Chase charges monthly fees on most checking accounts, but you can waive them

Chase charges a monthly maintenance fee on most of its checking accounts, typically $12 per month. However, the fee is waived if you meet one of several conditions — usually maintaining a minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or keeping a linked savings account. The specific requirements depend on which Chase checking account you have, since different account types have different fee structures and waiver options.

Not all Chase checking accounts charge the same fee. The most common account, Chase Total Checking, charges $12 monthly but waives it if you maintain a $1,500 minimum daily balance, set up direct deposit of any amount, or link a Chase savings account with a $300 minimum balance. Other accounts like Chase Premier Plus Checking have higher fees and higher balance requirements. A few accounts, like Chase Student Checking, charge no monthly fee at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking charges $12 per month unless you meet one of three waiver conditions: a $1,500 minimum daily balance, direct deposit, or a linked savings account with $300.
  • Different Chase checking accounts have different fee structures — student and some basic accounts charge no monthly fee.
  • Direct deposit from an employer or government benefit counts toward waiving the fee, regardless of the deposit amount.
  • If you fall below the balance requirement or lose direct deposit, the fee will be charged the following month unless you restore the waiver condition.

Which Chase accounts charge monthly fees

Chase offers several checking accounts, and not all of them charge the same fee. Chase Total Checking is the most widely used and charges $12 monthly. Chase Premier Plus Checking charges $25 monthly and requires a higher minimum balance to waive the fee. Chase Student Checking charges no monthly fee as long as you are under 25 years old and a full-time student. Chase First Banking, designed for teenagers, also has no monthly fee.

If you already have a Chase account, you can find your account type and fee structure by logging into your Chase online account or mobile app, or by calling Chase customer service at the number on the back of your debit card. Your account statement will also show the monthly maintenance fee if one is being charged.

How to waive the $12 monthly fee on Chase Total Checking

Chase Total Checking waives its $12 monthly fee if you meet any one of these three conditions. First, you can maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500 in the account. This means your balance must not drop below $1,500 on any day of the month. Second, you can set up direct deposit — this includes paychecks from an employer, Social Security, unemployment benefits, tax refunds, or any other regular deposit from an external source. The amount does not matter; even a $1 direct deposit counts. Third, you can link a Chase savings account with a minimum balance of $300.

Direct deposit is the easiest waiver for most people because it requires no ongoing balance management. Once you set it up, the fee waiver continues automatically as long as the direct deposit keeps coming. If you lose your job or your direct deposit stops, you have until the end of that month to restore it or meet another waiver condition before the fee kicks in the next month.

What happens if you do not meet a waiver condition

If your account does not meet any of the three waiver conditions, Chase will charge the $12 monthly maintenance fee. The fee is typically deducted from your account on the last day of the month or the first day of the next month, depending on your account opening date. You will see it listed on your statement as "Monthly Maintenance Fee" or similar language.

If the fee is charged once and then you restore a waiver condition (such as setting up direct deposit or bringing your balance back to $1,500), the fee will not be charged again the following month. However, Chase does not refund fees that have already been deducted. If you believe a fee was charged in error — for example, because you did meet the balance requirement — you can contact Chase to request a one-time reversal, though this is not may provide.

Comparing Chase checking to accounts with no monthly fee

If you cannot consistently meet Chase's waiver conditions, other banks offer checking accounts with no monthly fee at all. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance requirements. Credit unions often offer no-fee checking as well. The trade-off is usually fewer physical branches and ATMs, though many of these banks reimburse out-of-network ATM fees.

If you want to stay with Chase for its branch network and ATM access but want to avoid the fee, Chase Student Checking is free if you are under 25 and a full-time student. If you do not may have access to for a student account, the direct deposit waiver on Chase Total Checking is the most reliable way to avoid the fee without maintaining a high balance.

How to set up direct deposit to waive the fee

To set up direct deposit, you will need your Chase account number and routing number, which you can find at the bottom of your checks or in your Chase online account under account details. Provide these numbers to your employer's payroll department or to the government agency sending your benefit payment. Most employers can set up direct deposit within one pay period, though some take longer.

Once direct deposit is active, it may take one or two pay cycles for Chase to recognize it and waive the fee. If you set up direct deposit mid-month, the fee may still be charged that month, but it should be waived starting the next month. You can verify that direct deposit is set up by checking your account settings in the Chase app or by calling Chase customer service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the monthly fee refunded if I did not know about it?

Chase does not automatically refund monthly maintenance fees, but you can contact customer service and request a one-time reversal. Explain your situation — for example, that you were unaware of the fee or that you thought you met a waiver condition. Chase may reverse one or two months of fees as a courtesy, though there is no may provide.

Does a transfer between my own Chase accounts count as direct deposit?

No. Direct deposit must come from an external source, such as an employer, government agency, or another bank. Transferring money from your own Chase savings account to your checking account does not count and will not waive the fee.

What if my direct deposit stops — will I be charged the fee immediately?

No. If your direct deposit stops, you will not be charged the fee that month. The fee will be charged the following month if you do not restore direct deposit or meet another waiver condition by then. You have until the end of the month to set up a new direct deposit or raise your balance to $1,500.

Is the $1,500 minimum balance requirement based on my average balance or my daily balance?

It is based on your daily balance. Your account balance must not drop below $1,500 on any single day of the month. If your balance falls to $1,499 on even one day, you will not meet the waiver condition and the fee will be charged.

Do I need to have a Chase savings account to waive the fee, or can I use any savings account?

It must be a Chase savings account. Linking a savings account from another bank does not waive the Chase Total Checking fee. The Chase savings account must have a minimum balance of $300 to count toward the waiver.