Chase charges a monthly fee on most checking accounts, but you can avoid it

Chase's standard checking account is the Chase Total Checking, which costs $12 per month. However, you can waive this fee by meeting one of three conditions: keep a $500 minimum daily balance, set up direct deposit of any amount, or maintain an average daily balance of $1,500. If you do not meet any of these, the $12 fee posts to your account each month.

Chase also offers Chase Secure Banking, designed for people with limited banking history or past account issues. This account has no monthly fee, but it comes with a $25 debit card deposit requirement and limited features—no overdraft protection, no check writing, and a daily spending cap of $500.

If you are under 18, Chase First Banking has no monthly maintenance fee. Once you turn 18, the account converts to Chase Total Checking and the $12 fee applies unless you meet one of the waiver conditions.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance, set up direct deposit, or keep an average daily balance of $1,500.
  • Chase Secure Banking has no monthly fee but requires a $25 debit card deposit and comes with spending limits and no check writing.
  • Chase First Banking is free for minors but converts to the paid Total Checking account at age 18.
  • Other fees—overdraft, out-of-network ATM, wire transfer—are separate from the monthly maintenance fee and apply across all account types.

How the $500 minimum balance waiver works

The easiest way to avoid the $12 monthly fee is to keep at least $500 in your account every single day of the month. Chase checks your balance daily, and if it drops below $500 even once, you do not may have access to for the waiver that month. The $500 does not have to be in a savings account or locked away—it can be in your checking account and available to spend, but you have to maintain it.

This method works best if you receive regular paychecks or have a stable income that keeps your balance above $500 naturally. If your balance fluctuates, you may find it easier to use direct deposit instead.

Direct deposit as a fee waiver

Setting up direct deposit of any amount—even $1 per paycheck—waives the $12 monthly fee. Direct deposit means your employer or benefit provider sends money straight to your Chase account instead of giving you a paper check. Once direct deposit is set up, the fee waiver applies automatically each month, regardless of how much money actually arrives or how long it stays in the account.

This is the most reliable waiver because it does not depend on your balance. If you receive Social Security, a pension, unemployment benefits, or a paycheck via direct deposit, you may have access to. You set it up once through your employer or benefit provider, and Chase handles the rest.

The $1,500 average daily balance option

Chase also waives the fee if your average daily balance stays at $1,500 or higher throughout the month. This means Chase adds up your balance at the end of each day, divides by the number of days in the month, and if that average is $1,500 or more, the fee does not post.

This waiver is harder to use than the other two because your balance has to stay high on average. A single large withdrawal can drop your average below the threshold. It works best if you keep a substantial amount in checking and do not move money around frequently.

Other Chase checking account fees to know about

The monthly maintenance fee is separate from other charges. Chase also charges for overdrafts ($35 per overdraft transaction), out-of-network ATM withdrawals ($2.50 per transaction), wire transfers ($15 domestic, $15 international), and stop payment requests ($30). These fees apply even if you waive the monthly maintenance fee.

Chase does not charge a fee to open an account, close an account, or transfer money between your own Chase accounts. Transfers to other banks through Chase's bill pay system are also free.

Comparing Chase checking to other banks

Many online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. Banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have no-fee checking with no strings attached. Credit unions often have similar offers for members. If you cannot meet Chase's waiver conditions, switching to one of these institutions could save you $144 per year.

Chase's advantage is its branch and ATM network—over 4,700 branches and 16,000 ATMs nationwide. If you value in-person banking or frequent cash withdrawals, that network may be worth the $12 monthly fee. If you bank mostly online and rarely need a branch, a no-fee bank is usually the better choice.

What happens if you do not pay the monthly fee

If the $12 fee posts and you do not have enough money in your account to cover it, Chase will charge an overdraft fee ($35) on top of the monthly fee. This can trigger a cycle where fees pile up. If your account stays overdrawn for 60 days, Chase may close it and report you to ChexSystems, a banking history database that makes it harder to open accounts at other banks.

If you see the fee post and want to dispute it, call Chase at the number on the back of your card or visit a branch. Chase sometimes reverses one or two fees as a courtesy, especially if you have been a customer for a while, but they are not required to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from Chase Total Checking to Chase Secure Banking to avoid the fee?

Yes, you can downgrade to Secure Banking, which has no monthly fee. However, you lose check writing, overdraft protection, and have a $500 daily spending limit. You also have to deposit $25 for the debit card. This makes sense only if you do not write checks and do not need overdraft protection.

Does the direct deposit have to come from my employer?

No. Direct deposit from Social Security, pensions, unemployment benefits, tax refunds, or any other regular source counts. The amount does not matter—even $1 per month qualifies. You set it up through the organization sending the money, not through Chase.

If I close my Chase account, do I still owe the monthly fee?

No. Once you close the account, Chase stops charging the monthly fee. However, if the account was overdrawn when you closed it, you still owe the negative balance. Closing the account does not erase overdraft debt.

Does Chase charge to transfer money out of my checking account?

Transfers to other Chase accounts are free. Transfers to other banks through Chase bill pay are free. Wire transfers cost $15 domestic and $15 international. ACH transfers to external accounts initiated through your bank are free.

What is the difference between the monthly fee and overdraft fees?

The monthly maintenance fee ($12) is charged just for having the account open. Overdraft fees ($35 each) are charged only when you spend more than you have. You can avoid the monthly fee by meeting waiver conditions, but overdraft fees apply only when you actually overdraw.