The main fees Chase charges and how to stop them

Chase charges a monthly maintenance fee on most checking accounts unless you meet one of their conditions. The monthly fee ranges from $12 to $15 depending on the account type, but you can waive it by keeping a minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account with a certain balance. The specific requirement depends on which Chase checking account you have — Chase Total Checking, Chase Premier Plus Checking, or Chase Sapphire Checking each have different thresholds.

Beyond the monthly fee, Chase also charges for specific actions: overdraft fees when you spend more than your balance, out-of-network ATM fees if you use an ATM that is not Chase-owned, wire transfer fees, and stop-payment fees if you ask them to cancel a check. Not all of these are avoidable, but most can be prevented with the right account setup or behavior.

The fastest way to avoid fees is to pick the right account for your situation and then meet one single waiver condition. Most people find it easiest to either keep the minimum balance or set up direct deposit, since both are straightforward and do not require ongoing action.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase waives monthly maintenance fees if you keep a minimum balance (usually $500 to $1,500 depending on account type), receive direct deposit, or link a savings account with a minimum balance.
  • Overdraft fees happen when your balance goes negative and Chase covers the transaction; you can prevent them by turning off overdraft protection or monitoring your balance closely.
  • Out-of-network ATM fees apply when you use a non-Chase ATM; using only Chase ATMs or requesting cash back at stores eliminates this fee.
  • Wire transfer and stop-payment fees are harder to avoid but happen rarely for most people; knowing they exist helps you decide whether to use them.
  • Direct deposit is often the easiest waiver condition because it requires no ongoing balance maintenance and many employers offer it automatically.

Meeting the minimum balance to waive the monthly fee

Each Chase checking account has a different minimum balance requirement. Chase Total Checking requires $500 in your checking account or $5,000 across your Chase checking and savings accounts combined. Chase Premier Plus Checking requires $10,000 in your checking account or $25,000 across checking and savings. Chase Sapphire Checking requires $10,000 in your checking account or $25,000 across accounts.

The balance is checked on a daily basis, meaning you need to maintain it every single day — one day below the threshold and the fee applies to that month. If you have irregular income or unpredictable expenses, this method can be risky because a single large withdrawal or delayed paycheck can trigger the fee.

If you do fall below the minimum, Chase will charge the fee that month. You cannot retroactively waive it, but you can prevent it from happening again by bringing your balance back up before the next billing cycle. Some people use this method successfully by keeping a buffer of extra money in their checking account that they do not touch.

Setting up direct deposit to waive the fee

Direct deposit is when your employer or a government agency deposits your paycheck or benefit payment directly into your bank account. If you set up direct deposit to your Chase checking account, Chase waives the monthly maintenance fee regardless of your balance. This is the most reliable method for people who receive regular paychecks because it requires no ongoing action after setup.

To set up direct deposit, you need your Chase account and routing number, which you can find on the bottom left of any check or by logging into your Chase account online. Give this information to your employer's payroll department or to the government agency sending your benefit payment. The setup usually takes one to two pay periods to take effect.

Direct deposit counts even if the amount is small — some people receive a $25 monthly transfer from a side gig and use that to waive a $12 fee. The deposit must actually post to your account; a pending deposit does not count. Once it posts, Chase recognizes it and waives the fee for that month.

Linking a savings account to waive the fee

Chase allows you to waive the checking account fee by maintaining a minimum balance in a linked savings account instead of in checking. For Chase Total Checking, you need $5,000 in a linked savings account. For Chase Premier Plus Checking or Sapphire Checking, you need $25,000 in a linked savings account.

The savings account must be in your name and linked to the same checking account. You can link it during account opening or add it later through your Chase online account. Like the checking balance method, this is checked daily, so you need to maintain the threshold every day of the month.

This method works well if you are saving money anyway and want to keep it separate from your spending account. The downside is that you have to keep a large amount of money in savings that earns very little interest at Chase — their savings accounts typically pay less than 0.01% annual percentage yield, so you are essentially paying to waive the fee rather than earning on your savings.

Avoiding overdraft fees

An overdraft fee occurs when you spend more money than you have in your account and Chase covers the transaction. Chase charges $35 per overdraft transaction, and you can be charged multiple times per day if you make several transactions that overdraw your account. The fee is separate from the amount you owe back to Chase.

The simplest way to avoid overdraft fees is to turn off overdraft protection in your Chase account settings. When overdraft protection is off, transactions that would overdraw your account are simply declined — you cannot spend money you do not have. This prevents the fee but also means your card or check will not go through, which can be embarrassing or inconvenient.

Alternatively, you can keep a buffer of extra money in your account so that even if you miscalculate, you do not go negative. Many people keep $100 to $300 as a safety cushion. You can also set up low-balance alerts in your Chase app so you get a notification when your balance drops below a certain amount.

If you do get charged an overdraft fee, you can call Chase and ask them to reverse it, especially if it is your first time or if the overdraft was caused by a delayed deposit. Chase does not have to reverse it, but they sometimes do as a courtesy, particularly for long-time customers.

Avoiding ATM fees

Chase charges $3 per transaction when you use an ATM that is not owned by Chase. This fee is charged to you by Chase, not by the other bank, though the other bank may charge an additional fee as well. If you use a non-Chase ATM twice a week, that is $24 per month in fees alone.

The easiest solution is to use only Chase ATMs. Chase has over 16,000 ATMs nationwide, so there is usually one nearby. You can find Chase ATMs using the Chase mobile app or their website by entering your location.

If you cannot access a Chase ATM, ask for cash back when you make a debit card purchase at a store. Most retailers offer this for free, and it counts as a transaction, so you get cash without paying an ATM fee. This works at grocery stores, pharmacies, and many other retailers.

Understanding wire transfer and stop-payment fees

Chase charges $15 for a domestic wire transfer and $25 for an international wire transfer. These fees are charged when you initiate the transfer, not when you receive money. If you send a wire transfer, you pay the fee; if someone sends you money via wire, you do not.

A stop-payment fee is charged when you ask Chase to cancel a check you have already written. Chase charges $30 for this service. You might need a stop-payment if you lose a check, write it to the wrong person, or want to cancel a payment you made by check.

These fees are harder to avoid because they are tied to specific actions rather than account maintenance. The best approach is to use them rarely. For regular bill payments, use online bill pay through your Chase account instead of checks — it is free and faster. For money transfers, use free methods like Zelle (which is built into Chase) or peer-to-peer apps when possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I do not meet any of the fee waiver conditions?

Chase will charge you the monthly maintenance fee for that month. The fee is automatically deducted from your checking account on your billing cycle date. You can meet a waiver condition the next month to prevent the fee from happening again, but you cannot retroactively waive a fee that has already been charged.

Can I use direct deposit from a government benefit like Social Security?

Yes. Direct deposit from Social Security, unemployment benefits, tax refunds, or any other government agency counts toward waiving the monthly fee. You set it up the same way — provide your Chase account and routing number to the agency sending the payment.

Do I have to keep the minimum balance in my checking account, or can I move it to savings?

For most Chase checking accounts, the minimum balance must stay in your checking account to waive the fee. If you move it to savings, it no longer counts toward the checking account waiver. However, you can use a linked savings account with a separate minimum balance as an alternative waiver method.

What if I get an overdraft fee by mistake?

Call Chase customer service and explain the situation. They may reverse the fee as a one-time courtesy, especially if it is your first overdraft or if the overdraft was caused by a delayed deposit. There is no may provide, but it is worth asking. You can also turn off overdraft protection to prevent it from happening again.

Are there Chase checking accounts with no monthly fee?

Chase does not offer a completely free checking account with no conditions. However, Chase Total Checking has the lowest fee ($12 per month) and the lowest waiver requirements ($500 minimum balance or direct deposit), making it the easiest to waive for most people.