Chase Premier Plus is a checking account for people who keep higher balances and want fee waivers and rewards

Chase Premier Plus Checking is a tiered checking account that waives monthly fees if you maintain a minimum balance or set up direct deposit. It comes with a debit card, online banking, and access to Chase's branch and ATM network. The account is designed for people who either keep money in their Chase accounts regularly or want to avoid monthly service charges through direct deposit.

The core trade-off is simple: meet the balance requirement (or use direct deposit), and you pay no monthly fee. Fall below it, and you pay a monthly maintenance charge. This structure is common across banks, but the specific thresholds and what counts toward them vary by account type and can change.

Chase offers several checking tiers. Premier Plus sits above basic checking but below their wealth-management accounts. It is not the same as Chase Total Checking, which has lower balance requirements, and it is not the same as Chase Sapphire Banking, which is aimed at higher-net-worth customers and includes investment services.

Key Takeaways

  • Premier Plus waives its monthly fee if you keep a set minimum balance in the account or receive direct deposits, and the exact threshold depends on your region and current Chase terms.
  • The account includes a debit card, online and mobile banking, bill pay, and access to Chase branches and ATMs nationwide, plus some ATM fee reimbursement at out-of-network machines.
  • You do not earn interest on the checking balance itself, so the account is for payment and access to money, not for saving.
  • Chase offers different checking tiers with different fee structures, so comparing Premier Plus to Total Checking or Sapphire Banking helps you pick the right fit for your balance and banking habits.

How the monthly fee and balance requirement work

Premier Plus charges a monthly maintenance fee unless you meet one of the waiver conditions. The most common waiver is maintaining a minimum daily balance in the account. That balance threshold varies by region and changes periodically, so you need to check your account terms or call Chase directly to confirm the current number for your branch.

The second waiver option is setting up direct deposit. If your paycheck, government benefits, or other regular income hits the account via direct deposit, the monthly fee is waived regardless of your balance. This is the route many people use because it requires no ongoing balance management.

If neither condition is met, the monthly fee applies. Chase does not waive it for maintaining a savings account with them or for using their credit card, so those do not count toward the checking fee waiver.

What comes with the account

Premier Plus includes a debit card you can use at stores, online, and at ATMs. The card works at any ATM displaying the Visa or Mastercard logo (depending on which version Chase issues), and you can withdraw cash at Chase ATMs without a fee. At non-Chase ATMs, you typically face a fee from the other bank, though Chase may reimburse some of those charges depending on your account terms.

The account comes with online and mobile banking. You can check balances, transfer money between your Chase accounts, set up bill pay, deposit checks by phone camera, and manage your debit card settings through the Chase app or website. Mobile check deposit means you do not have to visit a branch to deposit a check.

You also get access to Chase branches and ATMs nationwide. If you travel or move, you can walk into any Chase branch to deposit cash, withdraw money, or speak to a banker. This is a real advantage over online-only banks if you prefer in-person banking or need to handle cash regularly.

What the account does not include

Premier Plus is a checking account, not a savings account. It does not earn interest on your balance. If you keep $10,000 in the account, you earn nothing on that money. The account is built for payment and access, not for growing savings. If you want to earn interest, you would open a separate savings account, money market account, or CD.

The account does not come with overdraft protection automatically. If you overdraw the account, Chase will charge an overdraft fee. You can opt into overdraft protection by linking a savings account or credit card, but that is a separate step and may have its own terms.

Premier Plus also does not include investment services, financial advising, or credit products. Those come with higher-tier accounts like Sapphire Banking or through a separate relationship with a Chase investment advisor.

When Premier Plus makes sense versus other Chase checking accounts

If you receive regular direct deposit, Premier Plus is worth considering because the fee waiver is automatic and requires no balance management. You simply let your paycheck land in the account, and the monthly fee disappears.

If you do not have direct deposit but keep a higher balance in checking anyway—say, because you pay bills from that account and like having a cushion—Premier Plus may cost less than a basic account if the balance requirement is lower than what you already maintain. The math is simple: if you keep $5,000 in checking and the Premier Plus balance threshold is $3,000, you are already meeting it, so the fee waiver is free.

If you have a small balance and no direct deposit, Chase Total Checking may be cheaper. Total Checking has a lower balance requirement and also waives fees with direct deposit, so it is often the better choice for people who do not maintain high balances.

If you have significant assets and want investment access, wealth management, or premium perks, Chase Sapphire Banking is the higher tier. It includes things like dedicated banking support and investment advisory services, but it also has higher balance requirements.

How to open and manage the account

You can open Premier Plus online at Chase.com, by phone, or in person at a branch. You will need a government ID, Social Security number, and initial deposit. Chase typically requires a minimum opening deposit, though the amount varies.

Once the account is open, monitor your balance or set up direct deposit to keep the fee waived. Chase sends statements monthly (or you can view them online anytime). If your balance drops below the threshold and you do not have direct deposit, you will see the monthly fee charged on your statement.

You can link Premier Plus to other Chase accounts for transfers, or to external accounts at other banks. You can also set up bill pay through the account to send money to creditors, landlords, or anyone else you owe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my savings account balance count toward the Premier Plus checking fee waiver?

No. Only the balance in the Premier Plus checking account itself counts. If you have $50,000 in a Chase savings account and $500 in Premier Plus checking, the checking account still owes the monthly fee unless you have direct deposit or meet the checking balance requirement separately.

What happens if I fall below the minimum balance for one month?

The monthly fee will be charged to your account. If you get back above the threshold the next month, the fee does not reverse, but you will not be charged again as long as you stay above the requirement going forward. Some people set a calendar reminder to check their balance before the fee posts.

Can I use Premier Plus for business banking?

No. Premier Plus is a personal checking account. Chase offers separate business checking accounts with different terms and fee structures. If you need a business account, you would open that through Chase Business Banking, not Premier Plus.

Does the debit card have fraud protection?

Yes. Chase debit cards come with fraud protection, and you are not liable for unauthorized transactions if you report them promptly. Report fraud through the Chase app, website, or by calling the number on the back of your card.

Can I get overdraft fees waived if I go negative?

Overdraft fees are separate from the monthly maintenance fee and are not automatically waived. If you overdraw, you will be charged an overdraft fee per transaction. You can ask Chase to waive one or two fees if it is your first time, but there is no may provide. Setting up overdraft protection by linking another account is the best way to avoid overdraft fees altogether.