Chase charges fees on most checking accounts, but the amount depends on which account you open and whether you meet their requirements
Chase's main checking accounts—Chase Total Checking and Chase Premier Plus Checking—both carry a monthly maintenance fee of $12. However, you can waive this fee by meeting one of several conditions: keeping a minimum daily balance of $500, setting up direct deposit, maintaining a linked savings account with $300, or making 10 or more debit card transactions per month. If you do not meet any of these requirements, you will pay the full $12 each month.
Chase also offers Chase Secure Banking, a checking account with no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement. This account is designed for people who are new to banking or rebuilding credit, though it comes with limits on how much you can withdraw and deposit each month.
Beyond the monthly fee, Chase charges for specific actions: overdraft fees ($35 per transaction if you go negative), wire transfer fees ($15 domestic, $25 international), and stop payment requests ($30). ATM fees apply only if you use an out-of-network machine—Chase's own ATMs are free.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking and Chase Premier Plus Checking both charge $12 per month unless you meet one waiver requirement, such as direct deposit or maintaining a $500 balance.
- Chase Secure Banking has no monthly fee and no minimum balance, making it the only Chase checking account with zero ongoing charges.
- Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction, and this is separate from the monthly maintenance fee.
- Using Chase's own ATM network is free; out-of-network ATM fees vary by the machine's operator.
- Direct deposit, debit card use, and linked savings accounts are the easiest ways to avoid paying the monthly fee on standard Chase checking accounts.
How to avoid the $12 monthly fee on Chase Total Checking
The simplest way to waive the fee is to set up direct deposit. This means your employer, government agency, or other income source deposits money directly into your Chase account. You do not need a large amount—even a single direct deposit per month counts. Once direct deposit is active, the $12 fee disappears.
If direct deposit is not an option, you can maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 in the account. This means your balance must stay at or above $500 every single day of the month. A single day below $500 will not waive the fee for that month. Many people find this difficult because it ties up money that could be used elsewhere.
A third option is to link a Chase savings account with a minimum daily balance of $300. The savings account must meet this threshold separately from your checking account. You can also make 10 or more debit card transactions in a month—each swipe at a store, ATM withdrawal, or online purchase counts as one transaction.
Differences between Chase Total Checking and Chase Premier Plus Checking
Both accounts charge $12 per month and both waive the fee under the same conditions. The main difference is the interest rate on the linked savings account. Chase Premier Plus Checking is designed for customers with higher balances and offers a slightly better interest rate on savings, though the rate varies based on market conditions and your total relationship balance with Chase.
Chase Premier Plus Checking also comes with additional perks like higher ATM reimbursement limits and priority customer service. However, if your primary goal is avoiding the monthly fee, either account works the same way—you just need to meet one of the four waiver conditions.
What Chase Secure Banking offers instead
Chase Secure Banking is the only Chase checking account with no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement. There are no waiver conditions to meet because there is no fee to waive. This account is specifically designed for people who are new to banking, rebuilding their credit, or who do not have a traditional banking history.
The trade-off is that Secure Banking has transaction limits. You can withdraw or transfer out a maximum of $500 per day and $2,000 per month. Deposits have no limit. You also cannot overdraft on this account—if you try to spend more than you have, the transaction will be declined rather than charging you an overdraft fee.
If you keep your monthly spending under $2,000 and do not need frequent large withdrawals, Secure Banking eliminates the fee question entirely. You can also upgrade to a standard Chase checking account later once your banking history improves.
Overdraft fees and other charges beyond the monthly fee
A $12 monthly fee is only the beginning. If your account balance goes negative, Chase charges $35 per overdraft transaction. This means if you make three purchases while overdrawn, you will pay $105 in overdraft fees on top of the monthly maintenance fee. Chase allows you to link a savings account to cover overdrafts automatically, which prevents the fee from occurring.
Wire transfers cost $15 for domestic transfers and $25 for international ones. Stop payment requests on checks cost $30 each. Cashier's checks are free at most Chase branches. Out-of-network ATM fees depend on the ATM operator, not Chase—the machine's owner sets that fee, and Chase does not reimburse it on standard checking accounts (though Premier Plus Checking offers some reimbursement).
How to track your balance and avoid surprise fees
Chase offers free balance alerts through its mobile app and online banking. You can set up notifications when your balance drops below a certain amount, when a deposit is made, or when a withdrawal occurs. These alerts help you stay aware of your balance in real time and avoid accidentally triggering an overdraft fee.
You can also enable overdraft protection by linking a savings account or credit card. If your checking account goes negative, Chase will automatically transfer money from the linked account to cover the shortfall. This prevents the $35 overdraft fee, though some transfers may incur a small fee depending on the account type.
Reviewing your account statement monthly—either through the app or online—takes five minutes and catches unexpected charges or unauthorized transactions. Chase offers fraud protection, but you must report unauthorized activity within a certain timeframe to receive a refund.
When to switch to a different bank
If you cannot meet any of Chase's waiver conditions and do not want to pay $12 per month, other banks offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have zero-fee checking accounts. Credit unions often offer low-cost or free checking to members. Local community banks may also have no-fee options.
The trade-off is convenience. Chase has thousands of branches and ATMs nationwide, so you can deposit checks and withdraw cash easily. Online banks have no physical branches, which means you deposit checks by phone camera and withdraw cash only at ATMs. If you rarely use branches, an online bank saves you $144 per year. If you use branches frequently, the $12 monthly fee may be worth it for the access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I waive the $12 fee with just a linked savings account?
Yes, but only if the savings account maintains a $300 minimum daily balance. The $300 must stay in the savings account at all times—it cannot drop below that threshold. If it does, the waiver no longer applies and you will owe the $12 fee for that month.
Does a debit card transaction count if I use it at an ATM?
Yes. ATM withdrawals count as debit card transactions toward the 10-transaction waiver. So do purchases at stores, online payments, and bill payments made with your debit card. Each transaction counts as one, regardless of the amount.
What happens if my direct deposit stops?
If you stop receiving direct deposits, the waiver ends and you will owe the $12 monthly fee starting the next month. You would need to meet one of the other waiver conditions—minimum balance, linked savings account, or 10 debit transactions—to avoid the fee going forward.
Is there a fee to open a Chase checking account?
No. Chase does not charge an account opening fee. You only pay the monthly maintenance fee once the account is open and active, unless you meet a waiver condition or choose Secure Banking.
Can I get the overdraft fee reversed if I call Chase?
Chase may reverse one overdraft fee as a courtesy if you have a good account history and call within a reasonable time. However, this is not may provide, and repeated requests are less likely to be approved. The best approach is to prevent overdrafts by monitoring your balance and enabling overdraft protection.