Chase Business Checking Fees and How to Stop Them

Chase charges a monthly service fee on most business checking accounts—typically $15 to $25 depending on the account type—but you can eliminate it by meeting one of their stated requirements. The most common way is to maintain a minimum balance, usually $2,500 to $5,000 depending on which Chase business account you hold. If you cannot keep that balance, you can waive the fee by setting up direct deposit of payroll or by maintaining a linked Chase business savings account with a minimum balance.

The specific fee amount and waiver options depend on which Chase business checking product you have. Chase offers several tiers: Chase Business Basic Checking, Chase Business Checking, Chase Business Checking Plus, and Chase Ink Business Checking. Each has different monthly fees and different paths to waive them. Before you can avoid the fee, you need to know which account you actually hold.

The fee hits your account on the same day each month—usually the last business day—so if you do not meet a waiver requirement by then, the charge goes through. Once charged, you can request a reversal if you were close to the threshold or if you just opened the account, but Chase does not automatically refund fees. You have to call and ask.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase business checking accounts charge $15 to $25 per month, but the fee is waived if you maintain a minimum balance, set up payroll direct deposit, or link a business savings account with a minimum balance.
  • The minimum balance requirement ranges from $2,500 to $5,000 depending on your specific Chase business account type, so log in or call to confirm which account you hold.
  • The monthly fee posts on the last business day of each month, so you must meet a waiver requirement before that date to avoid the charge.
  • If a fee was charged and you believe you met a waiver requirement, you can call Chase and request a one-time reversal, though they do not refund automatically.

Minimum Balance Requirements for Each Chase Business Account

Chase Business Basic Checking has a $2,500 minimum balance requirement to waive the $15 monthly fee. This is the lowest-cost option if you can keep that balance. If your balance drops below $2,500 on the last business day of the month, the fee posts to your account.

Chase Business Checking and Chase Business Checking Plus both require a $5,000 minimum balance to waive their monthly fees ($20 and $25 respectively). The Plus version offers additional features like higher transaction limits and more check orders, but the fee waiver threshold is the same. Some business owners choose the Plus account for the features and accept the fee rather than maintain the higher balance.

Chase Ink Business Checking works differently: it has no monthly service fee at all, regardless of balance. However, it is designed for businesses that process a high volume of card transactions through Chase Ink credit cards. If you do not use a Chase Ink card, this account may not be the right fit, and you would fall into one of the other categories.

To find out which account you hold, log into your Chase business online banking portal and look at your account name on the dashboard. If you are unsure, call the Chase business customer service line at the number on the back of your debit card—they can tell you in one minute which product you have and what the exact fee waiver requirement is.

Direct Deposit as an Alternative to Minimum Balance

If maintaining a $2,500 to $5,000 balance is not realistic for your business, direct deposit of payroll can waive the monthly fee on most Chase business checking accounts. This means setting up automatic deposits of employee paychecks or your own business income through ACH direct deposit.

The direct deposit must be recurring and must post to the account. A one-time transfer does not count. Chase typically requires at least one direct deposit per month to maintain the waiver, though the amount does not matter—even a small payroll deposit counts. If you are a sole proprietor and do not run payroll, you can set up a recurring transfer from another account, but Chase may require that it be labeled as payroll or business income to may have access to.

Setting up direct deposit takes a few days to process. You will need your Chase account and routing number (available in your online banking portal under Account Details) and your employer's payroll system or your accountant's help to route the deposit. Once it is set up, the waiver applies automatically each month as long as the deposit continues.

If you stop receiving direct deposits for a month or two—for example, if you take time off or change payroll providers—the fee will resume. You can call Chase to reinstate the waiver once direct deposit resumes, but you may have to pay the fee for the months it was not active.

Linking a Business Savings Account to Waive Checking Fees

Another path to waive your checking account fee is to open and maintain a Chase business savings account linked to your checking account. The savings account must meet its own minimum balance requirement, typically $2,500, but doing so waives the checking fee on most Chase business accounts.

This option works well if you want to separate operating money (checking) from reserve money (savings) anyway. You keep the savings account balance at or above $2,500, and your checking account fee disappears. The savings account itself earns interest, though Chase business savings rates are typically low—usually well under 1 percent—so this is not a wealth-building strategy.

The two accounts must be linked in your online banking portal for the waiver to work. If you open a savings account but do not link it, the checking fee will still post. You can link them yourself in the settings, or call Chase and ask them to link the accounts for you.

If your savings account balance drops below $2,500, the checking fee waiver stops, and the monthly charge will post on the next billing cycle. You would need to bring the savings balance back up and wait for the next month for the waiver to take effect again.

What Happens If You Miss a Waiver Requirement

If your balance falls short, your direct deposit does not post, or your linked savings account dips below the minimum, the monthly fee will charge to your checking account on the last business day of the month. The charge is automatic—Chase does not send a warning or give you a grace period.

Once the fee posts, you can call Chase and request a reversal. They will not reverse it automatically, but if you explain that you just missed the requirement or if you are a new customer, they may waive it as a one-time courtesy. Be prepared to explain which waiver requirement you were trying to meet and why you missed it. Repeat requests are less likely to be granted.

If you are charged a fee and you do not call to request a reversal, it stays on your account. There is no automatic refund window. Some business owners let the fee sit for a month or two and then call with a larger request—for example, "I was charged fees for three months; can you reverse them?"—but Chase is under no obligation to do so.

To avoid this situation, set a calendar reminder for the 25th of each month to check your balance or confirm your direct deposit is scheduled. A two-minute check can save you $15 to $25.

Comparing Chase Business Checking to Other Banks

Chase is not the only bank that charges monthly business checking fees, but the fee structure and waiver options vary. Some regional banks and online banks offer business checking with no monthly fee and no minimum balance, though they may charge per-transaction fees or have other limitations.

If you are considering switching banks to avoid Chase fees, compare the total cost: add up the monthly checking fee, any per-check charges, wire transfer fees, and overdraft fees across all three options (Chase, your current bank, and a potential alternative). A bank with no monthly fee might charge $1 per wire transfer, which could cost more if you wire money frequently. Chase's fee is predictable; some alternatives are not.

Chase also offers perks that other banks may not: access to a large branch and ATM network, integration with Chase Ink credit cards for business rewards, and online tools designed for business accounting. If you use these features, the $15 to $25 monthly fee may be worth it even if you cannot waive it.

Before you switch, call Chase and ask if there are any other waiver options or fee reductions available for your specific situation. Business customers sometimes have access to promotions or exceptions that are not listed on the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I waive the fee by keeping a minimum balance in a different bank?

No. Chase only counts balances held in Chase accounts toward the minimum balance requirement. Money in another bank's account does not count. The balance must be in your Chase business checking account or a linked Chase business savings account.

What if I set up direct deposit but it fails one month?

If a direct deposit fails or does not post in a given month, the fee will charge on the last business day of that month. Call Chase and explain what happened. If it was a one-time issue, they may reverse the fee. If direct deposits stop for multiple months, you will need to restart the waiver process or switch to a different waiver method.

Does a wire transfer or ACH transfer count as direct deposit?

No. Direct deposit must be set up through your employer's payroll system or a payroll provider. A manual ACH transfer you initiate yourself does not count as direct deposit, even if it is recurring. Chase distinguishes between payroll direct deposit (automatic from an employer) and customer-initiated transfers.

Can I request a fee reversal if I just opened the account?

Yes. New business customers sometimes receive a courtesy reversal if they call within the first 30 to 60 days and explain they were not aware of the fee or the waiver requirements. After that window, reversals are less common but still possible if you have a good reason.

If I close my linked savings account, will the checking fee come back?

Yes. Once you close the savings account, the waiver is no longer valid, and the checking fee will post on the next billing cycle. If you want to keep the checking fee waived, you must maintain the linked savings account with the required minimum balance.