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 accounts—the Chase Total Checking and Chase Sapphire Checking—both carry a monthly maintenance fee of $12, though you can waive it by meeting one of several conditions. The conditions vary by account type. For Total Checking, you can avoid the 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. Sapphire Checking has higher thresholds: you need either $10,000 in combined balances across Chase accounts or $500 in monthly direct deposits.

Chase also offers the Chase Student Checking account, which has no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement—but it's only available to customers under 18 and converts to a standard checking account (with fees) once you turn 18 or graduate college. If you're over 18 and want to avoid fees entirely, you'll need to meet one of the waiver conditions on a standard account.

Beyond the monthly maintenance fee, Chase charges for specific actions: overdraft fees ($35 per transaction if you go negative), non-Chase ATM withdrawals ($2.50 per transaction after the first one each month), and wire transfers ($15 domestic, $25 international). Returned deposit fees are $5 each.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you maintain $500 in daily balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500.
  • Chase Sapphire Checking also costs $12 monthly but requires either $10,000 in combined account balances or $500 in monthly direct deposits to waive the fee.
  • Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction, and using non-Chase ATMs costs $2.50 after your first free withdrawal each month.
  • Chase Student Checking has no monthly fee or minimum balance, but only students under 18 can open one.
  • Wire transfers, returned deposits, and other services carry separate fees beyond the monthly maintenance charge.

How to waive the monthly maintenance fee

The easiest way to avoid Chase's $12 monthly fee depends on your situation. If you receive a paycheck or regular income, setting up direct deposit is often the simplest path—it requires one deposit per month and takes about 10 minutes to set up through your employer's payroll system or through Chase's mobile app. Once active, the fee disappears when ready.

If you don't have direct deposit, maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance works for Total Checking. This means the account can't drop below $500 on any single day of the month; if it does, you'll be charged the fee that month. For people who get paid monthly and spend steadily, this can be difficult to maintain.

The linked savings account option is useful if you already have a Chase savings account or are willing to open one. You need to keep $500 in the savings account at all times—the money doesn't have to be in checking, so you can separate your spending money from your savings without losing the fee waiver.

Overdraft and ATM fees add up quickly

Overdraft fees are where many Chase customers encounter unexpected charges. If your checking account balance goes negative—even by $1—Chase charges $35 per transaction that posts while you're overdrawn. This means if you overdraft and then make three purchases before you deposit money, you'll be charged $105 in overdraft fees alone, on top of the original shortfall.

Chase offers overdraft protection, which links your checking account to a savings account and automatically transfers money to cover shortfalls. This prevents overdraft fees but may trigger a transfer fee depending on your account type (usually $0 to $10 per transfer). Setting up overdraft protection is optional and available through the Chase app or website.

ATM fees are less dramatic but accumulate if you regularly use non-Chase machines. Chase gives you one free non-Chase ATM withdrawal per month; after that, each withdrawal costs $2.50. If you use a non-Chase ATM twice a week, you're paying $10 per month just for ATM access—nearly as much as the account maintenance fee itself. Using Chase's ATM network (which is large but not universal) avoids this entirely.

Wire transfer and other service fees

If you send money outside of Chase's system, wire transfer fees explore. Domestic wire transfers cost $15, and international wire transfers cost $25. These are one-time charges per transfer, not monthly fees. Many people don't use wire transfers regularly, but if you do—for rent, business payments, or international money movement—the cost adds up.

Returned deposit fees ($5 each) occur when a check you deposit bounces or a transfer fails. Stop payment requests on checks cost $30. Cashier's checks are free at Chase branches. Account research requests (if Chase has to investigate a transaction) cost $25 to $100 depending on complexity.

Comparing Chase checking to other banks

Chase's $12 monthly fee is standard for major national banks, but it's higher than many online banks and credit unions. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover offer checking accounts with no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no overdraft fees (they straightforward decline transactions instead). However, these banks have no physical branches, which matters if you need to deposit cash or speak to someone in person.

Credit unions often have lower or no monthly fees and may reimburse ATM fees nationwide. The trade-off is that credit unions have smaller ATM networks and fewer branches unless you belong to a shared branching network. If you value Chase's branch availability and ATM network, the $12 fee is the cost of that convenience—but it's worth comparing if you rarely visit branches.

What happens if you don't meet the fee waiver requirements

If you don't maintain the minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account, Chase charges the $12 monthly maintenance fee automatically. The fee posts on the same day each month (usually the first business day). If your account balance is low when the fee posts, you could overdraft when ready, triggering an additional $35 overdraft fee on top of the maintenance fee.

There's no grace period or warning before the fee is charged. Chase notifies you of the fee through your monthly statement, but the charge is already deducted. If you realize you've been paying the fee for months without meeting the waiver requirements, you can contact Chase to request a refund for recent months—they sometimes grant one-time courtesy refunds, particularly if you're a long-term customer, but this is not may provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the monthly fee refunded if I didn't know about it?

Chase may refund one or two months of fees as a courtesy if you contact them and explain you weren't aware of the waiver requirements. Call the number on your debit card or visit a branch. Refunds are not automatic, and Chase is more likely to grant them if you're a newer customer or have a good account history. There's no harm in asking, but don't expect a refund for months of accumulated fees.

Does Chase charge fees on savings accounts?

Chase savings accounts also have monthly maintenance fees ($5 for most accounts), but you can waive them by maintaining a $500 minimum balance or linking a checking account with direct deposit. Some Chase savings products, like money market accounts, have higher minimum balance requirements.

What's the difference between Chase Total Checking and Sapphire Checking?

Both cost $12 monthly, but Sapphire Checking requires higher balances or direct deposits to waive the fee ($10,000 combined or $500 monthly deposits versus $500 daily balance for Total Checking). Sapphire includes some travel and shopping benefits, but Total Checking is simpler if you just need a basic account.

Can I avoid all fees by using Chase online only?

No. Chase's online checking accounts still charge the $12 monthly maintenance fee and require the same waiver conditions. The fee applies whether you use branches or not. If you want a truly fee-free online checking account, you'd need to switch to an online-only bank like Ally or Charles Schwab.

Do I get charged for debit card purchases?

No. Debit card purchases and PIN-based transactions are free. You're only charged for overdrafts (if you go negative), non-Chase ATM withdrawals (after the first one per month), wire transfers, and other specific services listed on your fee schedule.