Chase checking accounts charge a monthly fee unless you meet one of their account requirements
Chase's most common checking account, the Chase Total Checking, carries a $12 monthly maintenance fee. You can avoid this fee by meeting just one of these conditions: keep a minimum daily balance of $500, set up direct deposit of any amount, or maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 across the month. The fee waiver is automatic — once you hit the requirement, Chase stops charging you.
If you cannot meet those thresholds, you have other options: switch to a different Chase account with lower or no fees, use a bank altogether that does not charge monthly maintenance fees, or combine strategies like direct deposit with a modest balance to stay under the limit.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking waives its $12 monthly fee if you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance, set up direct deposit, or keep an average daily balance of $1,500 per month.
- Direct deposit of any amount — even a small transfer from another account — counts toward the fee waiver, making it the easiest path for most people.
- Chase also offers Chase Secure Banking, which has no monthly fee but limits you to debit card and ATM transactions only.
- If you do not meet Chase's requirements, moving to an online bank or credit union often eliminates monthly fees entirely.
Direct deposit is the simplest way to waive the fee
Setting up direct deposit is the most straightforward path because it requires no balance maintenance and no minimum amount. Chase counts any recurring electronic deposit as direct deposit — your paycheck, a pension, Social Security, unemployment benefits, or even a regular transfer from another bank account you control.
To set up direct deposit, you need your Chase account and routing number (both visible on your checks or in the Chase app under account details). Give these to your employer's payroll department, your benefits administrator, or the bank holding your other account. The deposit typically appears within one to two business days of being sent. Once the first deposit posts, Chase removes the monthly fee from your account going forward.
If you receive income irregularly or do not have an employer, you can transfer money from another account you own to your Chase account on a regular schedule. Chase's system recognizes this as direct deposit after a few cycles, though some people report it takes a month or two for the fee waiver to activate.
Maintaining a $500 daily balance works if you have the cash available
Chase requires a minimum daily balance of $500, not an average. This means your account cannot drop below $500 on any single day of the month. If you have $600 on the 15th and $400 on the 16th, you have failed the requirement for that month and the fee applies.
This method works well if you keep a steady paycheck in your checking account or have savings you are comfortable holding there. The downside is that your money sits idle in a checking account earning little to no interest, whereas it might earn more in a savings account or money market fund elsewhere.
Check your balance regularly through the Chase app or online banking to make sure you stay above $500. If you are close to the line, a single large purchase or bill payment can drop you below the threshold.
The $1,500 average daily balance option requires consistent deposits
Instead of maintaining $500 every single day, you can average $1,500 across the entire month. This means some days you might have $2,000 and other days $1,000, as long as the total divided by the number of days in the month equals at least $1,500.
This threshold is harder to hit than the $500 minimum unless you receive regular paychecks or have significant savings. It also carries the same drawback as the $500 option: your money is not earning interest in a checking account.
Chase calculates this automatically and shows your average daily balance in your monthly statement. If you fall short one month, the $12 fee posts to your account, but you can still avoid it the next month by raising your balance.
Chase Secure Banking has no monthly fee but with restrictions
If you cannot meet any of the Total Checking requirements, Chase offers Chase Secure Banking, which has no monthly maintenance fee. The trade-off is significant: you can only use your debit card and ATM withdrawals. You cannot write checks, set up bill pay, or use online transfers.
This account is designed for people who want basic banking without fees and do not need the full range of checking account features. It works if you primarily use your debit card for purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs, but it is restrictive for anyone who pays bills online or writes checks regularly.
You can open Chase Secure Banking at any Chase branch or online through the Chase website. There is no minimum balance requirement and no direct deposit requirement.
Online banks and credit unions often have no monthly fees at all
If Chase's requirements feel burdensome, many online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have no monthly maintenance fees. Credit unions often waive fees for members who maintain even a small balance or set up direct deposit.
The main difference is that online banks have no physical branches, so you cannot deposit cash in person or speak to someone face-to-face. However, most allow mobile check deposit through their app, and you can withdraw cash at ATMs nationwide (some networks are broader than others).
If you value having a local branch and a teller, a credit union in your area may offer better terms than Chase. Credit unions are member-owned and often have lower fees and higher savings rates than large banks.
What happens if you miss a month and get charged the fee
If your balance drops below $500, you do not receive direct deposit, and your average daily balance falls short of $1,500, Chase charges the $12 monthly maintenance fee. This fee posts to your account around the end of the month.
You can request a refund if this is your first time missing the requirement. Call Chase customer service at the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch in person. Explain that you did not meet the requirement and ask them to waive the fee. Chase often reverses one or two fees per year for customers with otherwise good standing, though they are not required to do so.
If you get charged repeatedly, it is a sign that the account does not fit your financial situation. Switch to Chase Secure Banking, move to an online bank, or commit to setting up direct deposit so the fee stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a transfer from my savings account count as direct deposit?
Yes, if you set it up as a recurring transfer. Chase recognizes regular electronic deposits from other accounts as direct deposit after a few cycles. Set up a standing transfer from your savings account to your checking account on the same day each month, and Chase should waive the fee once the pattern is established.
Can I use a PayPal or Venmo transfer to waive the fee?
No. Chase only counts direct deposits from employers, government agencies, and other banks. Peer-to-peer transfers from apps like Venmo or PayPal do not trigger the fee waiver, even if they are recurring.
What if I have multiple Chase checking accounts?
Each account is treated separately. You must meet the fee waiver requirement for each checking account you hold. If you have two Chase Total Checking accounts, you need either $500 minimum balance, direct deposit, or $1,500 average balance in each one to avoid the $12 fee on each.
Does the $500 minimum balance have to be in checking, or can it be in savings?
It must be in the checking account itself. Balances in your Chase savings account, money market account, or other products do not count toward the $500 minimum for checking.
How long does it take for direct deposit to stop the monthly fee?
Once your first direct deposit posts, Chase typically removes the fee from your next monthly statement. If you set up direct deposit mid-month, you may still be charged for that month, but the fee should disappear the following month.