Chase does not charge a monthly fee for ACH transfers themselves, but you may pay monthly fees for the account type that processes them
ACH transfers—the electronic movement of money between bank accounts—do not carry a per-transaction fee at Chase. You can send and receive ACH payments without paying Chase a dime for each transfer. However, Chase charges monthly maintenance fees on most checking and savings accounts, and those fees apply whether you use ACH or not. The fee you pay depends on which Chase account you hold, not on how many ACH transfers you make.
If you want to avoid a monthly account fee entirely, Chase offers accounts with no monthly maintenance charge if you meet certain conditions. The most common route is maintaining a minimum daily balance—usually $500 to $1,500 depending on the account—or setting up direct deposit. If you do neither, Chase will charge you $12 per month on most checking accounts.
Key Takeaways
- ACH transfers themselves carry no per-transaction fee at Chase, but your account may have a monthly maintenance fee unrelated to ACH activity.
- Chase checking accounts typically charge $12 per month unless you maintain a minimum balance or receive direct deposit.
- Chase savings accounts charge $5 per month unless you keep a minimum balance, usually $300 to $500.
- Money Market and other account types have their own fee structures, so check your account agreement or call Chase to confirm what you hold.
- Incoming ACH transfers are always free; outgoing ACH transfers are free as long as your account is in good standing.
Which Chase accounts have monthly fees and how much they cost
Chase's fee structure varies by account type. A Chase Total Checking account charges $12 per month unless you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or receive at least one direct deposit per month. A Chase Sapphire Checking account (the premium version) charges $25 per month and has a $10,000 minimum balance requirement, but it includes benefits like higher interest rates and travel protections.
Chase Savings accounts charge $5 per month unless you keep a $300 minimum daily balance. Chase Money Market accounts charge $25 per month and require a $2,500 minimum balance. If you hold a student account through Chase, there is no monthly fee as long as you remain a student and your account is in good standing.
The fee waiver conditions matter because they are the only way to avoid paying monthly. If you do not meet the balance requirement or direct deposit requirement, Chase will charge the fee every month, regardless of whether you use ACH or any other service.
How to check your specific account's monthly fee
The fastest way to know what you are paying is to log into your Chase account online or through the mobile app and look at your recent statements. Scroll to the bottom of any statement and look for a line item labeled "Monthly Service Fee" or "Maintenance Fee." If you see one, that is what Chase is charging you each month.
You can also call Chase customer service at the number on the back of your debit card. Tell them your account type and ask whether you are currently being charged a monthly fee and what conditions would waive it. They can also tell you your current balance and whether you meet the threshold to avoid the fee next month.
How to avoid Chase's monthly account fee
The easiest method is to set up direct deposit. If your employer or a government program (Social Security, unemployment, tax refunds) deposits money directly into your Chase account at least once per month, Chase waives the monthly fee on most checking accounts. You do not need a large deposit—even $1 counts. Once direct deposit is active, the fee disappears immediately.
If direct deposit is not an option, maintain the minimum daily balance. For Chase Total Checking, that is $500. For Chase Savings, it is $300. The balance must be in your account every day of the month; if it dips below the threshold even once, you will be charged the fee. If you are close to the minimum, consider moving money in a few days before the end of the month to ensure you stay above it.
If neither option works, consider switching to a bank with no monthly fees—many online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover have checking accounts with zero monthly maintenance charges and no minimum balance. However, if you want to stay with Chase, paying the $12 monthly fee is the only other option.
ACH transfer limits and what happens if you exceed them
Chase does not charge a fee for ACH transfers, but it does limit how many you can make. Federal Regulation D historically capped savings account withdrawals (including ACH transfers out) at six per month. Chase has relaxed this rule for most accounts, but some savings products still enforce limits. Check your account agreement or call Chase to confirm whether your specific account has a transfer cap.
If you exceed the limit, Chase may charge a fee (usually $10 per excess transfer) or temporarily restrict your ability to make more transfers that month. This is separate from the monthly account fee and applies only if you go over the limit, not because you use ACH itself.
Incoming ACH transfers and why they never cost you
When someone sends you money via ACH—a paycheck, a refund, a peer payment—Chase does not charge you a fee. Incoming ACH transfers are always free. The sender's bank may charge them a fee (though most do not), but your Chase account will receive the full amount with no deduction.
Incoming ACH transfers typically arrive within one to two business days. If the transfer is delayed, it is usually because the sending bank is processing it slowly, not because of anything Chase is doing. Once the money lands in your account, it is yours to use immediately, even if the transfer is still technically "pending" in the system.
Outgoing ACH transfers and when they might be restricted
Sending money out of your Chase account via ACH is also free, but Chase may restrict or delay the transfer if your account is new, has a history of fraud, or has insufficient funds. If you just opened the account, Chase may hold outgoing ACH transfers for a few days as a security measure. This is not a fee—it is a hold—but it means your money will not leave your account immediately.
If your account is flagged for suspicious activity, Chase may block ACH transfers entirely until you contact them and verify the transaction. This is rare for legitimate transfers but can happen if the amount is unusually large or the recipient is new to your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chase charge per ACH transfer?
No. Chase does not charge a fee for individual ACH transfers, whether you are sending or receiving. You may pay a monthly account maintenance fee, but that is separate from ACH activity and applies to all transactions, not just ACH.
Can I get my monthly fee waived if I use ACH a lot?
No. The monthly fee is waived only by maintaining a minimum balance or receiving direct deposit. How often you use ACH, bill pay, or any other service does not affect whether the fee is charged. The fee is tied to your account type and balance, not your activity.
What if I have a Chase credit card instead of a checking account?
Credit cards do not have monthly maintenance fees at Chase. You pay interest only if you carry a balance, and you may pay an annual fee depending on the card type (premium cards like Sapphire Reserve charge $550 per year). ACH transfers do not apply to credit cards—you can only pay a credit card balance, not transfer money out of it via ACH.
How long does an outgoing ACH transfer take from Chase?
Most outgoing ACH transfers from Chase take one to two business days to reach the recipient's bank. Some transfers may take up to three business days depending on the receiving bank. Chase does not charge a fee regardless of how long it takes.
If I close my Chase account, do I owe any fees?
No. Closing an account does not trigger additional fees. However, if you close the account before the end of a billing cycle in which a monthly fee was charged, you will not get that fee refunded. Make sure any pending ACH transfers have cleared before you close the account.