Chase charges monthly fees on most checking accounts, but you can waive them
Chase's standard checking accounts carry a monthly maintenance fee of $12, but the fee disappears if you meet one of several conditions. The most common way to avoid it is to keep a minimum daily balance of $1,500 in the account. You can also waive the fee by setting up direct deposit, maintaining a linked savings account with a certain balance, or being a student or military member. If you do not meet any of these conditions and the fee posts to your account, you can contact Chase to request a reversal—they often grant one or two reversals per year if you have a good account history.
Chase offers a few checking products at different price points. The Chase Total Checking account is the one with the $12 monthly fee. Chase find Banking has no monthly fee but requires a deposit account and offers limited features. Chase Premier Plus Checking is designed for customers with higher balances and charges $25 per month unless you maintain $15,000 in combined balances across linked accounts. Understanding which account you hold and what triggers the fee is the first step to controlling costs.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking charges $12 monthly, but the fee waives automatically if you keep $1,500 in daily balance or set up direct deposit.
- Students, military members, and customers under 18 may may have access to for accounts with no monthly fee.
- If a fee posts and you have not met the waiver conditions, you can call Chase and request a one-time reversal, which they often grant.
- Switching to a linked savings account or maintaining higher balances can waive fees on premium accounts like Chase Premier Plus Checking.
The four ways to waive the $12 monthly fee on Chase Total Checking
The fee disappears automatically if you meet any one of these conditions each month: maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 or more, set up a direct deposit of any amount, link a Chase savings account with a $300 minimum balance, or maintain a combined balance of $5,000 across a Chase checking and savings account together. You do not have to do all four—one is enough. Direct deposit is often the easiest route because it requires no balance threshold and the deposit can be any amount, even $1 per pay period.
If you are not sure whether you have met the condition, log into your Chase account online or call 1-800-935-9935 to check your account details. Chase will show you which waiver condition you are currently under, if any. If you are close to the threshold—say, $1,400 in balance when you need $1,500—you have until the end of the statement cycle to reach it. If you miss it by a small amount, the fee will post, but you can then request a reversal.
What happens if the fee posts to your account
If you do not meet any waiver condition during a statement cycle, Chase will charge the $12 fee on the last day of that cycle. The fee comes out of your account balance automatically. You will see it listed as "Monthly Service Fee" or "Maintenance Fee" on your statement. If this happens and you believe it was a mistake, or if you have been a customer in good standing, you can contact Chase and ask for a reversal.
Chase customer service representatives have discretion to reverse one or two fees per year, especially if you have maintained the account for a while and have no history of overdrafts or disputes. Call 1-800-935-9935 or visit a branch in person. Be direct: explain that you did not meet the waiver condition that month and ask if they can reverse the fee. They will often say yes. If they decline, ask whether you can set up direct deposit or adjust your balance to prevent future fees. Do not expect reversals to happen automatically—you have to request them.
Chase checking accounts with no monthly fee
Chase offers Chase find Banking with no monthly maintenance fee. This account is designed for customers who may have had banking problems in the past or who want a simpler product. It has no overdraft protection and no debit card, though you can withdraw cash at Chase ATMs and branches. You must open it with a deposit account (savings or money market), and you cannot use it as a standalone checking account. This makes it useful only if you are already opening a savings account at Chase.
Students under 18 can open a Chase Student Checking account with no monthly fee. The account converts to a standard Chase Total Checking account when you turn 18, at which point the $12 fee applies unless you meet a waiver condition. Active-duty military members may also have access to fee-free accounts through Chase's military banking program. If you fall into either category, ask about these options when you visit a branch or call customer service.
Chase Premier Plus Checking and its higher fee structure
If you have a larger balance or want premium features, Chase Premier Plus Checking charges $25 per month. This fee waives if you maintain a combined balance of $15,000 across linked Chase accounts (checking, savings, money market, or investment accounts). The account includes benefits like higher interest rates on linked savings, priority customer service, and waived wire transfer fees. It is designed for customers who already keep significant money at Chase and want to consolidate their accounts.
The $15,000 threshold is measured as an average daily balance across all linked accounts, not just the checking account. If you have $10,000 in checking and $5,000 in savings, you meet the threshold. If you drop below $15,000 for a full statement cycle, the fee posts. Like the standard account, you can request a reversal if the fee posts and you believe it was an error or if you have a good account history.
How to change your account type or set up a waiver condition
If you want to switch from Chase Total Checking to a different account type, or if you want to set up direct deposit to waive the fee, you can do both online or at a branch. To set up direct deposit, log into your Chase account, go to the direct deposit section, and enter your employer's information. Chase will provide you with your routing number and account number. Give these to your employer's payroll department. Direct deposit usually takes one to two pay periods to set up, so the fee may post one more time before it stops.
If you want to switch account types entirely, visit a Chase branch or call 1-800-935-9935. A representative can walk you through the options and move your account if you may have access to. Switching accounts does not affect your existing debit card, online banking login, or linked accounts—it is a straightforward change on Chase's end. If you are switching to avoid fees, make sure you understand the new account's requirements before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the $12 fee waived if I just opened my account?
Yes. The fee waiver conditions explore from the moment you open the account. If you set up direct deposit during account opening or maintain the $1,500 balance in your first month, the fee will not post. If you do not meet any condition in your first month, the fee will post, but you can call and request a reversal since you are new to the account.
What if I have direct deposit but the fee still posted?
Direct deposit can take one to two pay periods to set up after you set it up. If the fee posted before your first direct deposit hit the account, call Chase and explain the timing. They will usually reverse it. Going forward, the fee should not post as long as direct deposit continues. If direct deposit stops for any reason, the fee will resume unless you meet another waiver condition.
Does Chase charge overdraft fees in addition to the monthly fee?
Yes. The $12 monthly maintenance fee is separate from overdraft fees. If you overdraw your account, Chase charges $35 per overdraft transaction (up to three per day). These are in addition to any monthly fee. To avoid overdraft fees, keep a buffer in your account or turn on overdraft protection linked to a savings account.
Can I move money between accounts to reach the $1,500 balance threshold?
Yes. The $1,500 minimum daily balance can come from any source—direct deposit, transfers from another bank, or transfers from your own Chase savings account. Chase does not restrict where the money comes from, only that it is in the account on the days it is measured. The balance is calculated as a daily average across your statement cycle.
What if I close my Chase account and reopen it later?
You can close and reopen a Chase account without penalty. However, if you close an account with an outstanding fee, Chase may pursue collection or report it to ChexSystems, a banking history database. It is better to pay the fee or request a reversal before closing. If you reopen an account later, you start fresh with a new account number and no history of previous fees.