Chase checking accounts have no minimum balance requirement for most account types

Chase does not require you to keep a minimum balance in most of its checking accounts. You can open an account, deposit money, spend it, and let the balance drop to zero without penalty. However, the specific rules depend on which Chase checking account you choose, and some accounts do have conditions tied to balance or activity.

The most common Chase checking accounts—Chase Total Checking and Chase Sapphire Checking—have no minimum balance. You will not be charged a fee for falling below any threshold. Other Chase accounts, like Chase Premier Plus Checking, also carry no minimum balance requirement. The trade-off is that some accounts charge a monthly maintenance fee unless you meet other conditions, such as setting up direct deposit or maintaining a certain number of debit card transactions per month.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking and Chase Sapphire Checking have no minimum balance requirement and no monthly maintenance fee if you use direct deposit or maintain a certain number of debit card transactions.
  • If you do not meet the activity requirement, Chase Total Checking charges a $12 monthly maintenance fee regardless of your balance.
  • Chase Premier Plus Checking also has no minimum balance but charges $25 per month unless you maintain a $15,000 combined balance across linked accounts or receive direct deposit.
  • Minimum balance rules do not apply to savings accounts or money market accounts at Chase, which have their own separate fee structures.

How Chase Total Checking avoids the monthly fee

Chase Total Checking is the most popular checking account at Chase and has no minimum balance requirement. The account does charge a $12 monthly maintenance fee, but you can avoid it in three ways: set up direct deposit of any amount, maintain 10 or more debit card transactions per month, or keep a $1,500 minimum balance. Most people choose direct deposit or the debit card transaction route because they are easier to maintain than a specific balance.

If you do not meet any of these three conditions, the $12 fee will post to your account each month. There is no grace period or warning—the fee simply appears on your statement. You can remove it by meeting one of the conditions in the following month, but you cannot retroactively waive a fee that has already posted.

Chase Sapphire Checking and its rewards structure

Chase Sapphire Checking is designed for customers who want rewards on their spending. Like Total Checking, it has no minimum balance requirement. The account also has no monthly maintenance fee, which makes it simpler than Total Checking if you do not want to track activity requirements.

The catch is that Sapphire Checking requires you to maintain a Chase Sapphire credit card in good standing to keep the account open. If you close the credit card or let it become inactive, Chase may close the checking account as well. The account earns a small amount of cash back on debit card purchases, but the rate is low—typically 0.01% or less—so the rewards are not a major draw for most people.

Chase Premier Plus Checking for high-balance customers

Chase Premier Plus Checking is aimed at customers with larger balances or higher income. This account has no minimum balance requirement either, but it does charge a $25 monthly maintenance fee. You can waive the fee by meeting one of these conditions: maintain a $15,000 combined balance across all your linked Chase accounts, receive direct deposit, or maintain a $100,000 balance in a linked Chase investment account.

For most people, the $15,000 threshold is the relevant one. If you keep at least $15,000 across your Chase checking, savings, or money market accounts combined, the fee disappears. This account comes with benefits like higher ATM fee reimbursement and priority customer service, which may justify the fee if you do not meet the balance threshold.

What happens if you go below zero

If you spend more money than you have in your account, Chase will cover the transaction and charge you an overdraft fee. This is different from a minimum balance requirement—you are not penalized for having a low balance, but you are penalized for going negative. Chase overdraft fees are typically $35 per transaction, and multiple overdrafts in a single day can result in multiple fees.

You can opt out of overdraft coverage, which means Chase will decline transactions that would take your account negative instead of charging you a fee. This is often called "overdraft protection" in reverse. If you opt out, you will not be charged overdraft fees, but your debit card and checks may be declined when your balance is insufficient.

Linked savings and money market accounts

Chase savings accounts and money market accounts do not have minimum balance requirements either, but they do have other rules. Savings accounts earn interest, and the rate depends on your balance—higher balances earn slightly higher rates, though the difference is usually small. Money market accounts typically require a higher opening deposit (often $2,500) but also have no ongoing minimum balance requirement.

If you link a savings or money market account to your checking account, the combined balance may count toward waiving fees on your checking account. For example, if you have $10,000 in checking and $5,000 in savings, that $15,000 combined balance could waive the fee on Premier Plus Checking. Check your account details or call Chase to confirm how your specific accounts are linked.

How to check your account's specific rules

The easiest way to confirm your account's minimum balance requirement is to log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app and look at your account details. The fee structure and any balance requirements will be listed there. You can also call Chase customer service at the number on the back of your debit card—they can tell you exactly which conditions apply to your account and whether you are currently meeting them.

If you are thinking about opening a new account, Chase's website lists the fee structure for each account type. Read the fine print carefully, because the fee waivers are often buried in the details. The difference between a $12 monthly fee and no fee adds up to $144 per year, so it is worth understanding which account type fits your habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Chase charge me a fee if my balance drops to zero?

No, as long as you do not go negative. A zero balance does not trigger any fee. However, if you spend money you do not have, Chase will charge an overdraft fee of $35 per transaction. The fee is for overdrawing, not for having a low balance.

Can I waive the monthly fee by keeping money in a savings account instead of checking?

It depends on your account type and whether the savings account is linked to your checking account. For Chase Total Checking, you need direct deposit, debit card transactions, or $1,500 in the checking account itself—a linked savings account does not count. For Premier Plus Checking, a linked savings account does count toward the $15,000 combined balance threshold.

What if I do not meet the fee waiver conditions one month?

The monthly maintenance fee will post to your account. You cannot prevent it retroactively, but you can meet the conditions in the next month to avoid the fee going forward. Some customers call Chase to request a one-time fee reversal, but Chase is not required to grant it.

Does Chase charge a fee just for opening an account?

No. There is no opening fee or closing fee. You can open a Chase checking account for free and close it whenever you want without penalty. The only fees are the monthly maintenance fees if you do not meet the waiver conditions.

Can I have multiple Chase checking accounts to avoid fees?

Yes, you can open more than one checking account at Chase. However, each account is subject to its own fee structure. If you open two Chase Total Checking accounts and do not meet the waiver conditions on either one, you will be charged $12 per month on each account. Combining balances across multiple accounts may not waive fees unless Chase explicitly links them.