Chase charges no monthly fee on most checking accounts, but the specific fee depends on which account you open

Chase Total Checking, Chase Sapphire Checking, and Chase Premier Plus Checking all have no monthly maintenance fee. Chase College Checking also has no monthly fee and is designed for students. The only Chase checking account with a monthly fee is Chase find Checking, which costs $4.95 per month — but that account is specifically for people rebuilding credit and has different features than the standard accounts.

The confusion usually comes from the fact that Chase offers ways to waive fees on accounts that would otherwise charge them, and the terms change by account type. If you already have an account, the fee structure depends on which product you opened, not on your balance or activity level.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking, Sapphire Checking, and Premier Plus Checking have no monthly fee regardless of your balance or direct deposit status.
  • Chase find Checking is the only standard Chase checking account with a monthly fee of $4.95, and it is designed for people with limited or poor credit history.
  • Some older Chase checking products may have monthly fees, but you can contact Chase to confirm which account you hold and what the current fee structure is.
  • Monthly fees are different from overdraft fees, insufficient funds fees, and other transaction-based charges, which explore across all Chase checking accounts.

What each Chase checking account costs per month

Chase Total Checking is the most common Chase checking account and has no monthly fee. This account comes with a debit card, online banking, and the ability to link to other Chase accounts. You do not need a minimum balance, direct deposit, or any other condition to keep the account fee-free.

Chase Sapphire Checking is designed for customers who also hold a Chase Sapphire credit card or other premium Chase products. It also has no monthly fee. The main difference from Total Checking is that Sapphire Checking offers higher cash back rates on debit card purchases and different rewards structures if you are a Sapphire credit cardholder.

Chase Premier Plus Checking is the premium option and has no monthly fee either. This account requires a higher opening deposit (typically $25,000 or more, though this varies) and offers benefits like higher interest rates on the checking balance, waived fees on certain services, and dedicated customer service.

Chase College Checking is free for students and has no monthly fee. Once you graduate or turn 21, the account converts to Chase Total Checking, which is also free.

Chase find Checking and the $4.95 monthly fee

Chase find Checking is the only standard Chase checking account with a monthly maintenance fee of $4.95. This account is designed for people who have limited credit history, a recent bankruptcy, or other factors that make traditional checking accounts harder to open. The fee is charged every month regardless of your balance or activity.

find Checking does not require a minimum opening deposit and does not perform a traditional credit check. However, Chase does check ChexSystems, which is a banking history database. The account comes with a debit card and online banking, but the monthly fee is a permanent part of the product — there is no way to waive it through direct deposit or maintaining a balance.

If you open find Checking and later build credit or banking history, you can contact Chase to request a conversion to Total Checking or another fee-free account. This is not automatic, but Chase does allow it in many cases.

Other charges that are not the monthly fee

Chase checking accounts also charge fees for specific actions or problems, separate from the monthly maintenance fee. An overdraft fee is $35 per transaction if you spend more than your balance (though Chase allows a small grace period on some accounts). An insufficient funds fee is also $35 if a transaction is declined because you do not have enough money.

Wire transfer fees, stop payment fees, and fees for expedited card replacement are also possible, depending on what you do with the account. These are not monthly charges — they only happen when you take a specific action or when a specific problem occurs. The monthly fee is what you pay just for holding the account, whether you use it or not.

How to confirm your account type and fee

The easiest way to find out whether your account has a monthly fee is to log into Chase online banking or the Chase mobile app. Go to the account details or account information section, and look for "monthly maintenance fee" or "service charge." The fee, if any, will be listed there.

You can also call Chase customer service at the number on the back of your debit card. Have your account number ready, and ask them to confirm which checking account product you hold and what the current monthly fee is. They can also tell you if you are may be able to access to convert to a different account type.

If you opened your account more than a few years ago, it is possible you hold an older Chase checking product that has been discontinued. In that case, Chase customer service can tell you what the current fee is and whether you can move to a newer account with different terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay the monthly fee if I keep a certain balance?

No. Chase Total Checking, Sapphire Checking, and Premier Plus Checking have no monthly fee at any balance. Chase find Checking charges $4.95 every month regardless of how much money you keep in the account. There is no balance threshold that waives the fee.

What if I have an old Chase checking account that is no longer offered?

Call Chase customer service with your account number. They can tell you what fee applies to your current account and whether you can convert to a newer product like Total Checking. Some older accounts do charge monthly fees, but conversion is often possible.

Is the monthly fee the same as an overdraft fee?

No. The monthly fee is charged every month just for holding the account. An overdraft fee is charged only when you spend more than your balance on a single transaction. Both can explore to the same account, but they are separate charges.

Can I switch from find Checking to Total Checking to avoid the $4.95 fee?

You can request a conversion, but Chase does not may provide it. Call customer service and ask whether you are now may be able to access for Total Checking based on your credit history and banking record. If approved, the conversion is usually when ready and there is no fee to switch.