Chase charges monthly fees on most checking and savings accounts, but the amount depends on the account type and whether you meet certain conditions

Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, has a $12 monthly service fee. However, you can avoid this fee by maintaining a minimum daily balance of $500, setting up direct deposit, or keeping a linked savings account with at least $500 in it. Many people meet one of these conditions without realizing it, which means they pay nothing.

Savings accounts also carry monthly fees. The Chase Savings Account charges $5 per month unless you maintain a $300 minimum daily balance. Some Chase accounts waive fees entirely if you're under 18 or a student, so your age or school status matters.

The fee structure exists because Chase is a large national bank with physical branches in most states. Smaller online-only banks often charge no monthly fees at all, but they don't have tellers you can visit. Chase's fees pay for that branch network and customer service.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you maintain a $500 minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500 in it.
  • Chase Savings Account costs $5 per month unless you keep a $300 minimum daily balance in that account.
  • Students and people under 18 may have accounts with no monthly fee; check the student or teen account options.
  • If you don't meet the balance or deposit requirements, you will pay the full monthly fee every month unless you change your account type.

How Chase calculates your minimum balance

The minimum balance is not an average—it's the lowest amount your account reaches on any single day during the month. If you have $600 on day one and $400 on day fifteen, you've fallen below the $500 threshold and the fee applies, even if your balance recovers to $800 by month's end.

Chase checks this balance daily, so a single large withdrawal or a delayed paycheck can trigger the fee. If you're close to the minimum, a small unexpected charge could push you under. This is why many people pay the fee without meaning to.

Ways to avoid or reduce Chase monthly fees

The easiest route for most people is direct deposit. If your employer or government benefit (Social Security, unemployment, tax refund) deposits money directly into your Chase checking account, the $12 monthly fee disappears. You don't need to keep any balance at all. This is why Chase advertises direct deposit so heavily—it costs them almost nothing and removes the fee barrier for working people.

If direct deposit isn't an option, maintaining the minimum balance works but requires discipline. For checking, that's $500. For savings, it's $300. Some people keep these balances specifically to avoid fees, which means their money sits idle instead of earning interest elsewhere.

Linking accounts is the third option. If you open both a Chase checking and a Chase savings account, and keep $500 in the savings account, your checking fee waives. This works even if you never use the savings account—it just has to exist and hold the balance.

If you're a student, Chase offers the Chase Student Checking account with no monthly fee until you turn 25. If you're under 18, the Chase First Banking account also has no fee. These accounts have the same features as the regular accounts but cost nothing.

What happens if you don't meet the requirements

The $12 or $5 fee posts to your account every month on the same date, usually near the end of the billing cycle. You'll see it listed as "Monthly Service Fee" or "Maintenance Fee" in your transaction history. If your balance is low when the fee posts, it can push you into overdraft, which triggers an additional overdraft fee of $35 per transaction.

This creates a cascade: you miss the minimum balance by $20, the $12 fee posts, now you're $32 in the red, and the next small purchase overdrafts you for another $35. What started as a $12 fee becomes $47. This is why people with tight budgets sometimes pay more in fees than they realize.

Comparing Chase fees to other banks

Chase's $12 checking fee is in the middle range for large national banks. Bank of America charges $12 on its basic checking account. Wells Fargo charges $10. Smaller regional banks often charge $8 to $10. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover typically charge zero.

The trade-off is access. Chase has roughly 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs nationwide. If you regularly need to deposit cash, withdraw large amounts, or speak to someone in person, that network has value. If you bank entirely online and never visit a branch, an online bank with no fees makes more sense financially.

Some people maintain accounts at both—a Chase account for in-person needs and an online account for savings that earns better interest rates. This costs nothing extra if you meet Chase's fee waiver requirements.

Special account types with different fees

Chase offers accounts beyond the standard checking and savings. The Chase Sapphire Banking account, aimed at people with higher balances, charges $25 per month but waives the fee if you maintain $75,000 in combined balances across Chase accounts. The Chase Premium Plus Checking charges $25 and requires a $25,000 minimum balance.

These accounts are designed for people with substantial savings who want premium features like higher interest rates or concierge services. If you're reading this article to understand basic fees, these accounts are not for you.

Money market accounts and CDs (certificates of deposit) at Chase may also carry fees, though many have no monthly fee if you maintain the required balance. Check the specific account terms before opening.

What to do if you're paying fees you don't want to pay

If you've been paying the $12 monthly fee for months without realizing you could avoid it, contact Chase and ask about your options. You can set up direct deposit in minutes through your employer's payroll system. You can also move $500 to a linked savings account or request a fee waiver if you've been a long-term customer.

Chase doesn't always volunteer these options, so you may need to ask. Some branches will waive a month or two of fees as a courtesy if you explain your situation. This is especially true if you've been a customer for years.

If the fees don't fit your situation, switching to an online bank or a credit union costs nothing and takes about a week. You can keep your Chase account open for in-person needs while moving your primary balance elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Chase to refund fees I've already paid?

Chase may refund one or two months of fees if you call and ask, especially if you've been a customer for a long time or if the fee was posted in error. There's no may provide, but it costs nothing to ask. Go to a branch or call the number on the back of your card.

Does Chase charge fees for using ATMs outside their network?

Chase doesn't charge you a fee for using another bank's ATM, but that other bank usually charges you $2 to $3. Some online banks reimburse these fees. If you frequently need cash, staying within Chase's 16,000 ATMs saves money.

What if my direct deposit stops—do I have to pay the fee again?

Yes. If your direct deposit ends, the fee waiver ends too. You'll start paying the $12 monthly fee unless you switch to maintaining the minimum balance or linking a savings account. Chase will notify you if direct deposit stops, but the fee will post the next month.

Are there any Chase accounts with zero monthly fees?

Chase Student Checking and Chase First Banking (for under 18) have no monthly fees. For adults, you need to meet one of the fee waiver conditions: direct deposit, $500 minimum balance in checking, or a linked savings account with $300. No standard adult account at Chase is completely free without conditions.

If I have multiple Chase accounts, do I pay multiple fees?

Yes, each account is charged separately. A checking account and a savings account each have their own monthly fee unless you meet the waiver conditions for each one. However, the $500 in a linked savings account can waive the checking fee, so you might pay only the $5 savings fee instead of both.