Chase charges fees on most checking accounts, but the amount depends on which account you have and whether you meet the bank's requirements to waive them
Chase's main checking accounts—Chase Total Checking, Chase Premier Plus Checking, and Chase Sapphire Checking—all carry a monthly maintenance fee. The fee ranges from $12 to $25 per month, depending on the account tier. However, Chase waives the fee if you meet one of several conditions: maintain a minimum balance (usually $500 to $1,500), set up direct deposit, or keep a linked savings account with a certain balance. If you do not meet any waiver requirement, you pay the full monthly fee.
Chase also charges fees for specific actions beyond the monthly maintenance charge. These include overdraft fees (currently $35 per overdraft), non-Chase ATM withdrawals ($2.50 per transaction outside the Chase network), wire transfers ($15 domestic, $15 international), and stop-payment requests ($30). Returned deposit fees and excessive transaction fees may also apply depending on your account type and activity.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you maintain a $500 minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500.
- Chase Premier Plus Checking costs $25 per month and requires a $1,500 minimum balance or direct deposit to waive the fee.
- Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction, and non-Chase ATM withdrawals cost $2.50 each.
- Chase waives monthly fees for customers under 18 and for some accounts linked to Chase student or military programs.
- You can avoid most fees by choosing a no-fee online bank or by meeting Chase's balance or direct deposit requirements.
Which Chase checking accounts have monthly fees
Chase Total Checking is the most common account and carries a $12 monthly maintenance fee. You can waive it by maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance, setting up at least one direct deposit per month, or keeping a linked Chase savings account with a $500 minimum balance. If you meet any one of these conditions, the fee does not apply.
Chase Premier Plus Checking costs $25 per month and is designed for customers who want higher account tiers and additional perks. The fee waives if you maintain a $1,500 minimum daily balance or set up direct deposit. This account includes benefits like higher interest rates on linked savings and priority customer service, but the monthly cost is significantly higher than Total Checking.
Chase Sapphire Checking is a premium account that costs $25 per month and requires a $1,500 minimum balance to waive the fee. It is marketed toward customers who want premium features and does not waive the fee through direct deposit alone.
Chase also offers accounts with no monthly fees: Chase High School Checking (for customers under 18) and Chase College Checking (for full-time students). These accounts have no maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement, though they may have transaction limits or other restrictions.
Overdraft and out-of-network ATM fees
If you overdraw your Chase checking account, the bank charges $35 per overdraft transaction. This fee applies each time a transaction posts that brings your balance below zero, so multiple overdrafts in a single day can result in multiple $35 charges. Chase does offer overdraft protection, which links your checking account to a savings account or credit card and automatically transfers funds to cover overdrafts, but this service may have its own fees depending on the transfer method.
Withdrawing cash from an ATM outside the Chase network costs $2.50 per transaction. Chase has a large ATM network, but if you frequently need cash outside that network, these fees add up quickly. Some checking accounts, particularly premium tiers, may offer a limited number of free out-of-network ATM withdrawals per month, so check your specific account terms.
Wire transfer, stop-payment, and other transaction fees
Chase charges $15 for a domestic wire transfer and $15 for an international wire transfer. These fees apply whether you initiate the wire online, by phone, or in person at a branch. If you need to stop payment on a check, Chase charges $30 per stop-payment request. Returned deposit fees (when a check or ACH deposit bounces back) typically cost $15 to $25, though this varies by account type.
Some accounts also limit the number of certain transactions per month. For example, savings accounts traditionally have limits on the number of withdrawals or transfers you can make, though these limits have become less common since 2020. Check your account agreement to see whether your checking account has any transaction limits that could trigger fees.
How to avoid Chase checking account fees
The simplest way to avoid the monthly maintenance fee is to set up direct deposit. If your employer or benefit provider deposits money directly into your Chase account at least once per month, the fee waives automatically. You do not need to maintain a minimum balance or link other accounts.
If direct deposit is not an option, maintain the required minimum balance. For Chase Total Checking, that is $500. For Premier Plus and Sapphire, it is $1,500. The balance is calculated as a daily minimum, meaning your account must not fall below that amount on any single day of the month. If it does, you pay the fee for that month.
Linking a savings account with the required minimum balance also waives the checking fee on Total Checking. This works well if you are already saving money and want to keep it in the same bank. However, you must maintain the minimum in both accounts, which ties up more of your money than direct deposit would.
To avoid overdraft fees, enable overdraft protection or simply monitor your balance closely. To avoid ATM fees, use Chase's ATM network or withdraw cash at a Chase branch. To avoid wire transfer fees, use ACH transfers instead when possible—ACH transfers are slower but usually free or cost less.
Comparing Chase fees to other banks
Many online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement. Banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have zero-fee checking accounts, though they may charge for specific services like wire transfers or overdrafts. If you do not need a physical branch location, these alternatives can save you $144 to $300 per year compared to Chase.
Credit unions often have lower or no monthly fees and may offer better overdraft policies. However, credit union membership typically requires you to live or work in a specific area or meet other membership criteria. If you have access to a credit union, comparing their checking account fees to Chase's is worth your time.
If you value Chase's branch network and ATM access, the $12 monthly fee for Total Checking is competitive with other national banks. However, if you can meet the direct deposit requirement, the fee waives and Chase becomes a no-cost option relative to the service you receive.
What happens if you cannot meet fee waiver requirements
If you cannot maintain a minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account, you will pay the monthly maintenance fee. Over a year, this costs $144 for Total Checking or $300 for Premier Plus or Sapphire. For customers on a tight budget, this expense may not be worth it.
In this situation, switching to a no-fee checking account at an online bank or credit union makes financial sense. You lose access to Chase's physical branches, but you keep your money instead of paying it to the bank. If you need a physical location for deposits or other services, look for a bank or credit union that offers both no-fee checking and a branch network in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chase waive my monthly fee if I have a credit card with them?
No. Having a Chase credit card does not waive the checking account monthly fee. The fee waives only through direct deposit, minimum balance, or a linked savings account with the required minimum. Some premium credit cards may offer other banking benefits, but they do not automatically waive checking fees.
Does Chase charge a fee to open a checking account?
No. Opening a Chase checking account is free. You only pay the monthly maintenance fee if you do not meet a waiver requirement, plus any fees for specific transactions like overdrafts or wire transfers.
What is the difference between Chase Total Checking and Premier Plus Checking?
Total Checking costs $12 per month and requires a $500 minimum balance to waive the fee. Premier Plus costs $25 per month and requires a $1,500 minimum balance. Premier Plus typically offers higher interest rates on linked savings and priority customer service, but the higher fee and balance requirement make it worthwhile only if you maintain large balances or value the premium features.
If I have overdraft protection, do I still pay the $35 overdraft fee?
Overdraft protection transfers money from a linked account to cover overdrafts, which prevents the overdraft fee from occurring. However, the transfer itself may have a fee depending on the source account. Transfers from a Chase savings account are usually free, but transfers from a credit card or external account may cost $10 to $15.
Can I switch to a no-fee Chase account if I already have Total Checking?
Yes. If you are a student or under 18, you can switch to Chase High School Checking or Chase College Checking, both of which have no monthly fee. Otherwise, you would need to close your current account and open a new one, which may affect your banking history. Contact Chase to discuss your options before making a change.