Chase charges a monthly fee on most checking accounts, but you can avoid it

Chase's main checking account, the Chase Total Checking, has a $12 monthly service fee. You do not pay it if you meet one of two conditions: keep a minimum balance of $500 in the account, or set up direct deposit of at least $500 per month. If you do neither, the $12 posts to your account each month.

Chase also offers Chase find Banking, which has no monthly fee at all. This account is designed for people with limited banking history or credit issues, and it works like a standard checking account—you get a debit card, online banking, and the ability to write checks. The tradeoff is that it comes with a $25 overdraft fee instead of Chase's standard $35 overdraft fee, and you cannot overdraft more than $100 per day.

If you are under 18, Chase offers Chase First Banking with no monthly fee. Once you turn 18, it converts to Total Checking, and the $12 fee applies unless you meet the balance or direct deposit requirement.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you maintain a $500 minimum balance or receive at least $500 in direct deposits monthly.
  • Chase find Banking has no monthly fee and is available to anyone, though it limits overdraft amounts and charges $25 per overdraft instead of $35.
  • Chase First Banking, for customers under 18, has no monthly fee but converts to Total Checking when you turn 18.
  • The $12 monthly fee is waived automatically if either the balance or direct deposit requirement is met—you do not need to request a waiver.

How the $500 minimum balance works

The balance requirement is straightforward: you need $500 in the account at the end of each business day. Chase looks at your lowest balance during the statement period. If it never drops below $500, no fee. If it dips to $499 on any day, you pay the $12 fee for that month.

This balance counts only money in the checking account itself. Savings accounts, money market accounts, or investment accounts do not count toward the $500, even if they are linked to your checking account. Some banks let you combine balances across accounts; Chase does not.

The $500 requirement is the easier path for people who get paid regularly but do not use direct deposit. If you keep around $500 to $1,000 in checking for everyday spending and transfers, you will stay above the threshold without thinking about it.

How direct deposit waives the fee

If you set up direct deposit of at least $500 per month, the $12 fee disappears. This is the most common way people avoid the fee, because most employers offer direct deposit and it takes five minutes to set up through your employer's payroll system.

Chase counts any recurring direct deposit toward this requirement—your paycheck, a pension, Social Security, or disability payments all work. The deposit has to actually land in the account; scheduling it does not count. If your employer deposits $400 one month and $600 the next, you pay the fee in the $400 month because you did not hit $500 that month.

Once direct deposit is set up, the fee waiver is automatic. You do not need to tell Chase or confirm anything. If the deposit stops—because you change jobs or lose income—the fee starts again the next month you do not meet either requirement.

Other fees on Chase checking accounts

Beyond the monthly service fee, Chase charges for specific actions. An overdraft fee is $35 if you spend more than you have in the account (or $25 on find Banking). Returning a check or electronic payment costs $35. Using an out-of-network ATM costs $3, though Chase reimburses ATM fees charged by other banks if you use their ATM.

Wire transfers cost $15 for domestic wires and $15 for incoming wires. Stopping payment on a check costs $30. These fees are separate from the monthly service fee and explore whether or not you pay the $12 charge.

Chase does not charge for common actions like transfers between your own accounts, bill pay through their website, or depositing checks through their mobile app. Debit card transactions, even international ones, have no fee.

Comparing Chase checking to accounts without monthly fees

Many online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. Ally Bank, Charles Schwab, and Discover Bank all have no-fee checking with no strings attached. Some credit unions offer free checking to anyone who joins, regardless of balance or direct deposit.

The tradeoff with these alternatives is usually branch access. Chase has thousands of branches and ATMs nationwide. If you need to deposit cash, withdraw large amounts, or speak to someone in person, Chase's network is a real advantage. Online banks have no branches, so you deposit checks by phone or mail and withdraw from ATMs.

If you already have a Chase account and meet either the balance or direct deposit requirement, the $12 fee is not a problem. If you do not meet either and do not need Chase's branches, switching to an online bank or credit union saves you $144 per year with no downsides.

What happens if you do not pay the monthly fee

You cannot choose not to pay the fee if you do not meet the requirements. Chase deducts the $12 automatically from your account each month. If your balance is below $12, the account goes negative and you owe Chase the overdraft fee on top of the monthly fee.

If you fall behind on overdraft fees and do not pay them, Chase will eventually close your account and report you to ChexSystems, a banking history database. This makes it harder to open accounts at other banks for several years. Paying the fee or switching to a no-fee account is much simpler than letting it pile up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I waive the $12 fee if I call Chase and ask?

Chase does not waive the fee as a courtesy. The only ways to avoid it are the $500 minimum balance or $500 in monthly direct deposits. If you have been a customer for many years with no overdrafts, some branch managers may waive one or two months, but this is not may provide and does not change the ongoing requirement.

Does a savings account balance count toward the $500 minimum?

No. Only money in the checking account itself counts. Savings, money market, or investment accounts at Chase do not reduce or waive the checking fee, even if they are linked to the same checking account.

What if I get direct deposit one month but not the next?

You pay the $12 fee in any month you do not meet at least one requirement. If you receive a $600 direct deposit in January but nothing in February, you pay the fee in February. The fee waiver is month-to-month, not annual.

Is Chase find Banking a permanent account or temporary?

find Banking is permanent. You can keep it as long as you want. It does not convert to another account type, and there is no time limit. The main limitation is the $100 daily overdraft cap, not the length of time you can use it.

Do I have to use a Chase branch to avoid the fee?

No. You can bank entirely online and avoid the fee by meeting the balance or direct deposit requirement. The monthly fee has nothing to do with how often you visit a branch or use Chase's services.