Chase charges for most checking accounts, but the fee depends on which account you open
Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, costs $12 per month. However, you can avoid this fee in several ways: keep a minimum daily balance of $1,500, set up direct deposit, or maintain an average daily balance of $500 across linked Chase savings and money market accounts. If none of those work for you, Chase also offers the Chase Secure Checking account, which has no monthly fee but requires a $25 deposit held as collateral and offers limited features.
The fee structure matters because it determines what you actually pay each month. A $12 monthly fee adds up to $144 a year if you never meet the balance or direct deposit requirement. Understanding which account fits your situation—and which waiver option you can actually maintain—saves money from the first month.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you meet one of three fee waivers: a $1,500 minimum daily balance, active direct deposit, or a $500 average daily balance across linked accounts.
- Chase Secure Checking has no monthly fee but requires a $25 collateral deposit and does not include overdraft protection or check writing.
- Direct deposit is the easiest waiver for most people because it requires no balance threshold and counts even if the deposit is small.
- Overdraft fees on Chase checking accounts are $35 per transaction, and the bank allows up to four overdraft fees per day, so a single mistake can cost $140.
How the $12 monthly fee works and who pays it
Chase Total Checking charges $12 each month unless you prevent it. The fee posts on the same day every month, usually around the 25th. If your account balance drops below the minimum on that date, the fee comes out automatically. You do not receive a warning before the fee posts.
The fee applies to new accounts opened after November 2023 and existing accounts that have not already waived it. If you opened your account before that date and have never paid the fee, your account may be grandfathered under the old terms—but Chase can change those terms with 30 days' notice, so do not assume you are permanently protected.
Three ways to avoid the $12 monthly fee
Direct deposit is the simplest waiver. Set up any direct deposit to your Chase checking account—paycheck, government benefits, pension, or transfer from another bank—and the $12 fee disappears that month. The deposit does not have to be large; even a $1 transfer counts. Once direct deposit is active, you stay fee-free as long as at least one direct deposit posts each month. If you miss a month, the fee returns the next month.
Minimum daily balance requires you to keep $1,500 in your Chase Total Checking account at all times. Chase checks your balance on the day the fee would post. If you have $1,500 or more that day, no fee. If you drop to $1,499, the fee posts. This waiver works if you keep a steady emergency fund or paycheck buffer, but it ties up money that could earn interest elsewhere.
Linked account balance lets you combine the balance of your Chase Total Checking with a Chase savings account, money market account, or CD. If the average daily balance across all linked accounts reaches $500, the checking fee waives. This option works if you already save with Chase, but it still requires you to maintain $500 total—money that could be in a higher-yield savings account at another bank.
Overdraft fees and other charges beyond the monthly fee
The $12 monthly fee is not the only charge. If your account goes negative, Chase charges $35 per overdraft transaction. The bank allows up to four overdraft fees per day, meaning a series of small purchases could cost you $140 in a single day. These fees stack even if you cover the overdraft within hours.
Chase also charges $3.50 for each out-of-network ATM withdrawal (though you can avoid this by using Chase ATMs or partner networks). Wire transfers cost $15 domestic and $45 international. Cashier's checks are $10 each. Stop payment requests are $30. These charges are separate from the monthly fee and apply to anyone, regardless of balance.
Chase Secure Checking as a no-fee alternative
If you cannot meet the direct deposit or balance requirements, Chase Secure Checking has no monthly fee. Instead, you deposit $25 as collateral, which Chase holds in a separate account. You get a debit card and online access, but no checks, no overdraft protection, and no ability to link to other accounts for the balance waiver.
Secure Checking works for people who want a basic account without monthly charges and do not need check-writing or overdraft coverage. The $25 stays yours—you can withdraw it anytime, but doing so closes the account. This account does not report to credit bureaus, so it does not build credit history.
How to set up direct deposit to waive the fee
To set up direct deposit, log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app and go to the Direct Deposit section. You will see your account and routing number. Give this information to your employer's payroll department or to the organization sending the payment (Social Security, pension administrator, etc.). They will set up the deposit on their end, which usually takes one to two pay cycles to process.
Once the first direct deposit posts, the fee waiver takes effect immediately. You do not need to contact Chase or confirm anything. If you change jobs or the direct deposit stops, you have until the end of that month to set up a new one before the fee returns. If you miss a month, the $12 fee posts, but restarting direct deposit the next month removes it again.
What happens if the fee posts and you want it back
If you are charged the $12 fee by mistake—or if you did not realize it was coming—call Chase customer service at the number on your card. Explain that you met the waiver requirement (direct deposit, balance, or linked account) or that you were not aware of the fee. Chase will often reverse one or two fees as a courtesy, especially if your account is new or if you have been a customer for years.
Do not expect reversals to be automatic or may provide. Chase's policy allows them to deny the request, but many customers report success on the first call, particularly if they can show proof of direct deposit or a may have access to balance. If you are denied, you can call back and ask to speak to a supervisor, though the outcome may be the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I avoid the fee by keeping money in savings instead of checking?
No. The $1,500 minimum must be in your Chase Total Checking account itself, not in savings. However, you can use the linked account waiver: keep $500 average balance across your checking and savings combined. This works if you have both accounts with Chase.
Does a transfer from another bank count as direct deposit?
No. Direct deposit must come from an employer, government agency, or similar source that initiates the payment. Transfers you make yourself from another bank do not count. However, you can set up a recurring transfer from another bank and some employers will split your paycheck between accounts, which does count.
What if I close my Chase checking account and reopen it later?
Chase treats it as a new account, so the $12 monthly fee applies. You will need to meet one of the three waivers again. If you closed the account within the last 90 days, Chase may not let you reopen it immediately.
Do student or senior accounts have different fees?
Chase offers a Chase Student Checking account with no monthly fee for customers under 25, as long as they are enrolled in school. After age 25, it converts to Chase Total Checking and the $12 fee applies unless you meet a waiver. Chase does not offer a separate senior account with different fees.
If I have multiple Chase checking accounts, do I pay the fee on each one?
Yes. Each checking account is charged $12 per month separately, unless each one meets its own waiver requirement. You cannot combine balances across multiple checking accounts—only across checking and savings/money market accounts linked together.