The main ways Chase charges you for checking

Chase charges checking account fees in three main categories: a monthly maintenance fee if your balance or direct deposits fall below a threshold, overdraft fees when you spend more than you have, and fees for specific transactions like wire transfers or stopping a check payment.

The monthly maintenance fee is the one you can most easily prevent. Chase's basic checking account (Chase Total Checking) charges $12 per month unless you maintain a minimum daily balance of $500, receive at least $500 in direct deposits per month, or link a may have access to savings account with $500 in it. If any one of those three conditions is met, the fee disappears entirely.

Overdraft fees hit when your account goes negative. Chase charges $35 per overdraft transaction, and you can incur multiple fees in a single day. Overdraft protection—linking a savings account or credit line to cover shortfalls—prevents the fee but costs you interest on the borrowed amount instead.

Key Takeaways

  • The $12 monthly maintenance fee on Chase Total Checking vanishes if you keep $500 in the account, receive $500 in direct deposits monthly, or link a savings account with $500 to it.
  • Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction; turning off overdraft protection stops the fee but will decline transactions instead of covering them.
  • Wire transfer fees ($15 domestic, $25 international outgoing) and stop-payment fees ($30) apply only when you use those specific services.
  • Chase offers fee waivers for students under 25 and military members, which remove the monthly maintenance fee entirely.
  • Switching to Chase's online-only checking account (Chase Secure Banking) has no monthly fee and no overdraft fees, though it has fewer branch locations.

Meeting the balance or deposit requirement to skip the monthly fee

The easiest path for most people is the direct deposit threshold. If your employer deposits your paycheck into your Chase account, you already meet the requirement—the $500 minimum is a monthly total, not a single deposit. If you receive two paychecks of $250 each, or one paycheck of $600, you hit the mark.

If direct deposit is not an option, keeping $500 in the account works, but it ties up money you might otherwise spend or move to savings. The third option—linking a Chase savings account with $500—is useful only if you have that money available and want to keep it in Chase's ecosystem anyway.

Check your account settings in the Chase mobile app or online portal under "Account Details" to confirm which requirement you are currently meeting. If none of the three apply to you, the $12 fee will post on the last day of each month.

Turning off overdraft protection to avoid $35 fees

Overdraft protection sounds helpful but is expensive. When it is on, Chase covers transactions that would overdraw your account and charges you $35 per overdraft. If you make five purchases that each overdraw the account on the same day, you pay $175 in fees.

Turning overdraft protection off means transactions will simply decline if you do not have the funds. You will not be charged, but the transaction will fail—your card will be rejected at the register or the check will bounce. This is inconvenient but free.

To change this setting, log into your Chase account online, go to "Account Settings," then "Overdraft Protection," and select "Off." The change takes effect immediately. If you have linked a savings account or credit line as backup, removing those links also disables overdraft protection.

Avoiding transaction-specific fees

Beyond the monthly fee and overdraft charges, Chase charges for specific actions: $15 to send a domestic wire transfer, $25 for an international wire, and $30 to stop payment on a check. These fees only apply when you use the service, so the simplest way to avoid them is to use alternatives when possible.

For sending money domestically, use Zelle (free, available through the Chase app) or an ACH transfer to another bank (also free). Zelle transfers arrive within minutes; ACH transfers take one to three business days. For international transfers, services like Wise or OFX often charge less than Chase's $25 fee.

Stop-payment fees are harder to avoid if you need to stop a check, but they are rare for most people. If you do need to stop a check, ask yourself whether the recipient has already deposited it—if so, the stop-payment will not work anyway.

Fee waivers for students and military members

Chase waives the $12 monthly maintenance fee entirely for students under 25 with a Chase Student Checking account and for active-duty military members with a Chase Military Checking account. Both accounts still charge overdraft fees and transaction-specific fees, but the monthly maintenance charge disappears.

To open a Student Checking account, you need to be under 25 and provide proof of enrollment (usually a student ID or acceptance letter). The account converts to a regular Chase Total Checking account when you turn 25, at which point the monthly fee applies unless you meet one of the three conditions listed above.

Military members can open a Chase Military Checking account with a valid military ID. The fee waiver applies as long as you maintain the account and remain may be able to access.

Switching to Chase Secure Banking if you cannot meet the balance requirement

If you cannot maintain $500 in the account or receive $500 in monthly direct deposits, Chase Secure Banking is an alternative with no monthly maintenance fee and no overdraft fees. Transactions simply decline if you do not have the funds.

The trade-off is access: Chase Secure Banking is online-only, so you cannot visit a branch to deposit cash or speak to a teller in person. You can deposit checks through the mobile app's check deposit feature, and you can withdraw cash at any Chase ATM. Wire transfers, stop payments, and other transaction fees still apply.

Chase Secure Banking is useful if you want to avoid fees entirely and do not need branch services. If you need to deposit cash regularly or prefer in-person banking, it may not be the right fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a fee refunded if Chase charged me by mistake?

Yes. Contact Chase customer service through the app, by phone, or at a branch and explain the charge. If the fee was posted in error—for example, if you met the balance requirement but were still charged—Chase will usually refund it. If you were charged correctly but want a one-time courtesy reversal, ask; Chase sometimes grants one reversal per year for established customers.

Does linking a savings account to avoid the checking fee cost anything?

No. Linking accounts is free. However, the savings account must have $500 in it, so you need that money available. Chase's savings account earns interest, but the rate is typically very low—often under 0.01% annually—so the interest earned on $500 will be minimal.

What happens if I go negative and overdraft protection is off?

The transaction declines and does not go through. You will not be charged a fee, but the purchase, check, or transfer will fail. The merchant or recipient will not receive the payment. Your account balance remains negative only if you had already spent the money before turning off overdraft protection.

Do I have to use Chase if I want to avoid fees?

No. Many banks and credit unions charge no monthly maintenance fees on checking accounts regardless of balance. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover often have no monthly fees and no overdraft fees. If Chase's fee structure does not work for you, switching is an option.

If I close my Chase account, will I owe any fees?

No. Chase does not charge a fee to close a checking account. However, if your account is negative when you close it, you will owe that amount. Make sure your balance is zero or positive before closing.