Chase charges a monthly fee on most checking accounts, but you can waive it

Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, carries a $12 monthly maintenance fee. However, you can eliminate this fee by meeting one of several conditions: maintaining a minimum daily balance of $500, setting up direct deposit of at least $500 per month, or keeping an average daily balance of $1,500. If you do none of these, the $12 fee posts to your account each month.

Chase also offers the Chase Secure Checking account, which has no monthly fee but requires a $25 opening deposit and is designed for people building or rebuilding credit. This account comes with a debit card and online banking, though it does not earn interest.

The fee structure matters because it determines whether you are actually paying for the account or using it free. Many people open a Chase account and never realize they are being charged until they see the $12 deduction on their statement.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking has a $12 monthly fee that you can waive by direct deposit of $500 per month, a $500 minimum daily balance, or a $1,500 average daily balance.
  • Chase Secure Checking has no monthly fee and requires only a $25 opening deposit, making it an option if you cannot meet Total Checking's waiver conditions.
  • The fee posts automatically each month unless you meet one of the waiver conditions before the statement closes.
  • If you are already paying the fee and want to stop, you can change your account type or meet a waiver condition going forward.

How the direct deposit waiver works

The easiest way to avoid the $12 fee is setting up direct deposit of at least $500 per month. This means your employer or a benefits program (like Social Security or unemployment) deposits money straight into your Chase account. The deposit must post before your statement closing date for that month to count toward the waiver.

Direct deposit is free to set up. You provide your employer or benefits administrator with your Chase account number and routing number, which you can find on a check or in the Chase mobile app. Once it is set up, the money arrives automatically on your regular pay schedule—usually every two weeks for paychecks.

One thing to watch: if you change jobs or your direct deposit stops, the waiver stops too. The fee will resume the next month unless you meet one of the other waiver conditions.

Balance requirements and how Chase calculates them

You can also waive the fee by keeping money in the account. Chase offers two balance options: a $500 minimum daily balance or a $1,500 average daily balance. These are not the same thing, and the difference matters.

Minimum daily balance means your account balance must never drop below $500 on any single day during the statement period. If you have $500 on day one and $499 on day fifteen, you do not meet this requirement and the fee posts. This option works best if you keep a steady amount in the account and rarely dip below $500.

Average daily balance means Chase adds up your balance at the end of each day for the entire statement period, then divides by the number of days. If your average comes to $1,500 or more, the fee is waived. This is more forgiving because you can dip below $1,500 some days as long as other days are higher. For example, if you have $2,000 for half the month and $1,000 for the other half, your average is $1,500 and the fee is waived.

What happens if you do not meet a waiver condition

If you do not set up direct deposit and do not maintain either balance threshold, the $12 fee posts to your account on your statement closing date each month. This happens automatically—Chase does not ask permission or send a warning before charging it.

Over a year, this adds up to $144. Over five years, it is $720. The fee compounds because it reduces your balance, which can make it harder to reach the $500 or $1,500 threshold the next month.

You can see the fee on your statement under "Monthly Maintenance Fee" or similar language. If you spot it and want to dispute it, you can call Chase customer service at the number on your debit card and ask them to reverse one or two months as a courtesy, though they are not required to do so.

Comparing Chase checking to other banks

Chase is not the only bank that charges a monthly fee, but the waiver conditions vary. Some banks waive fees with lower direct deposit amounts ($250 instead of $500), while others waive them with lower balance requirements. Some banks charge no monthly fee at all, though they may offer fewer features or lower interest rates on savings accounts.

If you cannot meet Chase's waiver conditions, it is worth comparing what other banks offer. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover often have no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements. Traditional banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo also charge monthly fees but may have different waiver conditions.

The trade-off is usually convenience: Chase has thousands of branches and ATMs nationwide, which matters if you deposit cash or need to speak to someone in person. Online banks have no branches but often have better customer service and lower fees.

How to change your account type or waiver method

If you are paying the $12 fee and want to stop, you have three options: set up direct deposit, increase your balance, or switch to Chase Secure Checking.

To set up direct deposit, contact your employer's payroll department or your benefits administrator and provide them with your Chase account and routing number. This takes a few days to process, and the first deposit may take one or two pay cycles to arrive.

To increase your balance, simply keep more money in the account. You can transfer funds from another account using Chase's mobile app or online banking, or deposit cash at a Chase branch or ATM.

To switch to Chase Secure Checking, call Chase at the number on your debit card or visit a branch. They will close your Total Checking account and open a Secure Checking account. Your debit card and account number will change, so you will need to update any automatic payments or direct deposits linked to the old account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Chase reverse the monthly fee if I was not aware of it?

Chase may reverse one or two months as a courtesy if you call and ask, but they are not required to. The fee is disclosed in the account terms, which you receive when you open the account. If you have been charged for many months, reversing all of them is unlikely, but it is worth asking.

Does the $500 direct deposit have to come from my job?

No. Direct deposit can come from an employer, Social Security, unemployment benefits, disability payments, or any other regular deposit. The source does not matter—only that at least $500 posts to your account each month before your statement closes.

What if my balance goes below $500 for one day?

If you are using the $500 minimum daily balance waiver, dropping below $500 even once during the statement period means you do not meet the requirement and the fee posts. The $1,500 average daily balance option is more forgiving because it allows dips as long as your average stays at $1,500 or higher.

Do I have to keep $1,500 in the account at all times for the average balance waiver?

No. The average daily balance waiver only requires that your average across the entire statement period is $1,500 or higher. You can have $2,000 some days and $1,000 other days—as long as the average works out to $1,500 or more, the fee is waived.

Is Chase Secure Checking a real checking account?

Yes. It has a debit card, online banking, and bill pay. The main differences are no monthly fee, no interest earned, and it is designed for people with limited or poor credit history. You can use it like any other checking account.