Chase charges monthly fees on most checking accounts, but you can waive them
Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, has a $12 monthly maintenance fee. However, you can avoid paying it by meeting one of several conditions: keeping a minimum balance of $500, setting up direct deposit, maintaining a Chase savings account with $500 in it, or linking a Chase credit card to your account. If none of those work for you, Chase also offers Chase find Banking, which has no monthly fee but comes with restrictions on how much you can withdraw and deposit each month.
The fee structure matters because it affects how much your money actually costs you to keep in the bank. A $12 monthly fee adds up to $144 per year — money that comes directly out of your account unless you meet the waiver conditions. Understanding which account fits your situation and which fee waiver is easiest for you to maintain can save you significant money over time.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking charges $12 per month unless you meet one of four waiver conditions: a $500 minimum balance, direct deposit, a linked Chase savings account with $500, or a Chase credit card.
- Chase find Banking has no monthly fee but limits you to a set number of deposits and withdrawals per month, making it useful only for specific situations.
- The easiest fee waiver for most people is setting up direct deposit from an employer or government benefit, which requires no balance to maintain.
- If you cannot meet any waiver condition, the $12 monthly fee will be charged automatically unless you close the account.
The four ways to waive the Chase Total Checking fee
Chase offers four separate paths to avoid the $12 monthly maintenance fee on Total Checking. You only need to meet one of them each month. The first is maintaining an average daily balance of $500 in the checking account itself. This means your balance can drop below $500 on some days, but the average across the month must stay at or above that threshold. Chase calculates this automatically and waives the fee if you may have access to.
The second path is setting up direct deposit — having your employer or a government agency (like Social Security) deposit money directly into your Chase checking account. This is often the easiest option because it requires no balance and no additional account. Once direct deposit is set up, the fee is waived automatically each month, regardless of how much money you keep in the account.
The third option is maintaining a linked Chase savings account with an average daily balance of $500. This is useful if you want to keep savings separate from checking but still avoid the checking fee. The fourth is linking a Chase credit card to your account. You do not need to carry a balance or make purchases — straightforward having the card linked qualifies you for the fee waiver.
What happens if you do not meet any waiver condition
If your account does not meet any of the four waiver conditions in a given month, Chase will charge you the $12 fee automatically. The fee is deducted from your checking account balance, so your account balance will drop by $12 on the day the fee is charged. This happens every month you do not may have access to, and the fees compound — missing the waiver for a full year costs you $144.
You can see the fee coming by checking your account online or through the Chase mobile app. Chase typically charges the fee on the last day of the month or the first day of the next month. If you notice the fee has been charged and you believe you should have may have access to for a waiver, you can contact Chase customer service to ask them to review your account and potentially reverse the charge.
Chase find Banking: the no-fee alternative with limits
If you cannot meet any of the Total Checking waiver conditions, Chase offers Chase find Banking as an alternative with no monthly fee. However, this account comes with restrictions on how much you can deposit and withdraw. The specific limits depend on your account, but they are typically lower than what most people need for everyday banking.
find Banking is designed for people who use their checking account infrequently or who are rebuilding their banking history. If you need to deposit paychecks regularly or make multiple withdrawals each week, this account will likely not work for you because you will hit the monthly limits. For most people, finding a way to waive the Total Checking fee is more practical than switching to find Banking.
How to set up direct deposit to waive the fee
Direct deposit is the most reliable way to waive the Chase Total Checking fee because it requires no balance and no additional account. To set it up, you need your Chase account number and routing number, which you can find at the bottom of your checks or in the Chase mobile app under account details.
Give this information to your employer's payroll department or to the government agency that sends you benefits (such as Social Security, unemployment, or a tax refund). They will set up the deposit to go directly into your Chase account. Once the first deposit arrives, Chase will recognize it and waive your monthly fee automatically. The process usually takes one to two pay periods to complete, so you may see the $12 fee charged once more before the waiver kicks in.
Checking your account to confirm the fee is waived
You can verify whether your account qualifies for a fee waiver by logging into Chase online or opening the Chase mobile app. Go to your account details or account settings and look for information about monthly fees. Chase will show you which waiver condition you are meeting, if any.
If you see that no waiver is active and you believe you should may have access to, contact Chase customer service through the app, by phone, or at a branch. Have your recent account statements ready so you can show them your balance or direct deposit history. Chase representatives can review your account and confirm whether you meet the waiver conditions or explain why you do not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I waive the fee by using my debit card a certain number of times?
No. Chase does not waive the Total Checking fee based on debit card usage. The only ways to avoid the fee are the four methods listed: minimum balance, direct deposit, linked savings account, or linked credit card. Using your debit card frequently will not prevent the $12 charge.
What if I have direct deposit but still get charged the fee?
Direct deposit usually takes one to two pay periods to register with Chase's system. If you just set it up, you may see the fee charged once or twice before the waiver activates. If you have had direct deposit for several months and are still being charged, contact Chase to confirm the deposit is properly linked to your account.
Does the $500 minimum balance have to stay in checking, or can I move it to savings?
The $500 minimum balance for the checking fee waiver must stay in your checking account. If you move it to savings, you lose the waiver and will be charged the $12 fee. However, you can waive the fee using a linked savings account instead, which requires $500 in the savings account rather than checking.
If I close my Chase checking account, do I owe any fees?
Chase does not charge a fee to close a checking account. However, if you have an outstanding monthly maintenance fee that has not been paid, that charge will be deducted from your account before it closes. Make sure your account balance is high enough to cover any pending fees.
Can I waive the fee on multiple Chase checking accounts?
Each Chase checking account has its own fee structure and waiver conditions. If you have two Total Checking accounts, you need to meet a waiver condition on each one separately. Direct deposit to one account does not waive the fee on the other, though a linked savings account or credit card may cover both if they are properly connected.