Chase is the biggest bank in the US, but it is not the cheapest. Almost every Chase checking account has a monthly maintenance fee, ranging from $4.95 for student accounts to $35 for premium tiers.
The good news is most of these fees are easy to waive if you meet a simple requirement, like direct deposit or a minimum balance. The bad news is if you do not pay attention, the fees can quietly drain hundreds of dollars a year.
This guide breaks down each Chase checking account fee, the exact steps to avoid them, and what alternatives are worth considering if you cannot meet the waiver.
How Chase Monthly Fees Work
Most banks charge a monthly maintenance fee to cover the cost of your account. For Chase, that fee shows up on your statement automatically unless you meet one of the published waiver requirements. The general concept of a maintenance fee is the same across banks, but the waiver paths differ.
There are five main Chase personal checking accounts. Each has its own fee and its own way to skip the fee. The waiver requirements usually involve direct deposit, a minimum daily balance, or linking other Chase accounts.
If you miss the waiver for the month, Chase pulls the fee on the statement date. The fee is automatic, so you cannot dispute it just because you forgot.
Chase Total Checking Monthly Fee
Chase Total Checking is the most common account. The monthly service fee is $12. You can waive it by doing any one of these each statement cycle.
- Have at least $500 in direct deposits in your account.
- Keep a beginning daily balance of $1,500 or more.
- Hold an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more across your linked qualifying Chase accounts.
Direct deposit is the easiest path for most people. As long as your paycheck, government benefit, or pension hits $500 a month, the fee is waived.
If you are between jobs or have irregular income, the balance route can save you. Just be careful, because the daily balance dipping below $1,500 even once can fail the waiver.
Chase Secure Banking Monthly Fee
Chase Secure Banking is designed for people who do not want overdrafts or paper checks. The monthly fee is $4.95.
There is no way to waive this fee. The $4.95 is the cost of entry for this account, but you get no overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirement.
For people rebuilding their finances, Secure Banking is often a fair trade. The $4.95 a month is roughly $60 a year, which is less than two overdraft fees on a standard account.
Chase College Checking Monthly Fee
Chase College Checking is for students aged 17 to 24 enrolled in college. The monthly fee is $0 for up to five years while you are in school.
After five years or once you turn 25, the account converts to Chase Total Checking and the $12 monthly fee kicks in unless you meet a waiver.
If you are an international student looking for a smarter start, products like Current Build Card pair well with student checking because they help you build credit without an SSN at signup.
Chase Premier Plus and Sapphire Checking
Chase Premier Plus Checking has a $25 monthly fee. You can waive it by maintaining an average beginning day balance of $15,000 across linked accounts, or by having a qualifying Chase mortgage with automatic payments.
Chase Sapphire Checking has a $35 monthly fee. You can waive it by maintaining an average beginning day balance of $75,000 across linked accounts and investments.
These accounts come with perks like reimbursed ATM fees, free wire transfers, and higher transaction limits. If you do not have the balance, the perks are not worth the fee.
Other Common Chase Fees
Monthly maintenance is just one slice. Chase also charges for things you might not expect.
- Out-of-network ATM fee: $3 in the US, plus the ATM owner's fee.
- Overdraft fee: $34 per transaction, capped at three overdraft fees per day.
- Wire transfer: $25 to $50 depending on type, often waived on premium accounts.
- Stop payment: $30 per request.
- Returned item: $34.
These can add up fast if your account runs low or you travel often. Pairing your Chase account with budgeting tools like Monarch Money or Brigit can help you spot patterns before fees stack up.
Monarch Money
Monarch Money
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Standout feature
#1 rated budgeting app (WSJ). 50% off first year via Firstcard.
Fees
$14.99/mo or $99.99/yr ($8.33/mo)
Pros
Beautiful, ad-free interface (4.9★ App Store). Best budgeting app for couples and families. Comprehensive account syncing and cash flow forecasting.
Cons
No free tier — requires paid subscription.
How to Actually Waive the Fee
The simplest path for most people is setting up direct deposit. Even a partial direct deposit from your employer or a government benefit usually counts, as long as it meets the minimum.
If direct deposit is not possible, set a calendar reminder to check your account balance two days before the statement closes. Move money in if you are close to dipping below the waiver threshold.
For Chase Total Checking, the $500 direct deposit waiver is by far the easiest. If you cannot hit that, the daily balance requirement requires real discipline.
Apps like MoneyLion and Brigit can offer small cash advances if you are running tight, which can help you keep balances above the waiver line and avoid the $12 fee.
When Chase Is Worth the Fee Anyway
Chase has the largest branch and ATM network of any US bank, plus strong fraud protection and an excellent mobile app. For some people, $12 a month is fair for that level of access.
If you travel often, use cash regularly, or value in-person banking, Chase makes sense. If you mostly bank online and rarely need branch access, the fee is harder to justify.
Alternatives If You Cannot Waive the Fee
If you cannot meet the waiver, consider a fee-free online bank or fintech. Credit unions often offer free checking with no balance or deposit requirement.
For people focused on building credit alongside their checking, the Current Build Card pairs a fee-friendly account with a credit-building card. Self Visa® is another solid pick if you want to build credit while you sort out your banking.
For credit monitoring, Creditship.ai gives you score updates and dispute help without the fees attached to many bank-bundled monitoring services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the Chase monthly fee waived for one month?
Chase generally does not refund the monthly fee just because you ask. If you have a strong account history and call customer service, they may issue a courtesy refund once or twice. Do not count on it as a regular fix.
Does Chase have a truly free checking account?
Chase College Checking is free while you are enrolled in college, up to five years. Otherwise, every Chase personal checking account charges a monthly fee unless you meet a waiver requirement.
What direct deposit amount waives the Chase Total Checking fee?
You need at least $500 in qualifying electronic deposits per statement cycle. These include paychecks, pensions, government benefits like Social Security, or direct payments from another financial institution.
Does Chase report my checking account to the credit bureaus?
No. Chase checking accounts do not report to credit bureaus, so they do not directly help or hurt your credit score. To build credit, you need a credit card or loan that reports to Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.
