What Chase requires to keep your account open

Chase checking accounts do not have a single minimum balance requirement that applies to all accounts. Instead, the requirement depends on which specific checking product you choose. Some Chase checking accounts have no minimum balance at all, while others require you to maintain a set amount — typically between $500 and $1,500 — to avoid a monthly fee.

The account you open determines what you owe. If you open Chase Total Checking, for example, you can maintain a zero balance and pay no monthly fee. If you open Chase Premier Plus Checking, you must keep $25,000 in combined deposits across Chase accounts, or you will pay a $25 monthly fee. The difference matters because it changes what the account actually costs you to use.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking has no minimum balance requirement and no monthly fee, making it the option with the lowest barrier to entry.
  • Chase Premier Plus Checking and other premium accounts require you to maintain $25,000 in combined Chase deposits to waive the monthly fee.
  • If you fall below the required minimum, Chase charges a monthly maintenance fee rather than closing your account.
  • The minimum balance requirement applies to your combined deposits across all your Chase accounts, not just the checking account alone.
  • You can move money between your Chase accounts to meet the minimum if you have savings or money market accounts with the bank.

Chase Total Checking — no minimum balance

Chase Total Checking is the most straightforward option if you want to avoid a minimum balance requirement. This account has no minimum balance, no monthly fee, and no conditions tied to direct deposit or debit card use. You can open it with any amount of money and maintain it with zero dollars if you choose.

This account includes a debit card, online and mobile banking, and access to Chase's ATM network. You can also set up direct deposit, automatic bill pay, and transfers between accounts. The trade-off is that this account does not offer the perks that come with premium Chase checking products, such as higher interest rates or fee waivers on other products.

Chase Premier Plus Checking — $25,000 combined requirement

Chase Premier Plus Checking requires you to maintain $25,000 in combined deposits across all your Chase accounts to avoid a $25 monthly fee. "Combined deposits" means the total of all money you hold in Chase checking, savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts added together. If your combined balance drops below $25,000, Chase charges the monthly fee automatically.

This account comes with benefits that justify the requirement for people who have that much to deposit: higher interest rates on the checking account itself, fee waivers on overdrafts and wire transfers, and discounts on other Chase products. If you already have a Chase savings account or other deposits with the bank, those balances count toward the $25,000, so you may already meet the requirement without adding new money.

How Chase calculates your combined balance

Chase adds up the balance in every deposit account you hold with them — checking, savings, money market, and CDs — and uses that total to determine whether you meet the minimum. The calculation happens on the last day of each statement period. If your combined balance is at or above the minimum on that day, you avoid the fee for that month.

This matters because you do not need to keep all $25,000 in your checking account. You could keep $15,000 in checking and $10,000 in savings, and you would meet the requirement. If you have multiple accounts, you can move money between them to stay above the threshold. Many people use this strategy to keep their checking account liquid while meeting the minimum through savings held elsewhere at Chase.

What happens if you fall below the minimum

If your combined balance drops below the required minimum on the last day of your statement period, Chase charges a monthly maintenance fee. For Premier Plus Checking, that fee is $25. The fee appears on your statement and is deducted from your account automatically.

Falling below the minimum does not close your account or trigger any penalty beyond the monthly fee. You can continue using the account normally. If you bring your balance back above the minimum before the next statement period ends, you will not be charged a fee that month. Some people intentionally dip below the minimum occasionally if they need the money, accepting the fee as a cost of access.

Other Chase checking accounts and their requirements

Chase offers several other checking products beyond Total Checking and Premier Plus Checking. Chase find Checking, designed for people new to banking or rebuilding credit, has no minimum balance and no monthly fee, similar to Total Checking. Chase Student Checking also has no minimum balance requirement and no monthly fee while you are a student.

Chase also offers business checking accounts with different structures. Chase Business Basic Checking has no minimum balance requirement. Chase Business Premier Checking requires $2,500 in combined business deposits to waive the $15 monthly fee. If you are opening a business account, ask your banker which product fits your situation, because business accounts follow different rules than personal accounts.

How to avoid monthly fees

The simplest way to avoid a monthly fee is to open Chase Total Checking, which has no minimum balance and no monthly fee under any circumstance. If you want the benefits of a premium account but do not want to maintain a large balance, you have a few options.

Some Chase accounts waive the monthly fee if you set up direct deposit of your paycheck, though this varies by product and changes over time. Ask your banker whether your account qualifies for a direct deposit waiver. You can also move money between accounts to meet a combined balance requirement, or you can straightforward accept the monthly fee as a cost if you value the account's other features enough to justify it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a minimum balance to open a Chase checking account?

No. Chase Total Checking and Chase find Checking both allow you to open an account with any amount, including zero dollars. You do not need to deposit money upfront to open the account. You can fund it later or leave it unfunded if you choose.

If I have a savings account at Chase, does that count toward my checking account minimum?

Yes. Chase combines the balance across all your deposit accounts — checking, savings, money market, and CDs — to calculate whether you meet the minimum. If you have $10,000 in savings and $15,000 in checking, your combined balance is $25,000, which meets the Premier Plus requirement.

What happens if my balance goes below the minimum for one day?

Chase checks your balance on the last day of your statement period, not every day. If your balance is below the minimum on that specific day, you will be charged the monthly fee. If you bring it back above the minimum before the statement period ends, you avoid the fee.

Can I move money between my Chase accounts to meet the minimum?

Yes. You can transfer money from a Chase savings account to your checking account, or vice versa, at any time through online banking or mobile app. These transfers are free and when ready, so you can move money to meet the minimum whenever you need to.

Does Chase charge a fee if I go below the minimum just once?

Chase charges the monthly fee once per statement period if your combined balance is below the minimum on the last day of that period. One dip below the minimum results in one fee. If you bring the balance back above the minimum the next month, you will not be charged again.