Chase offers free online banking to most account holders, but some features and account types carry fees
Chase does not charge a monthly fee for online banking itself. You can log in, check balances, transfer money between your own accounts, pay bills, and deposit checks by phone or mobile app at no cost. The catch: you need an account that qualifies, and some transactions or services beyond basic banking do cost money.
Whether online banking is truly free depends on your account type and what you actually do with it. A Chase Total Checking account includes free online banking, but the account itself has a $12 monthly maintenance fee unless you meet one of the waiver conditions—like keeping a $500 minimum balance or setting up direct deposit. A Chase Sapphire Checking account costs $25 per month and includes online banking, but again, the fee applies to the account, not the online access itself.
If you have a Chase savings account or money market account, online banking is free and there is no account maintenance fee to waive. The same applies to Chase investment and retirement accounts—online access costs nothing.
Key Takeaways
- Online banking access itself is free on all Chase accounts, but many checking accounts charge a monthly maintenance fee that you can waive by meeting balance or deposit requirements.
- Chase savings accounts, money market accounts, and retirement accounts have no monthly maintenance fee and include free online banking.
- Wire transfers, overdraft fees, and stop-payment requests cost money and are separate from the online banking service itself.
- Mobile check deposit and bill pay through online banking are free features, but some transactions initiated through online banking (like wire transfers) trigger separate fees.
Which Chase accounts include free online banking with no monthly fee
Chase Savings, Chase Money Market, and Chase CDs all include free online banking and carry no monthly maintenance fee. You can open any of these accounts and use the online portal or mobile app to check balances, transfer money, and manage your account without paying anything.
Chase retirement accounts—including IRAs and workplace 401(k) rollovers—also offer free online access. If you have a Chase investment account, online banking is free there too.
The accounts that do charge a monthly fee are checking accounts. Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you waive the fee. Chase Sapphire Checking costs $25 per month and does not offer a waiver. Chase Premier Plus Checking costs $25 per month. If you want a checking account with no monthly fee at all, Chase does not currently offer one—but you can waive the $12 fee on Total Checking by maintaining a $500 minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or linking a Chase credit card to the account.
What transactions cost money even with free online banking
Free online banking covers viewing your account, transferring money between your own Chase accounts, paying bills to external accounts, and depositing checks by phone or mobile app. It does not cover everything you might do through the online portal.
Wire transfers cost money. A domestic wire transfer costs $15 if you initiate it online or by phone. An international wire transfer costs $15 to $45 depending on the destination country. These fees apply whether you use online banking or walk into a branch.
Overdraft fees, returned-deposit fees, and stop-payment requests also cost money. An overdraft fee at Chase is $35 per transaction (as of the time this was written, though Chase may change this). A stop-payment request costs $30. These are not online banking fees—they are account fees triggered by specific actions.
Expedited delivery of a debit card, replacement of a lost card, and certified checks also carry fees. Cashier's checks are free at Chase, but certified checks cost $10 each.
How to waive the monthly fee on Chase Total Checking
Chase Total Checking has a $12 monthly maintenance fee, but you can waive it by meeting one of three conditions. The easiest for most people is to maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 in the account. The balance is checked daily, so if you drop below $500 even once during the month, the fee applies.
The second option is to set up direct deposit. Any direct deposit counts—paycheck, government benefits, or transfers from another bank. Once direct deposit is active, the fee is waived for as long as the direct deposits continue.
The third option is to link a Chase credit card to the account. If you have any Chase credit card and link it to your checking account, the $12 fee is waived. You do not need to use the credit card or carry a balance—the link alone removes the fee.
If none of these options work for you, consider a Chase savings account instead. It has no monthly fee and includes free online banking, though it does not have a debit card or check-writing ability.
Free features included in Chase online banking
Bill pay is free. You can set up one-time payments or recurring payments to any person or business, and Chase will mail a check or initiate an electronic transfer at no cost. Bill pay typically takes three to five business days, though you can pay bills the same day for an extra fee if you choose.
Mobile check deposit is free. You photograph the front and back of a check using the Chase mobile app, and the funds are deposited into your account. The deposit usually shows up within one business day.
Transfers between your own Chase accounts are free and happen instantly online. You can move money from checking to savings, from one checking account to another, or from any account type to any other account type you own at Chase.
Account alerts are free. You can set up notifications for low balances, large transactions, or deposits. You receive alerts by email, text, or push notification through the app.
Viewing your transaction history, downloading statements, and setting up automatic transfers are all free. Chase stores up to seven years of transaction history online.
Transferring money to other banks through Chase online banking
Transfers to accounts at other banks are free if you use ACH (Automated Clearing House). You set up the external account in your Chase online banking portal, provide the routing number and account number, and initiate the transfer. ACH transfers typically take one to three business days and cost nothing.
If you need the money to arrive faster, you can use a wire transfer, but that costs $15 for a domestic wire. Wire transfers usually arrive the same business day if sent before the bank's cutoff time (typically 2 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays).
You can also use Zelle, which is free and typically delivers money within minutes to another person's bank account. Zelle is built into the Chase mobile app and online banking portal. There is no fee to send or receive money through Zelle, though some banks limit how much you can send per day or per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for Chase online banking if I have a savings account?
No. Chase savings accounts have no monthly maintenance fee and include free online banking access. You can check your balance, transfer money, and manage your account online at no cost.
What happens if I can't meet the $500 minimum balance to waive the Total Checking fee?
The $12 monthly maintenance fee will be charged. Your other options are to set up direct deposit or link a Chase credit card to waive the fee. If none of those work, a Chase savings account has no monthly fee and includes free online banking.
Does Chase charge for bill pay through online banking?
No. Bill pay is free whether you pay bills online, by phone, or in person. Standard bill pay takes three to five business days. Same-day bill pay costs extra, but standard bill pay does not.
Can I send money to someone else's bank account for free through Chase online banking?
Yes, if you use ACH transfer or Zelle. ACH transfers are free but take one to three business days. Zelle is free and usually delivers within minutes. Wire transfers cost $15 and arrive the same business day.
Is mobile check deposit free?
Yes. You can photograph checks using the Chase mobile app and deposit them at no cost. The funds typically appear in your account within one business day.