Chase checking accounts are not one-size-fits-all, and the best one depends on your balance, how often you use branches, and whether you want rewards
Chase offers four main checking accounts: Chase Total Checking, Chase Premier Plus Checking, Chase Sapphire Checking, and Chase First Banking. Total Checking is the most common and has no monthly fee if you keep $500 in the account or set up direct deposit. Premier Plus requires a $25,000 minimum balance or $10,000 in a linked savings account to avoid a $25 monthly fee, but it includes perks like higher interest rates and travel credits. Sapphire Checking is designed for people who want rewards on everyday purchases and pairs with the Sapphire credit card. First Banking is for customers under 18 and transitions to Total Checking at age 18.
The "best" account is the one that matches your actual banking behavior, not the one with the most features you will not use. If you maintain a low balance and rarely visit a branch, Total Checking costs you nothing. If you keep substantial money at Chase and value lounge access or travel benefits, Premier Plus pays for itself. If you spend heavily and want cash back on debit card purchases, Sapphire makes sense only if you also hold the Sapphire credit card.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Total Checking has no monthly fee if you maintain a $500 minimum balance or receive direct deposits, making it free for most people.
- Chase Premier Plus Checking costs $25 per month but waives the fee if you keep $25,000 in the account or $10,000 in a linked savings account, plus includes travel credits and higher interest rates.
- Chase Sapphire Checking offers 1.25% cash back on debit card purchases and 5% on Chase.com purchases, but requires you to also hold a Sapphire credit card to earn rewards.
- You can hold multiple Chase checking accounts at the same time, so you can test one account type before closing another.
- Switching accounts does not require closing your old account; Chase can transfer your direct deposit and automatic payments for you.
Chase Total Checking: the default option for most people
Chase Total Checking is the account most people open first because it has no monthly maintenance fee as long as you meet one simple requirement: keep $500 in the account or set up direct deposit. If you do neither, the fee is $12 per month, but that rarely happens because direct deposit is common and $500 is a low threshold.
You get a debit card, online and mobile banking, access to over 4,700 Chase branches and 16,000 ATMs nationwide, and the ability to deposit checks through your phone. There are no limits on how many transactions you can make, and you can link savings accounts or money market accounts to transfer funds instantly. The account earns no interest on your balance—Chase does not pay interest on checking accounts—but you are not paying for the privilege of having one either.
This account makes sense if you want straightforward banking without fees, do not need travel perks, and are not chasing rewards. It is also the right choice if you are unsure which account you want; you can always upgrade to Premier Plus or Sapphire later without closing this one.
Chase Premier Plus Checking: for people with money to keep at Chase
Premier Plus Checking costs $25 per month, but the fee disappears if you maintain either $25,000 in the checking account itself or $10,000 in a linked savings account. The account is built for people who already bank heavily with Chase and want perks that justify keeping a larger balance there.
The benefits include a higher interest rate on your checking balance (the exact rate varies and is currently very low, but it is higher than Total Checking), up to $100 in annual reimbursement for ATM fees charged by other banks, and a $100 annual travel credit that covers airline fees, hotel resort fees, or rental car charges. You also get priority customer service and access to Chase Private Client services if your total Chase balances exceed $250,000.
Premier Plus makes financial sense only if you already plan to keep $10,000 or more in a Chase savings account for emergency funds or short-term goals. If you would have to move money into Chase just to avoid the fee, the account costs you more than it saves. If you already keep that money there anyway, the travel credit and ATM reimbursement are genuine benefits.
Chase Sapphire Checking: rewards only if you also hold the credit card
Sapphire Checking offers 1.25% cash back on all debit card purchases and 5% cash back on purchases made through Chase.com. There is no monthly fee. The catch is that you must also hold a Chase Sapphire credit card—either Preferred or Reserve—to earn any rewards at all. If you close the credit card, the rewards stop.
This account is designed to work as a pair with the Sapphire credit card, not as a standalone checking account. The debit card rewards are modest compared to what you can earn with a good cash-back credit card, so the real value is in having both products linked to your Chase account. If you already carry a Sapphire credit card and spend $500 or more per month on your debit card, the cash back adds up to $60 to $75 per year. If you do not have the credit card, open Total Checking instead.
Chase First Banking: for minors, converts to Total Checking at 18
First Banking is a checking account for customers under 18, designed to teach money management with parental oversight. A parent or guardian must open the account and can set spending limits, receive alerts, and freeze the card if needed. There is no monthly fee.
The account automatically converts to Chase Total Checking when the young person turns 18, so there is no need to open a new account. Until then, it functions like a standard checking account with debit card access and mobile banking. This is a practical choice if you want to give a teenager banking access while maintaining some control over spending.
How to compare these accounts side by side
| Account | Monthly Fee | Fee Waiver | Interest Rate | Rewards | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Checking | $12 | $500 balance or direct deposit | None | None | Most people |
| Premier Plus | $25 | $25,000 balance or $10,000 linked savings | Higher than Total | $100 annual travel credit, ATM reimbursement | People keeping $10,000+ at Chase |
| Sapphire Checking | None | N/A | None | 1.25% debit, 5% Chase.com (requires Sapphire credit card) | Sapphire credit card holders |
| First Banking | None | N/A | None | None | Minors under 18 |
Switching between Chase accounts without closing anything
You can hold multiple Chase checking accounts at the same time. If you want to test Premier Plus before committing, open it alongside your Total Checking account and see whether the benefits justify the fee. After 30 or 60 days, you can close one without affecting the other.
If you decide to switch your primary account, Chase can transfer your direct deposit and automatic bill payments for you. Call the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch, and a representative will handle the transfer. Your old account can stay open as a secondary account for savings or to receive occasional transfers, or you can close it once everything has moved.
Switching does not affect your credit score or your relationship with Chase. You keep the same routing number for ACH transfers, and your debit card continues to work at all Chase ATMs and branches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a minimum balance to open a Chase checking account?
No. You can open any Chase checking account with $0 and deposit money later. The minimum balance requirement only matters for waiving the monthly fee on Premier Plus ($25,000 or $10,000 linked savings) or Total Checking ($500). If you do not meet the waiver, you pay the monthly fee.
Can I earn interest on a Chase checking account?
Chase checking accounts earn little to no interest. Total Checking and Sapphire earn nothing. Premier Plus earns a higher rate than Total, but it is still very low—currently under 0.1%. If you want meaningful interest, move money to a Chase savings account or money market account, where rates are higher.
What happens if I fall below the minimum balance on Premier Plus?
If your checking balance drops below $25,000 and your linked savings account drops below $10,000, Chase charges the $25 monthly fee. You can avoid it by bringing either balance back up before the next billing cycle, or by switching to Total Checking, which has a $500 threshold.
Can I use my Chase debit card outside the United States?
Yes. Chase reimburses ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide if you hold Premier Plus. With Total Checking or Sapphire, you pay the ATM fee unless you use a Chase ATM. Debit card purchases abroad may include a foreign transaction fee of around 1%, which Chase does not reimburse on any checking account.
What if I want to close my Chase checking account?
Call the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch. Chase will ask whether you have outstanding checks or pending transactions. Once those clear, the account closes. If you have direct deposit set up, change it to your new bank before closing. You can close the account anytime without penalty.