How OpenFortune Helped Chime Serve Money Messages That Stick

Chime is what happens when brick-and-mortar banking gets a glow-up. Based in San Francisco and built for a mobile-first generation, it’s the no-fee, no-headache banking app that actually has customers’ backs.

With features like overdraft coverage, savings bucket tools, and free budgeting calculators available to all users, Chime prides itself on turning financial responsibility into one less adulting hassle.

Chime was ready to level up its presence with a mass marketing awareness push. But in a world flooded with mobile banking options and more budgeting apps than anyone ever asked for, they needed something punchy, fresh, and unexpected to spark real consumer interest.

Yet Chime faced several hurdles.

• Standing out in a crowded market: The mobile banking space is growing fast, with stiff competition from both established banks and fintech disruptors. Chime needed to pique genuine curiosity with genuine staying power.

• Cutting to the right audience: Not everyone feels jazzed about the idea of switching banks, especially if they’ve been burned before by fees. And some demographics just prefer having a brick-and-mortar bank when life happens.

• Real emotional resonance: Helping people feel good about their budgeting and savings is no small feat. Chime needed a human-first message that was inspiring, not intimidating. (Seriously, who wants to be reminded to check their checking?)
  

That’s where OpenFortune arrived at the party.

Chime was drawn to OpenFortune as a partner to solve its mass awareness problem.

For starters, there was a clever overlap in the two joining forces to create a marketing experience – a.k.a. providing relevant budgeting and banking messages when buying takeout or right before the restaurant check arrives. Plus, our success working with others in the wider fintech niche had caught their eye (and OOH wallet).

They didn’t just want another forgettable ad. They wanted baked-in brilliance, which we got to work delivering:

• 1,925,000 cookies distributed nationwide.
  

• Spark mass awareness through messages of wealth and financial empowerment, wrapped up in a demographic-targeting manifestation theme.
  

• Front of slips featured those manifestations on wealth and achieving money goals, while back of slips brought Chime branding, a clean logo, and a custom QR code linking straight to the app experience.

Turns out folks don’t hate discussing their finances in between bites of crunchy fortune cookies.

Chime’s results were nothing short of money in the bank:

• 69% Unaided Recall: Nearly 7 in 10 people remembered Chime with no reminders, funnels, or follow-up nudges. That’s the kind of brand stickiness marketers dream of and spent fortunes for.
  

• 34% Intent to Learn More: One in 3 cookie recipients made the choice to check out this new interesting approach to their banking. That’s not just curiosity – that’s inspired action.
  

• 17% Would Recommend Chime: Yes, from a cookie. One is 6 folks felt moved enough by their fortunes to share with someone else, proving even a small experience (literally) can drive meaningful word-of-mouth.

When Chime set out to inspire people to take control of their finances, they didn’t just talk the talk. They served the snack.

By combining future-focused financial empowerment with the timeless joy of cracking open a fortune cookie, Chime created a feel-good moment that stuck. This wasn’t some cold, calculating ad campaign playing off money worries. It was optimism you could hold in your hands.

Good fortunes are one thing. But a banking app that actually helps you create it? Now that’s mouth watering.