable future to remain exempt from debit-card fee caps under the Durbin Amendment. Chime raised its third-quarter revenue forecast to $705 million and lifted full-year guidance to $2.76 billion to $2.77 billion. Its shares rose 7% in Wednesday morning trading, while shares of The Bancorp, its other banking-services partner, fell 18%. Analysts at Piper Sandler, William Blair, Evercore ISI and Wolfe Research said the acquisition should improve Chime's economics, support innovation and strengthen its customer relationships.