Chase charges fees on most checking accounts, but the amount depends on which account you open and whether you meet their requirements

Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, has a $12 monthly service fee. However, you can waive it by maintaining a minimum daily balance of $500, setting up direct deposit, or keeping a linked savings account with a $500 balance. Chase also offers Chase find Banking, which has no monthly fee but comes with limited features and is designed for people rebuilding credit or new to banking.

If you're looking at premium accounts, Chase Premier Plus Checking charges $25 per month and requires either a $15,000 minimum balance or $5,000 in linked savings to avoid the fee. The fee structure matters because it determines what you actually pay each month—and whether the account is worth keeping.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 monthly unless you maintain a $500 minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500.
  • Chase find Banking has no monthly fee and is the only Chase checking account without one, though it has fewer features than other options.
  • Chase Premier Plus Checking charges $25 monthly and requires either $15,000 in the account or $5,000 in linked savings to waive the fee.
  • Overdraft fees, ATM fees outside the Chase network, and paper statement fees are separate charges that can add up beyond the monthly service fee.

What happens if you don't meet the balance or deposit requirements

If you open Chase Total Checking but don't maintain the $500 balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account, you pay the full $12 monthly fee. That's $144 per year. The fee posts automatically on the same day each month, usually around the 10th or 15th depending on your account opening date.

Chase does not waive fees retroactively, so if you miss a month's requirement, you'll be charged. The one exception is if you contact Chase customer service and they determine an error occurred on their end—but this is rare and requires documentation.

Other Chase checking fees beyond the monthly service charge

The monthly service fee is only part of what you might pay. Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction if you spend more than your balance. Chase allows up to four overdraft fees per day, meaning you could be charged $140 in a single day if multiple transactions post.

Using an ATM outside the Chase network costs $2.50 per withdrawal. If you request a paper statement instead of going paperless, Chase charges $2 per month. Returned deposit items, stop payment requests, and wire transfers also carry fees ranging from $5 to $30 depending on the service.

How to compare Chase checking against other banks

Chase Total Checking's $12 fee is higher than many competitors. Bank of America's basic checking has a $12 fee with similar waiver options. Wells Fargo's basic checking also charges $10 monthly. However, some banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover offer checking accounts with no monthly fees at all and no minimum balance requirements.

The trade-off is branch access. If you use Chase branches and ATMs regularly, the fee might be worth it. If you bank primarily online, a no-fee account from an online bank could save you $144 per year. The decision depends on whether you value in-person banking enough to justify the cost.

How to waive the Chase Total Checking fee

You have three ways to avoid the $12 monthly fee on Chase Total Checking. The easiest for most people is setting up direct deposit—any recurring deposit from an employer, government agency, or regular income source counts. You don't need a large amount; even $1 per paycheck triggers the waiver.

The second option is maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance in the checking account itself. This means your balance cannot drop below $500 on any day of the month. If you dip to $499 on one day, you lose the waiver for that month.

The third option is linking a Chase savings account with a $500 balance. The savings account must maintain its own $500 minimum; if it drops below that, the checking fee waiver is lost. This approach works if you're already saving with Chase, but it ties up $500 that could otherwise be used elsewhere.

Chase find Banking as a no-fee alternative

If you cannot meet the requirements for Chase Total Checking, Chase find Banking has no monthly fee and no minimum balance. It's designed for people with limited banking history, those rebuilding credit, or anyone who wants a straightforward account without conditions.

The trade-off is features. find Banking comes with a debit card and online banking, but it does not include overdraft protection or the ability to write checks. You also cannot link it to other Chase accounts for balance transfers. If you need basic checking without fees and don't require those features, it's a solid option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Chase reverse a monthly service fee if I didn't know about it?

Chase may reverse one fee if you contact them and explain you were unaware of the requirement. They're more likely to help if you've been a customer for years with a good history. However, they won't reverse multiple months of fees, and there's no may provide. It's worth asking, but don't count on it.

Does the $500 minimum balance have to stay in checking, or can I move it to savings?

The $500 minimum for the fee waiver must stay in the checking account itself. If you move it to savings, you lose the waiver and the $12 fee posts the next month. The linked savings account option requires $500 in the savings account, not the checking account.

What counts as direct deposit for the fee waiver?

Direct deposit means an automated recurring transfer from an employer, government agency (Social Security, unemployment, tax refunds), or regular income source. Transfers you set up yourself between your own accounts don't count. Even $1 per paycheck qualifies as long as it's recurring and automated.

If I close my Chase checking account, do I owe any fees?

Chase does not charge a closing fee. However, if you close the account while a monthly service fee is pending, that fee will still post. Close your account after the fee has already posted for the month, or contact Chase to confirm the timing before you close.

Does Chase charge fees on savings accounts too?

Chase savings accounts have their own fee structure separate from checking. Chase Savings has a $5 monthly fee that's waived with a $500 minimum balance. Chase Premier Plus Savings charges $25 monthly. The requirements and fees are independent from your checking account.