• Chime will reduce its workforce by about 10% affecting roughly 150 employees
• CEO Chris Britt said the restructuring will create flatter organizations and smaller teams
• The company plans to increase in-office collaboration to accelerate innovation and decision making
• Britt said AI is expanding opportunities while requiring new employee skills
• The restructuring follows Chime's transition to being a public company
• Several fintech firms including Block, Coinbase, Bolt and Robinhood have also reduced headcount
• Affirm has rejected AI-related layoffs, describing the technology as a productivity enhancer
• AI continues to reshape workforce strategies across financial services and fintech



Chime will cut approximately 10% of its workforce as the fintech looks to capitalize on efficiencies created by artificial intelligence while reshaping the organization around smaller, faster-moving teams.

The reduction, affecting roughly 150 employees, underscores how AI is increasingly influencing workforce strategy across financial technology firms as they seek to balance innovation, profitability and investor expectations.

Chief Executive Officer Chris Britt told employees that the changes are intended to prepare the company for its next phase of growth following its transition to public markets.

In a memo to staff, Britt said the company must continue adapting as technology rapidly changes both the nature of work and the competitive landscape.

"The world is changing quickly and this means we need to keep evolving too," Britt said. "To continue to lead in the next era, we need to have the right structure, capabilities, and approach to our work."

The restructuring extends beyond headcount reductions. Britt said Chime is simplifying management structures by reducing organizational layers and creating smaller teams capable of making decisions more quickly and delivering products faster.

"In some areas, that means a flatter structure and smaller squads," he said. "Smaller teams with fewer layers are moving faster than ever and getting more done."

The company is also placing greater emphasis on in-person collaboration, arguing that bringing employees together physically will accelerate innovation and strengthen company culture.

"It also means bringing more teams into our offices because we know the best innovations, the fastest decision making and winning culture is created when tight knit teams collaborate in person," Britt said.

Artificial intelligence is central to the strategy. While Britt described AI as creating significant new opportunities, he also acknowledged that the technology demands different capabilities from employees.

"AI is changing what's possible but requires new skills," he said.

Chime employed approximately 1,500 people at the end of last year and completed its public market debut in 2025.

Britt said the company's responsibilities as a listed business require greater operational discipline alongside continued investment in growth.

"As a public company, we must accelerate growth while continuing to demonstrate operating discipline to build an even stronger, more profitable business," he said.

The move reflects a broader shift across the fintech sector, where companies are reassessing organizational structures as AI becomes increasingly embedded within software development, customer service, operations and compliance functions.

Several prominent fintech firms have announced workforce reductions during the past year while simultaneously increasing investment in artificial intelligence.

Block disclosed plans earlier this year to eliminate roughly 4,000 positions, while Crypto.com, Bolt, Coinbase and Robinhood have also announced significant job reductions.

Robinhood said its own workforce reduction was designed to maintain a high-performance culture while accelerating product development, although the company did not explicitly link the decision to AI adoption.

Not every fintech views artificial intelligence as a catalyst for workforce reductions. Buy now, pay later provider Affirm has taken a different approach, with Chief Executive Officer Max Levchin emphasizing that AI is intended to improve productivity rather than replace employees.

"Long before AI tools came along, we had tooled ourselves up to be very efficient," Levchin said during an earnings call. "These tools are giving us rocket boosters, wings, whatever metaphor you want, and we're very happy for it."

"[AI] is just a thing we're going to keep using to ship more," he added, making clear the company has no plans for AI-related layoffs.

Elsewhere in financial services, executives have faced criticism over how they communicate AI's impact on employment.

Standard Chartered Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters apologized earlier this year after suggesting the bank's planned reduction of 8,000 roles over four years reflected a shift from lower-value human work toward greater investment in technology and automation.