Ten Years of Earned Wage Access: A Vision for the Next Decade

In 2015, I pioneered the concept of earned wage access (EWA) with one simple belief: that workers should be able to access the pay they’ve already earned. It started with gig platforms and early pilots. Today, it’s mainstream — used by some of the largest employers in America to recruit, retain, and re-engage their hourly workforces.

Now, 10 years later, we face a new question: what exactly should employer-offered EWA deliver in the next decade?

At Chime®, we believe it’s time to move beyond access alone. We need a better model. One that recognizes EWA not as the end goal, but as the starting point for lasting financial progress. We call this next chapter "Modern EWA."

What “Modern EWA” means

The first generation of EWA gave people their first steps toward financial security with access and flexibility. As the industry expanded, so did concerns about fees, overuse, and compliance. To move forward, we need clear standards that put workers first.

Modern employer-integrated EWA must be:

• Completely free for workers. No fees. No tips. No traps.

• Built to be compliant across all 50 states, with EWA providers repaid outside of payroll.

• Delivered as part of a comprehensive financial wellness platform that helps workers build savings, track spending, and improve their credit.

Why does this matter? Because the stakes are higher than ever.

Financial stress is the norm, not the exception

Nearly 70% of the American workforce lacks emergency savings. Three in five workers say their pay cycle doesn’t meet their needs or align with when their bills are due.  

EWA on its own may help with timing and the ability to pay bills when they’re due, but without integrated tools that encourage saving and budgeting, it risks becoming an overused crutch, not a solution. EWA must evolve to deliver lasting financial progress.

Employers need to progress from point solutions to financial wellness platforms

In the early days, EWA was a standalone tool. But in 2025, that’s no longer enough. Employers are under pressure to consolidate vendors, cut costs, and show measurable outcomes.

That’s why Chime Workplace^TM was built as an all-in-one platform. We combine no-fee EWA, fee-free overdraft, high-yield savings, and real credit-building tools in one trusted app. Our goal is to meet employees where they are and help them progress to where they want to be.

And it’s not just about outcomes. It’s about how we get there. 

The next 10 years: Modern EWA

Looking ahead, we’re focused on lasting change. Modern EWA isn’t about getting paid faster. It’s about using that flexibility to build long-term financial health.

That means we must:

• Hold the line on no-fee access

• Design for savings and building credit, not just instant liquidity

• Build compliance into the foundation, not as an afterthought

The first decade of EWA gave workers control and access. The next 10 years must deliver the path to true financial wellness.

To mark this milestone, we published a new whitepaper, “Earned Wage Access: A 10-Year Retrospective.” It explores the history, impact, and future of EWA and provides additional analysis for employers, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Because workers deserve more than early pay. They deserve a path forward.