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Charlie Reviews 580

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.4

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Review summary

Based on reviews, created with AI

Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. People appreciate the early access to Social Security direct deposits, which helps them manage their monthly budgets and pay bills on time. Consumers feel secure with the company's fraud protection measures, such as text notifications for every transaction and immediate card locking for unrecognized charges. Many reviewers also highlight the convenience and peace of mind that these security features provide. Customers consistently praise the customer service team, describing them as knowledgeable, patient, and caring. People feel that the staff is always ready to help with any issues, quickly resolving problems and providing clear answers. The prompt and professional service is a recurring theme, with many reviewers expressing gratitude for the personalized attention they receive. However, some consumers report long waiting times to speak with customer service.

Based on these reviews

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

It’s ok. I Do get my social security payments early, which I really like. But their “Fraud Shield” alerts are really irritating. It seems EVERY transaction gets flagged. Frustrating. Anyway.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It started back in early October when I discovered my inability to transfer my money from my Charlie account to another bank to pay my monthly bills I needed to go to an ATM. I am a 70 year old seni... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

what makes you better than the others is that I can get in touch with you and you staff without any issues.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

I have not encountered any real issues with the account. My only complaint is I emailed support two times with a question and never received a response. Poor customer service.

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Charlie is good but I'm having issues withdrawing to other bank which is still mine I did link my bank it didn't go through, I did with debit card same thing please I need help on how to withdraw to... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I highly recommend Charlie to anyone in need of a secured, efficient, customer friendly debit card. Honestly, I was hesitant at first. So many scams are out there. After doing a bit of research regar... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I have been enrolled with Charlie for over a year, and can say without any hesitation that this program is safe, secure and sound. Customer service is top notch with knowledgeable, patient, and... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Great customer service and fraud protection. I receive a text with each and every transaction. When there was one I didn’t recognize, my card was locked immediately. Also the early social security... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Invited

I really like this financial institution, but to limit the withdrawal limit daily, im not happy with. But thats with most banks. Ive been this bank awhile I should a leeway. Depositing is also a lim... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Having the monies loaded onto the card by or before the first of the month is Wonderful…I can finally get my rent in on time ! Also you guys were Great 👍🏽 looking out when you noticed strange activi... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie lets me and seniors set the account for no online purchases and for Walmart or Amazon only which I adore those settings, fraud proof. Also I receive my SSA payment 5 days early along with earn... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie notifies me days ahead when my deposit will be in my account. Whenever I make a withdrawal, Charlie confirms the amount and the balance, plus I can withdraw a larger amount than my old account... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie is a very professional company. You can always depend on getting fast service for whatever you need. Very friendly employees when you are calling in. One of their best features is you are able... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

These people care about us and they’ll do anything that they can to help us if they can. Women are running the company and they better leave it the way it is because I wouldn’t change a thing. I te... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I feel like my information and Social Security are secure with Charlie. Since there are a lot of fraud cases going on with Social Security, I feel like my information and money are safe. They know who... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie is great! Any direct deposit is in there 3-5 days before it’s due. Wonderful customer service. Always able to answer any questions if you cant find it on the Charlie App. I highly recommend Ch... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everytime i call charlie , they take care of my needs no matter what they are, customer service is amazing and they take the time too solve all problems what ever they are , they are caring , knowledg... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The biggest issue I have with Charlie is how long it takes for them to answer the phone! Not very effecient to have customers waiting - gives them a time to think about switching to another institute... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

My Charlie Account has been a life-saver for me! As one on Social Security, it is extremely important to be able to access my SS direct deposit early for so many reasons, to be able to pay my bills o... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I love the way that Charlie would ask you first before paying anyone if it’s you who was using your card for purchases before paying anyone. It’s also convenient that they pay you 5 days in advance b... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I love Charlie, especially since my Social Security payments come early. I never have any trouble They let you know when you can expect the new monthly check coming in. Social Security changed my p... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I’ve never had any issues with my Charlie account! When I couldn’t find something in my account t database, I would call and the reps were very polite, professional and courteous! I appreciate that gr... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie Bank is great for getting your Social Security direct deposited to you earlier. It helps me with our monthly budget. Customer service is quick with researching your concerns.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

So far they have done everything they promised. Get my Social Security check 3 to 5 days early, they notify me if anything doesn't look right. So I can only say 100% I'm a very happy customer.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

From the start Charlie makes life so much more easier and so much less to worry about. It’s like for example a friend starts to ask you about Charlie but before they finish you are at the finish line... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie has been there when I need answers about my account or where is my SSA is going to be,there other problems with payment we’re made by me

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

I was disappointed that I could not add my husband to my account. We both wanted be on the same account and close our old bank account. Now we have 2 bank accounts and it makes it difficult to switch... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie is by far the best banking service I have ever experienced. My card had been compromised twice and they're Customer got on the problem ASAP. Best customer service with Charlie

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

To Ms Kathleen in Customer Service at CHARLIE FINANCIAL!!! I can't thank you enough for your incredible support during such a challenging time. Your help in retrieving my stolen money from the bank wa... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie provides me with a great sense of security. The only thing keeping me from giving Charlie a five is I don’t like people setting limits on how much money I can have of my own money.

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie’s atm’s are only available at certain places and there is a limit on what you can withdraw. The only good thing about Charlie is that it pays your Social Security early.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Love getting my checks early. Customer Service is fantastic, they are patient and willing to talk you though any online issues from,adding to wallet or another account, to paying bills.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

They inform you of anything they seem to warrant suspicious. The customer service is very good. They informed you of your date your get your next deposit is posted and the time that it will post they... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I love Charlie! I get my social security check at least 5 days early every month! They give you a debit card. It makes me feel like my account is safe. Plus they communicate very well. Highly recommen... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Great company they set up my whole account fir with SS and they always keep in touch email letting me know when my next deposit will be available awesome highly recommend Charlie 👍👍

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie has been a great experience for me. They are prompt and professional in all aspects related to my account needs. You should give them a try. I did, and almost 2 years in I’m planning on many y... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

It’s good app but I can’t seem to find a place who will allow me to put cash in so it makes it a little inconvenient for me. ATM’s aren’t too bad When I was emailed some places they couldn’t take t... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I LOVE Charlie! It’s so easy to use and I especially like that when I buy something I receive a text showing the amount and my balance! Charlie has definitely made banking easier for me!

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I love Charlie cuz they always let you know ahead of time when you receive your check. I also like the feature that protects you against new and unfamiliar charges. They are great!!!

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

The customer service has been exemplary. And every time I use my Charlie card I get a text with the amount and my latest balance. It’s a wonderful card and I’m so glad I have it wishing I had it a lon... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

My experience with Charlie customer service is very knowledgeable and very professional and pleasant to converse with. The situation I encountered was quickly resolved in no time. I’m so thrilled th... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie always polite people and they work with you have a problem they have gone miles to help me out and I give them a A + there wonderful

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I’ve had to reach out to Charlie for help in the past on various topics! The helpdesk people were always courteous and helpful with their expediting process of fixing issues I’ve had. I’ve switched... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The ONLY downside I feel with Charlie is the wait time for customer service. I have begun to keep my place in line and have them call me back and that is working better. Frankly, I don't think there... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I had just gotten approved for Social Security and I saw an ad on the Internet about Charlie. I signed up for the Charlie Debit Card and they took care of notifying the Social Security administration... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

I have had good experience with Charlie up until recently. I can’t do online shopping and I can’t do cash app so would it be better if I order a new card or will it continue to go on with a new card... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

i couldn’t of made a better choice of where to put my SS I feel good knowing they are on top of the class with customer service you really should give them a try as you won’t regret it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Invited

I think there customer service department go out of there way to help any matters at hand..They are alway kind, appointed, and helpful..

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Company details

  1. #18 of 30 best companies in Bank
  2. #74 of 110 best companies in Financial Institution
  3. #200 of 254 best companies in Non-Bank Financial Service

Written by the company

Charlie is a banking solution designed for people 62 and older and receiving Social Security benefits. Charlie gives you more for your money, fraud protection to keep it safe, and delivers it with an experience that’s relatable and respectful.


Contact info

4.4

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

580 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Replied to 86% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week


Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Did not get a new card

Did not get a new card. Cannot get to my money. Cannot get through to the customer service. Worked fine until my card expired. Cannot wait to close my account Ava get my money out. No branch, no supervisor to help. On hold long after they said the wait was only 2 minutes. I'm up to 15 minutes. So frustrating.

December 8, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not only have they quit the service of…

Not only have they quit the service of crediting your account on the 1st of the month, they are actually withholding my payment now. SSA tells me on my account page when payment has been made. This month was on the 3rd. Yet Charlie says it isn't expected until the 5th. I've emailed support about this on more then one occasion and have yet to receive any response. I'm about to go to Sutton, maybe they can give me an answer. At this time I can think of no reason whatsoever to keep doing business with them.

December 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They Refuse to Delete Your Information Even Though You Are NOT THEIR CUSTOMER

This is a financial services company incorporated in Delaware. It is not a bank, & it violates the DTPA. This is a WARNING to anyone who may be considering opening an account with them.

An old friend recommended Charlie for seniors 62+. No fees, & you receive SS 3-4 days earlier than you otherwise would. Sounded good. The site said all it needed was my legal name, SSN, address, telephone number, an email address, etc. I provided all of this information. They sent codes to my phone & to my email. I parroted back the codes. I did not know it then, but IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE FOR ME. It would be too late for you, too.

Then they asked me to call them. I called them & asked, "what do you want?" I could not get an answer. This literally went on for 30 minutes. I kept saying, I gave you all the information you wanted to open an account. You then asked me to call you, so I am calling you. WHAT DO YOU WANT??? I was speaking to a woman in the Philippines. There would be LONG, LONG, LONG pauses between what I said & her response which was hardly anything. I believe they were getting as much of my voice on recording as possible---30 minutes worth of my voice.

Finally, I was asked to email them a photo of a bill sent to me at my address. I FOOLISHLY did so. Still not enough. Next, they demanded I send them photos of my license front & back AND a "selfie" holding my driver's license. I said ENOUGH!!!! I have never taken a "selfie" in my life, & I am not going to do it now. I gave you all the information you said you needed to open my account; then you asked for a lot more. THAT IS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. If I had known that you were going to demand all of this other stuff, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEGUN THE APPLICATION. They are harvesting & storing your personally identifiable information including a long record of your voice.

They refused to open the account & they refused to delete my information. They said the are obliged to keep my info for 5 years, but they will keep it longer than that. I am NOT their customer. They have no need to keep my name, address, phone number, email address, SSN, DoB, etc. This is dishonest and a violation of my privacy.

I have filed complaints against them with the BBB & the attorney general's office in both California & my state. I am looking into what other agencies may oversee them. If they were a bank, then the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency would oversee them, but they are not a bank.

I am going to have to file a lawsuit against them just to get them to delete my private information. In this day & age of identity theft, hacked computers, etc., the fewer the companies that have your information, the better.

If you have not yet started an application with them, please BE AWARE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU. Not only will they take your name, address, phone number, SSN, DoB, & email address as they claim at the start, but then they will tell you that is not enough and demand FAR, FAR more information.

Just with the initial information, you will have provided enough information for them to steal your identity. If you give them all the rest of what they want, you are even worse off. Not even the FBI or any other law enforcement agency has a right to demand this information from you. Not even SS demands a "selfie" with your driver's license & copies of your utility bills, passport, etc.

PLEASE DO NOT BE A FOOL LIKE I WAS. Brick & mortar banks are a misery to deal with anymore, but no brick & mortar bank is going to ask you to give them the stuff that Charlie demands.

Now, they have personally identifiable information on me & they refuse to delete it. If that sounds scary to you, then I urge you to protect yourself & your information & DO NOT START AN APPLICATION WITH CHARLIE. Warn your family, friends, & co-workers if you still work. They are compiling ALL of your personal information, even LONG, LONG recordings of your voice. These people are BAD. I would not refer an enemy to them much less a friend.

I since discovered SS will send your benefit directly to U.S. Direct Express debit card each month. Google them. You do NOT need a bank account to get your SS. Pay with this SS approved debit card. Buy money orders with the debit card for payees that need paper. Keep your info out of the hands of lowlife companies like Charlie. Check with SS. They will verify this debit card is a great way to get direct deposit of your SS each month.

ETA: They are still emailing me long after they refused to open an account unless I sent them my license & a "a selfie." I told them I would NEVER do business with with them & to get stuffed. Yet, they are still harassing me with emails.

November 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Resubmitting My Post

It started back in early October when I discovered my inability to transfer my money from my Charlie account to another bank to pay my monthly bills I needed to go to an ATM. I am a 70 year old senior veteran who lives on a fixed income where a $100.00 loss could mean loss of groceries for part of the month. When I was shorted $100.00 at a Charlie assigned ATM. At that time I wrote a negative 2 star review that caught the attention of the Charlie team. After speaking to a representative of the bank I agreed to remove my review. Since they seemed to be genuinely willing to help me in these two matters. They issued a $100.00 reimbursement for my loss at their assigned ATM and a commitment to rectify my inability to transfer my money. Now in November I now have the able to transfer my money,however they took back the $100.00 from my account with no exclamation as to why. I was actually shorted $100.00 at assigned ATM.

Kathlene T, has worked diligently to help me and solve these issues. I am now able to transfer money to different accounts. THANKS KATHLENE

November 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Charlie logo

Reply from Charlie

Hi Steven, thank you for taking the time to share this, and I’m very sorry for how this has unfolded.

We want to make this right. Please send us an email to support@charlie.com with your full name and the email address or phone number associated with your Charlie account. We will escalate the matter for investigation and keep you informed of what we find.

Again, I’m very sorry for the frustration and hardship this has caused. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to correct this.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Charlie is good but I'm having issues…

Charlie is good but I'm having issues withdrawing to other bank which is still mine
I did link my bank it didn't go through, I did with debit card same thing please I need help on how to withdraw to another external account

October 31, 2025
Unprompted review
Charlie logo

Reply from Charlie

Hi Janice, I’m really sorry you’ve been blocked from withdrawing to your other bank. That’s frustrating, and we want to get it working reliably for you.

A few quick things that often fix this kind of problem and what you can try right away:

• How withdrawals normally work — and the fast alternative

You can link your other bank account (it must be in your name) and send money by ACH — that usually takes about 5 business days to arrive.

You can also send money instantly to a debit card (the card must be in your name) by tapping Move Money → Withdraw → Send to my debit card. If the instant transfer doesn’t complete quickly, the funds will return to your Charlie account within 30 minutes.

If you used Plaid and it’s failing, one reliable step is to remove the Plaid connection and re-link or trying the manual routing/account-number method can help.

Double-check the routing and account numbers and that the account is registered in the same name as your Charlie account. Small typos or mismatched name info are a common cause of a failed link.

For your security, please don’t post account details publicly. Contact us through the secure support channel at support@charlie.com and include:
- Your full name and the email or phone number on your Charlie account.

- Any error messages you saw, and the dates/times of the failed attempts (screenshots are very helpful)

When we get that through a secure channel we’ll have our team review and try to find a permanent fix.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really Is What It Says It Is!

The ONLY downside I feel with Charlie is the wait time for customer service. I have begun to keep my place in line and have them call me back and that is working better. Frankly, I don't think there are many operations like Charlie that run any faster. I do think that they need more phones or people or both...something... so that they are not losing customers due to that problem.
The good news is that the charges are minimal. I came to Charlie through Social Security because I have my retirement funds direct-deposited into Charlie. This is how they began and I came from a credit union that was taking hundreds of dollars because my funds would hit on different days.

October 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Invited

The person I spoke to had such a heavy…

The person I spoke to had such a heavy accent that I had to ask her to repeat herself several times. She also continuously disregarded what I said and suggested something else that couldn't have been the answer. As a result of this I'm going to assume you now outsource your jobs, which is really, really, really disappointing.

HOWEVER, this is ONLY regarding this recent phone call. In general I love Charlie and they get beyond 5 stars.

October 8, 2025
Charlie logo

Reply from Charlie

Hi Kris, thank you for the honest feedback, and I’m really sorry this call left you frustrated.

We want every conversation to be helpful and it sounds like we missed the mark. I’m sorry you had to repeat yourself and felt unheard. That’s not the experience we want for a long-time supporter of Charlie.

Thank you especially for saying you generally love Charlie, that means a lot. I’ll share your feedback with our training and quality teams so we can reinforce clear communication and better listening on calls.

If you’d like, we can arrange a callback from a supervisor or handle whatever you were calling about through our secure email at support@charlie.com so you don’t have to repeat the issue again.

We appreciate you and want to make this right.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

Charlie provides me with a great sense…

Charlie provides me with a great sense of security. The only thing keeping me from giving Charlie a five is I don’t like people setting limits on how much money I can have of my own money.

October 9, 2025
Charlie logo

Reply from Charlie

Hi Eugene, thank you for your great review! We’re pleased to hear that you feel secure with our fraud protection measures. Protecting our customers' financial information is a top priority for us, and it’s encouraging to know that our efforts are making a difference. If you ever have any concerns or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Invited

I have not encountered any real issues…

I have not encountered any real issues with the account. My only complaint is I emailed support two times with a question and never received a response. Poor customer service.

October 9, 2025
Charlie logo

Reply from Charlie

Hi Andres,
Thank you for your positive feedback! It’s great to know that our efforts to provide excellent service are appreciated. We’re committed to continually improving and providing you with the best banking experience possible. If you’d like to provide more feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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