Chase charges monthly fees on most checking and savings accounts, but the amount depends on the account type and whether you meet waiver requirements
Chase's most common account, the Chase Total Checking, carries a $12 monthly maintenance fee. However, you can waive it by maintaining a minimum daily balance of $500, setting up direct deposit, or keeping a linked savings account with at least $500 in it. If none of those apply to your situation, you pay the $12.
Chase also offers Chase Secure Banking, which has no monthly fee but comes with restrictions: no overdraft protection, limited check writing, and a $500 daily ATM withdrawal limit. This account is designed for people rebuilding credit or new to banking.
Savings accounts at Chase carry their own fees. Chase Savings has a $5 monthly maintenance fee, waived if you keep $300 in the account or set up a direct deposit of at least $25 per month. Chase Premier Savings requires $10,000 minimum balance to avoid a $25 monthly fee.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month unless you maintain $500 in the account, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500.
- Chase Secure Banking has no monthly fee and is designed for people with limited banking history or credit concerns.
- Chase Savings charges $5 monthly unless you keep $300 on deposit or receive direct deposits of $25 or more per month.
- Monthly fees apply only if you do not meet the waiver conditions; most people can avoid them by choosing the right account type or maintaining a small balance.
- Overdraft fees, out-of-network ATM fees, and wire transfer fees are separate from monthly maintenance fees and apply regardless of account type.
How to avoid Chase's monthly maintenance fees
The easiest waiver for Chase Total Checking is direct deposit. If your employer or a government program (Social Security, unemployment, tax refunds) deposits money into your account, the fee disappears. You do not need a large deposit—any direct deposit counts.
If direct deposit is not an option, keeping $500 in your account works. This is a daily balance requirement, meaning you need $500 in the account at the end of each day the fee would be charged. One day below $500 does not trigger the fee, but consistently staying below it will.
Linking a Chase savings account with $500 also waives the checking fee. This is useful if you want to separate spending and savings money but avoid paying two monthly fees. The savings account itself still charges $5 per month unless you meet its waiver conditions.
For savings accounts, the $300 minimum balance is the lowest barrier. If you cannot maintain that, direct deposits of $25 or more per month will waive the $5 fee. Chase Premier Savings requires $10,000 to avoid the $25 fee, which makes it practical only if you have that amount sitting in savings.
Fees beyond the monthly maintenance charge
Chase's monthly fee is just one cost. Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction if you spend more than your balance. Chase allows up to four overdraft fees per day, meaning you could pay $140 in a single day if you overdraw multiple times. You can opt out of overdraft protection to prevent this, but then transactions will be declined instead.
Out-of-network ATM fees are $3 per withdrawal if you use an ATM that is not part of Chase's network. Chase has over 16,000 ATMs nationwide, but if you travel or live far from a branch, this adds up quickly.
Wire transfer fees are $15 for domestic wires and $15 to $50 for international wires, depending on the type. Cashier's check fees are $10 per check. Stop payment requests cost $30. These are not monthly charges but apply when you use these services.
Chase does not charge fees for basic services like transfers between your own accounts, bill pay, or customer service calls. Mobile deposits and online transfers are also free.
Which Chase account has the lowest total cost
If you receive direct deposit, Chase Total Checking costs nothing per month and gives you full access to checking features, overdraft protection, and unlimited check writing. This is the lowest-cost option for most people.
If you do not receive direct deposit and cannot maintain $500, Chase Secure Banking is free. The trade-off is no overdraft protection and a $500 daily ATM limit. For someone who rarely uses ATMs or prefers to decline overdrafts anyway, this eliminates the monthly fee entirely.
If you want both checking and savings, the combined cost is $12 (checking) plus $5 (savings) = $17 per month if you do not meet any waiver conditions. Meeting the waiver for either account cuts this in half. Meeting both waivers makes both accounts free.
What happens if you cannot meet the minimum balance
If you consistently fall below the minimum balance and do not have direct deposit, you will pay the monthly fee. This is not a penalty—it is how Chase charges for the account. The fee posts automatically on a set day each month, usually around the 10th or 15th depending on your account opening date.
If you are paying monthly fees and want to stop, your options are: set up direct deposit, switch to Secure Banking, or move to a bank with no monthly fees. Some online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have no monthly maintenance fees on checking accounts.
If you are already paying fees and want them refunded, you can call Chase customer service and ask. They sometimes reverse one or two months of fees as a courtesy, especially if you have been a customer for years or if the fee was charged in error. There is no may provide, but asking costs nothing.
Monthly fees for Chase business accounts
Chase business checking accounts have different fee structures than personal accounts. Chase Business Basic Checking has a $15 monthly fee, waived if you maintain a $2,500 minimum balance or set up direct deposit of at least $500 per month. Chase Business Checking Plus costs $25 per month and requires $10,000 minimum balance to waive the fee.
If you run a small business and want to avoid the monthly fee, direct deposit is again the easiest route. Many business owners receive payments via ACH or wire transfer, which counts as direct deposit for fee-waiver purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get Chase to waive my monthly fee if I have had the account for years?
Chase does not automatically waive fees based on account age or loyalty. However, you can call customer service and ask them to reverse recent fees as a courtesy. Success depends on your account history and the representative you reach. If they decline, your only permanent solution is meeting one of the stated waiver conditions or switching accounts.
Does Chase charge a fee if I keep my account open but do not use it?
Yes. If you do not meet a waiver condition, Chase charges the monthly fee even if your account sits unused. The fee will post every month until you close the account, meet the minimum balance, or set up direct deposit. Inactive accounts do not get special treatment.
What is the difference between Chase Total Checking and Chase Secure Banking?
Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month (waivable) and includes overdraft protection, unlimited check writing, and full ATM access. Chase Secure Banking is free but has no overdraft protection, limits you to 6 checks per month, and restricts ATM withdrawals to $500 per day. Choose Secure Banking if you want no monthly fee and do not need overdraft coverage.
If I link my Chase savings account to waive the checking fee, do I still pay the savings fee?
Yes, they are separate. Linking a savings account with $500 waives the checking fee, but the savings account still charges $5 per month unless it meets its own waiver conditions. You need $300 in the savings account or direct deposits of $25 per month to waive that fee.
Do I pay overdraft fees in addition to the monthly maintenance fee?
Yes. The monthly maintenance fee and overdraft fees are separate charges. You pay the monthly fee regardless of whether you overdraw. If you do overdraw, you pay an additional $35 per overdraft transaction on top of the monthly fee. Opting out of overdraft protection prevents overdraft fees but does not affect the monthly maintenance charge.