What fees Chase charges on checking accounts

Chase charges a monthly maintenance fee on most checking accounts, but the amount depends on which account type you open. The Chase Total Checking account costs $12 per month, while Chase Premier Plus Checking costs $25 per month. The Chase Student Checking account has no monthly fee until you turn 25, then converts to Total Checking with its $12 fee.

You can waive the monthly fee on Total Checking by meeting one of these conditions: keep a minimum daily balance of $500, set up direct deposit of any amount, or maintain an average daily balance of $1,500. Premier Plus Checking requires either a $25,000 minimum daily balance or a $10,000 minimum balance plus a linked savings account with $10,000. If you do not meet these requirements, you pay the full monthly fee.

Beyond the monthly maintenance fee, Chase charges for specific actions: overdraft fees ($35 per transaction if you go negative), out-of-network ATM fees ($2.50 per withdrawal), wire transfer fees ($15 domestic, $15 international), and stop payment requests ($30). Overdraft protection transfers from a linked savings account are free, but transfers between accounts beyond the federal limit of six per month cost $10 each.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 monthly but the fee disappears if you keep $500 on hand, set up direct deposit, or maintain $1,500 average balance.
  • Chase Premier Plus Checking costs $25 monthly and requires either $25,000 minimum balance or $10,000 plus a linked savings account with $10,000.
  • Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction, and out-of-network ATM withdrawals cost $2.50 each.
  • Student accounts have no monthly fee until age 25, then convert to Total Checking with the $12 monthly cost.

How to avoid the monthly maintenance fee

The easiest path for most people is setting up direct deposit. Any amount counts — even a single $1 transfer from another bank each month will waive the $12 fee on Total Checking. You set this up once through your employer's payroll system or through your previous bank's transfer service, and it runs automatically.

If direct deposit is not an option, keeping $500 in the account works. This is a minimum daily balance, meaning the account must never drop below $500 on any day of the month. If you dip to $499 on a single day, the fee applies. The third option is an average daily balance of $1,500 across the month — so some days can be lower and some higher, as long as the average stays at $1,500.

For Premier Plus Checking, the $25,000 minimum daily balance is the hardest requirement to meet for most people. The alternative is keeping $10,000 in the checking account plus $10,000 in a linked Chase savings account. This second option is more realistic if you have savings you can park in the savings account.

Overdraft and NSF fees explained

If you spend more than you have in your account, Chase charges $35 per transaction that overdrafts. This is called an overdraft fee. You can have multiple overdraft fees in a single day if multiple transactions post while your balance is negative. Chase allows up to four overdraft fees per day, so the maximum daily damage is $140.

You can prevent overdraft fees by linking a savings account and turning on overdraft protection. When you overdraft, Chase automatically transfers money from the linked savings account to cover it — this transfer is free. You need at least $100 in the savings account for this to work, and you must set it up in advance through your online banking or by calling Chase.

If you do not have overdraft protection and your account goes negative, Chase will not charge an NSF (non-sufficient funds) fee — they only charge the overdraft fee. However, the overdraft fee still applies even if you fix the negative balance within hours.

ATM fees and out-of-network costs

Chase has about 4,700 ATMs nationwide. Withdrawals at any Chase ATM are free. If you use an ATM that is not owned by Chase, you pay $2.50 per withdrawal. Some other banks' ATMs charge their own fee on top of this, which can total $3 to $5 per transaction.

To avoid these fees, plan withdrawals at Chase ATMs. If you travel or live in an area without Chase branches, consider whether the ATM fee cost is worth it. Some online banks reimburse out-of-network ATM fees, which might be cheaper if you withdraw frequently.

Wire transfers, stop payments, and other transaction fees

Sending money out of your Chase account through a wire transfer costs $15 for domestic transfers and $15 for international transfers. Receiving a wire transfer is free. If you need to cancel a check you wrote, Chase charges $30 for a stop payment request.

Transferring money between your own Chase accounts is free. However, federal rules limit you to six transfers or withdrawals per month from savings accounts and money market accounts combined. If you exceed this limit, Chase charges $10 per excess transfer. Transfers to and from checking accounts do not count toward this limit.

Comparing Chase checking to other banks

Chase Total Checking at $12 monthly (or free with direct deposit) is in the middle range for large national banks. Bank of America's basic checking is $12 monthly with similar waiver options. Wells Fargo charges $10 monthly. Many online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance.

The trade-off is branch access. Chase has physical locations in most states, which matters if you deposit checks in person or need to speak to someone face-to-face. Online banks have no branches but offer phone and chat support. If you rarely visit a branch, an online bank with no fees might save you money. If you use Chase branches regularly, the $12 fee (or free with direct deposit) may be worth the convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the monthly fee waived without direct deposit?

Yes. Keep $500 in the account at all times, or maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 across the month. Either one waives the $12 monthly fee on Total Checking. You only need to meet one of these three conditions: direct deposit, $500 minimum, or $1,500 average.

What happens if I go over my overdraft limit?

Chase allows up to four overdraft fees per day, capping daily charges at $140. After that, additional transactions are declined. The best protection is linking a savings account for overdraft protection, which transfers money automatically at no cost.

Do I pay a fee to receive money from someone else?

No. Receiving transfers, direct deposits, checks, or wire transfers into your Chase checking account is always free. You only pay fees when you initiate outgoing transactions like wire transfers ($15) or stop payments ($30).

Is there a fee for having multiple Chase checking accounts?

No. You can open as many Chase checking accounts as you want, and each one has its own monthly fee structure. However, Chase may close accounts if it suspects you are opening them to abuse promotions or avoid fees.

What is the difference between overdraft fees and NSF fees?

Chase charges overdraft fees ($35) when you spend more than your balance and the transaction goes through. NSF fees are charged by some banks when a transaction is declined due to insufficient funds. Chase does not charge NSF fees — they only charge the overdraft fee when the transaction posts negative.