Chase business checking has no monthly fee, but you pay for services you use

Chase offers several business checking accounts with no monthly maintenance fee. The cost comes from individual transactions and services: wire transfers, stop payments, overdraft fees, and account research requests each have their own price. You only pay for what you use, so a business that writes few checks and rarely needs wire transfers might pay nothing in a month, while one that moves money frequently could accumulate $50 to $100 in fees.

The three main Chase business checking products are Chase Business Basic, Chase Business Advantage, and Chase Business Platinum. All three have zero monthly fees. The difference is in what services come included and what you pay per transaction when you go beyond those limits.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase business checking accounts have no monthly maintenance fee across all three tiers, but you pay per transaction for services like wire transfers, stop payments, and excess checks.
  • Chase Business Basic includes 100 transactions per month; Chase Business Advantage includes 200; Chase Business Platinum includes unlimited transactions and waives most per-item fees.
  • Wire transfer fees range from $15 to $30 depending on whether the transfer is domestic or international, and this applies to all three account types.
  • Overdraft fees are $35 per occurrence, and Chase does not waive these fees even on premium accounts.
  • You can see the exact fee schedule for your account type on Chase's business banking fee schedule, which updates periodically.

What each account tier includes and costs

Chase Business Basic is the entry-level option. It includes 100 transactions per month at no charge. Transactions include checks written, deposits, and transfers. Once you exceed 100 transactions in a month, each additional transaction costs $0.50. There is no monthly fee to hold the account.

Chase Business Advantage includes 200 transactions per month. This tier is useful for businesses that move money more frequently but do not need unlimited activity. Additional transactions beyond 200 cost $0.50 each. The account itself remains free to maintain.

Chase Business Platinum includes unlimited transactions with no per-item charges. This account is designed for high-volume businesses. There is still no monthly fee, but the account typically requires a higher opening deposit and a larger average balance to avoid fees on other services.

Per-transaction and service fees that explore to all accounts

Wire transfers cost money regardless of which account you hold. A domestic wire transfer (money sent within the United States) costs $15. An international wire transfer costs $30. These fees are charged every time you send a wire, even if you have unlimited transactions on your account.

Stop payments cost $35 each. This is the fee to instruct Chase to block a check you have already written. Overdraft fees are $35 per occurrence. Chase charges this fee when your account balance goes negative, and the fee applies even if the overdraft is corrected the same day.

Account research requests, which happen when you ask Chase to investigate a transaction or provide documentation, cost $25 per hour with a $100 minimum. Returned deposit items (checks that bounce) cost $10 each. Copies of statements beyond the standard online access cost $5 per copy.

How transaction limits actually work

The transaction count on Chase business checking includes checks written, ACH transfers (both incoming and outgoing), and debit card transactions. A single check counts as one transaction. A single ACH transfer counts as one transaction, regardless of the dollar amount. Debit card swipes count individually.

Deposits do not count toward your transaction limit on most Chase business accounts. This means you can deposit checks and cash as often as you need without hitting the limit. The limit applies only to money going out or moving between accounts.

Once you exceed your monthly limit, Chase charges $0.50 for each additional transaction. This is calculated at the end of the month, so you do not need to monitor your count in real time. Your statement will show the overage charges clearly.

Overdraft protection and NSF fees

Chase offers overdraft protection, which links your business checking account to a savings account or credit line. If a check or transaction would overdraw your checking account, Chase transfers money from the linked account instead. This transfer typically costs $10, which is less than the $35 overdraft fee.

If you do not have overdraft protection and your account goes negative, Chase charges $35. This fee applies whether the overdraft lasts one hour or one day. If multiple transactions overdraw the account on the same day, Chase may charge multiple fees.

A non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee is charged when a check you wrote bounces because there was not enough money in the account. This is also $35. The fee is separate from any fees the recipient's bank might charge them.

Minimum balance requirements and interest

Chase business checking accounts have no stated minimum balance requirement to open the account. However, maintaining a higher balance can affect whether you pay fees on related services. For example, some Chase business accounts waive certain fees if you maintain an average monthly balance above a threshold, though this varies by account type and changes periodically.

Chase business checking accounts do not pay interest on your balance. The money in the account earns zero percent, regardless of how much you keep there. If you want your business cash to earn interest, you would need to move it to a separate business savings account, which does pay a small rate.

How to compare costs across your actual usage

The real cost of your account depends on how you use it. A business that writes 50 checks a month, receives 30 deposits, and makes 10 ACH transfers would use 90 transactions on Chase Business Basic and pay nothing. The same business on Chase Business Advantage would also pay nothing because it stays under 200 transactions.

A business that writes 150 checks, makes 80 ACH transfers, and processes 40 debit card transactions uses 270 transactions. On Chase Business Basic, this would be 170 overage transactions at $0.50 each, totaling $85 in monthly fees. On Chase Business Advantage, it would be 70 overages at $0.50 each, totaling $35. On Chase Business Platinum, there would be no overage charges.

Add wire transfer costs on top. If you send two domestic wires per month, that is $30 in fees every month, regardless of account tier. If you send one international wire, that is $30 per month. These costs stack with transaction overages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chase charge a monthly fee for business checking?

No. All three Chase business checking accounts—Basic, Advantage, and Platinum—have zero monthly maintenance fees. You only pay for individual services and transactions that exceed your monthly limit.

What happens if I go over my transaction limit?

Chase charges $0.50 for each transaction beyond your monthly limit. The limit resets on the first day of each month. You will see the overage charges itemized on your monthly statement.

Are wire transfer fees the same on all account types?

Yes. Domestic wire transfers cost $15 and international wire transfers cost $30 on Chase Business Basic, Advantage, and Platinum. These fees are not waived or reduced based on account tier.

Can I avoid overdraft fees with overdraft protection?

Yes. If you link your checking account to a savings account or credit line, Chase transfers money automatically instead of charging the $35 overdraft fee. The transfer itself costs $10, which is less than the overdraft fee.

Does my business checking balance earn interest?

No. Chase business checking accounts pay zero percent interest. If you want your business cash to earn interest, you would need to move it to a separate business savings account.