Mobile bank Chime joins unicorn club with $200m funding round

US mobile banking startup Chime has raised $200 million at a $1.5 billion valuation in a Series D funding round led by DST Global.

New investors General Atlantic, Coatue, Iconiq Capital and Dragoneer Investment Group joined the round alongside existing investors Forerunner Ventures, Cathay Innovation and Menlo Ventures.

The round sees Chime triple its valuation from June, when it raised $70 million in Series C funding led by Menlo Ventures.

Founded in 2013, San Francisco-based Chime now boasts more than three million account holders for its fee-free, user-friendly banking app, which provides an accompanying debit card - on which the business earns interchange revenue - and auto-savings account.

The firm does not have a bank license, instead protecting accounts through a deal with The Bancorp Bank.

The new funding will be used to increase headcount and introduce new products related to short-term lending and credit building.