Chase offers four main checking accounts, and the right one depends on how often you use your account and whether you want to avoid monthly fees

Chase's four checking options are Chase Total Checking, Chase Sapphire Checking, Chase Premier Plus Checking, and Chase Secure Checking. Total Checking is the most common choice because it has no monthly fee if you meet one simple requirement: either deposit at least $500 a month, maintain a $1,500 minimum balance, or set up direct deposit. Sapphire Checking costs $25 a month but waives the fee if you keep $20,000 in the account or link it to a Chase investment account. Premier Plus Checking costs $35 monthly and requires either $100,000 in combined Chase deposits or a linked investment account. Secure Checking is designed for people building credit and has no monthly fee, but it comes with a debit card that requires approval and a $25 opening deposit that stays in the account.

The account you choose affects how much you pay, what perks you get, and whether you can avoid fees without effort. Most people should start with Total Checking unless they carry large balances or want premium features.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Total Checking has no monthly fee if you deposit $500 monthly, keep $1,500 on hand, or set up direct deposit—one condition is enough.
  • Sapphire Checking costs $25 monthly but includes higher interest rates and waives the fee if you maintain $20,000 or link an investment account.
  • Premier Plus Checking costs $35 monthly and is only worth it if you have at least $100,000 in Chase accounts or use premium services regularly.
  • Secure Checking has no monthly fee and is meant for people with no banking history or poor credit, but the debit card requires separate approval.

Chase Total Checking: The no-fee default for most people

Total Checking is Chase's standard account and the one most customers use. It has no monthly maintenance fee as long as you meet one of three conditions: deposit at least $500 in a single month, keep a $1,500 minimum balance at all times, or receive direct deposit. You do not need to meet all three—hitting any one of them waives the fee.

The account includes a debit card, online banking, mobile check deposit, and access to Chase's ATM network. You can open it online or at a branch with no minimum opening deposit. If you fall below the $1,500 balance and do not have direct deposit or monthly deposits, Chase charges $12 per month, but you can avoid this by setting up even a small recurring transfer from another bank.

Total Checking pays almost no interest on your balance—typically 0.01% or less—so it is not a place to park money you want to grow. If you have a steady paycheck or regular income hitting your account, this account costs you nothing and gives you everything you need.

Chase Sapphire Checking: Higher interest and travel perks for $25 a month

Sapphire Checking costs $25 monthly but includes benefits that appeal to people who travel or carry larger balances. The account pays higher interest than Total Checking—the rate varies but is typically 0.04% to 0.05% on balances up to $10,000, then 0.01% on anything above that. You also get fee waivers on foreign ATM withdrawals, no fee for wire transfers, and higher limits on some services.

You can waive the $25 monthly fee by maintaining a $20,000 combined balance in your Chase checking and savings accounts, or by linking the account to a Chase investment account (like a brokerage account). If you already keep $20,000 or more in Chase accounts for other reasons, Sapphire Checking costs you nothing and gives you a small interest boost.

Sapphire Checking makes sense if you travel internationally and want to avoid ATM fees abroad, or if you already maintain a large Chase balance and want to earn a bit more interest. For most people, the $25 monthly fee is not worth it unless you hit the $20,000 waiver threshold.

Chase Premier Plus Checking: Premium features for high-balance customers

Premier Plus Checking costs $35 per month and is designed for people with substantial assets at Chase. The fee is waived if you maintain $100,000 in combined Chase deposits or link the account to a Chase investment account with at least $250,000 in assets. The account includes the same travel perks as Sapphire (foreign ATM fee waivers, free wire transfers) plus higher daily ATM withdrawal limits and priority customer service.

Unless you already have six figures in Chase accounts or use their investment services, this account is not worth the monthly fee. Even if you do, the perks are modest—you are mostly paying for a label and slightly faster customer service. If you may have access to for the fee waiver through existing balances, it costs you nothing, but if you are opening it specifically to get these features, the fee will likely outweigh the benefit.

Chase Secure Checking: For people with no banking history or poor credit

Secure Checking has no monthly fee and is built for people who are new to banking or rebuilding credit. You need a $25 opening deposit that stays in the account as a reserve. The account includes online banking and mobile check deposit, but the debit card is not automatic—you have to apply for it separately, and Chase reviews your banking history before approving it.

This account does not report to credit bureaus, so it will not help you build credit history. It is useful as a stepping stone: once you have used it responsibly for several months, you can move to Total Checking and access the full range of Chase services. The $25 deposit is not a fee—it is your money, and you can withdraw it once you close the account.

How to choose based on your situation

Start with Total Checking if you have any regular income or can maintain a $1,500 balance. It costs nothing and covers all basic banking needs. Switch to Sapphire if you travel internationally and want to avoid foreign ATM fees, or if you already keep $20,000 or more in Chase accounts anyway. Choose Premier Plus only if you have $100,000 or more in Chase deposits and want priority service—otherwise the fee is not worth it. Use Secure Checking only if you have no banking history or are rebuilding credit; it is a temporary account, not a long-term choice.

You can also hold multiple Chase checking accounts at once, so you could use Total Checking for daily spending and Sapphire for travel if the fee waiver applies. Chase does not charge for having more than one account, though each one counts separately toward fee requirements.

Fees and charges that apply to all Chase checking accounts

Beyond the monthly maintenance fee, all Chase checking accounts charge the same fees for overdrafts, returned deposits, and other services. An overdraft fee is $35 per transaction if you go negative, though Chase allows one free overdraft per year for new accounts. If you link your checking to a savings account, Chase can transfer money automatically to cover overdrafts, which avoids the fee entirely.

Returned deposit fees (when a check bounces or an ACH transfer fails) are $25. Wire transfer fees vary: domestic wires cost $15 to $20 depending on the account, and international wires cost $15 to $45. ATM fees outside the Chase network are $3 per withdrawal, though you can avoid this by using Chase's 16,000+ ATMs or requesting cash back at grocery stores.

These fees apply the same way across all four accounts, so your choice of account does not change what you pay for overdrafts or wire transfers—only the monthly maintenance fee and perks differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from one Chase checking account to another without closing my first account?

Yes. You can open a new Chase checking account while keeping your current one active. You can transfer money between them online, and both accounts will have separate debit cards and routing numbers. Some people keep Total Checking for daily spending and Sapphire for travel, for example.

Does Chase Checking come with overdraft protection?

Not automatically, but you can set it up by linking your checking account to a Chase savings account. If you overdraft, Chase will transfer money from savings to cover it, which avoids the $35 overdraft fee. You have to set this up yourself in the mobile app or online banking.

What happens if I do not meet the fee waiver requirements for Total Checking?

Chase charges $12 per month. You can avoid this by setting up a small automatic transfer from another bank account each month, even if it is just $25. That counts as a deposit and waives the fee.

Is the interest rate on Sapphire Checking worth the $25 monthly fee?

No, unless you have the $20,000 balance to waive the fee anyway. The extra interest on a $10,000 balance at 0.04% is about $4 per year—far less than the $300 annual fee. Only choose Sapphire if the fee is waived or you want the travel perks.

Can I use Secure Checking long-term, or do I have to switch accounts?

You can keep it indefinitely, but it is designed as a temporary account while you build banking history. Once you have used it for a few months, you should be able to open Total Checking, which has no restrictions and more features. Secure Checking does not report to credit bureaus, so it will not help you build credit.