Chase charges monthly fees on most checking accounts, but you can avoid them by meeting account requirements

Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, carries a $12 monthly service fee. However, you can waive this fee by doing one of the following: maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance, setting up a direct deposit of any amount, or having a linked Chase savings account with a $500 minimum balance. If you do none of these, you pay the $12 every month.

Chase also offers Chase Secure Banking, designed for people building credit or with banking history issues. This account has no monthly fee, but it requires a $25 deposit that Chase holds as collateral and limits you to six withdrawals per month. There is no direct deposit requirement and no minimum balance.

The Chase Premier Plus Checking account, aimed at customers with higher balances, charges $25 per month but waives the fee if you maintain a $25,000 minimum daily balance or have $25,000 in combined Chase deposits and investments.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 monthly unless you maintain a $500 minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500 in it.
  • Chase Secure Banking has no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement, making it the only Chase checking account with no conditions attached.
  • Overdraft fees at Chase are $35 per transaction, and you can be charged multiple times in a single day if multiple transactions overdraw your account.
  • You can turn off overdraft protection to prevent overdraft fees, though this means transactions may be declined instead of going through.
  • ATM fees apply only if you use an out-of-network ATM; Chase does not charge to use its own ATMs or to withdraw at partner banks in the MoneyPass network.

Overdraft fees and how they stack up

If your account balance goes negative, Chase charges $35 per overdraft transaction. This means if you make five purchases that overdraw your account on the same day, you can be charged $175 in overdraft fees alone, on top of the original shortfall. Chase allows up to four overdraft fees per day, though the total can vary based on how transactions post.

You can prevent overdraft fees by turning off overdraft protection in your Chase account settings. Once disabled, transactions that would overdraw your account will be declined at the point of sale instead. This stops the fee but also means your card or check will not go through. Some people prefer this to the surprise of a $35 charge later.

Chase also charges $35 for each non-sufficient funds (NSF) item — essentially the same fee as an overdraft, applied when a check or ACH payment bounces because there is not enough money in the account.

ATM fees and out-of-network charges

Chase does not charge you to withdraw money from its own ATMs or from ATMs at partner banks in the MoneyPass network. If you use an ATM that is not part of Chase or MoneyPass, the other bank typically charges you a fee (usually $2 to $3), and Chase may also charge you a $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee on top of that.

You can find Chase ATMs and MoneyPass partners using the Chase mobile app or website. If you travel frequently or live far from a Chase branch, check whether MoneyPass coverage is adequate in your area before opening an account.

Wire transfer and foreign transaction fees

Chase charges $15 for outgoing domestic wire transfers and $45 for outgoing international wire transfers. Incoming wires are free. If you send wires regularly, these costs add up; some online banks and credit unions offer free or cheaper wire transfers.

If you use your Chase debit card abroad or withdraw cash from a foreign ATM, Chase charges a 1% foreign transaction fee on top of any fees the foreign bank charges. This applies to all Chase checking accounts. Some travel-focused credit cards waive foreign fees, but checking accounts do not.

Paper statement and other miscellaneous fees

Chase does not charge for statements delivered electronically. If you request paper statements by mail, Chase charges $2 per statement, though you can avoid this by switching to online statements in your account settings.

Stop payment requests cost $30 each. Expedited stop payments (when you need it done the same day) cost more. If you need to cancel a check, contact Chase as soon as possible; the fee applies whether the check clears or not.

Account research requests — when Chase looks back through your records to investigate a transaction or provide documentation — can cost $25 to $100 depending on how far back they need to search and how much time it takes.

How to choose the right Chase checking account for your situation

If you receive regular paychecks via direct deposit, Chase Total Checking is free and offers the most features and ATM access. The direct deposit requirement is the easiest fee waiver to meet for employed people.

If you do not have direct deposit income and cannot maintain a $500 balance, Chase Secure Banking is your only fee-free option. The trade-off is the $25 collateral deposit (which you get back when you close the account) and the six-withdrawal limit per month. This account works for people who make deposits infrequently and do not need constant access.

If you have substantial savings and want premium features like higher interest rates or priority customer service, the Premier Plus Checking may make sense, but only if you can meet the $25,000 balance requirement. Otherwise, the $25 monthly fee makes it expensive compared to other banks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the monthly fee waived if I have a Chase credit card?

No. Chase does not waive checking account fees based on credit card ownership. The only ways to waive the fee on Total Checking are direct deposit, a $500 minimum balance, or a linked savings account with $500 in it.

What happens if I overdraft my account multiple times in one day?

Chase can charge up to four overdraft fees per day, meaning you could be charged $140 in a single day if four separate transactions overdraw your account. Each transaction is treated independently, even if they all post on the same day.

Do I have to pay overdraft fees if I turn off overdraft protection?

No. If overdraft protection is off, transactions that would overdraw your account are declined instead, and you are not charged a fee. However, this also means your purchase or payment will not go through.

Is there a fee to close a Chase checking account?

Chase does not charge a fee to close a checking account. However, if you close the account within 90 days of opening it, Chase may report it to ChexSystems, which can affect your ability to open accounts at other banks.

Can I avoid the foreign transaction fee by using a Chase ATM abroad?

No. The 1% foreign transaction fee applies to all transactions made outside the United States, including ATM withdrawals. This fee is separate from any fees the foreign bank charges.