On this page13 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Chase Bank vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Chase checking safe and legitimacy and licensing
- Chase checking fees and how to avoid them
- Chase checking bonus: $400 offer
- Which Chase checking account fits you
- Complaints and how to avoid problems
- Rules that protect Chase checking customers
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Chase checking is safe, FDIC-insured and hard to beat for branch and ATM reach, with more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs. Chase Total Checking costs $15 a month unless you meet one waiver, most easily $500 in monthly direct deposits or a $1,500 daily balance, and it pays no interest. Overdrafts cost $34 each once you're more than $50 short, and out-of-network ATMs cost $3 in the U.S. The current $400 new-customer bonus is worth it only if you can move $1,000 in direct deposits within 90 days and keep the fee waived.
- Chase Total Checking
- $15 monthly fee, or $0 with $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits, a $1,500+ balance at the start of each day, a $5,000+ average balance across linked deposits and investments, or a linked qualifying checking account1
- New customer bonus
- $400 after opening Chase Total Checking and receiving $1,000+ in direct deposits within 90 days of enrollment; offer expires January 27, 2027; one checking bonus every two years2
- Chase Secure Checking
- $4.95 a month, or $0 with $250+ in qualifying electronic deposits, a linked qualifying checking account, or an owner aged 17 to 24; no paper checks and no overdraft fees3
- Overdraft fee
- $34 per item when overdrawn by more than $50, up to 3 a day; no fee if you're $50 or less overdrawn at day's end or fix it by the end of the next business day3
- ATM fees
- $3 at non-Chase ATMs in the U.S. and $5 abroad, plus the owner's fee; 3% on foreign currency card transactions3
- Network
- More than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs1
- Bank
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Member FDIC (certificate 628), regulated by the OCC4
Pros
- More than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs
- $400 bonus for new customers who get $1,000 in direct deposits
- Several easy ways to waive the $15 fee
- No overdraft fee if you're $50 or less short, or fix it by the next business day
- Top-rated Chase Mobile app with Zelle
Cons
- $15 monthly fee if you miss every waiver
- No interest on Total Checking
- $34 overdraft fees, up to 3 a day
- $3 to $5 fees at non-Chase ATMs plus owner surcharges
- High complaint volume about account closures and disputes
Best for: People with steady direct deposit who want in-person banking in most states and an easy path to a sign-up bonus.
Skip it if: You can't count on $500 a month in direct deposits or a $1,500 balance, or you rarely use branches.
Chase Bank vs. competitors
| Company | Monthly fee | How to pay $0 | Overdraft fee | Branches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Total Checking | $15 | $500+ electronic deposits or $1,500+ daily balance | $34, up to 3 a day | 5,000+ |
| Wells Fargo Everyday Checking | $15 | $500+ electronic deposits, $1,500 daily balance or age 17 to 24 | $35, up to 3 a day | 4,161 |
| Bank of America Advantage Plus | $12 | One $250+ direct deposit or $1,500+ daily balance | $10 | 3,598 |
| Capital One 360 Checking | $0 | No requirement | None | About 250 |
Chase Bank pricing at a glance
Chase personal checking accounts, fee schedule effective June 14, 20263
| Account | Monthly fee | Easiest way to pay $0 | Overdraft fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Secure Checking | $4.95 | $250+ in qualifying electronic deposits, or owner aged 17 to 24 | None |
| Chase Total Checking | $15 | $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits, or $1,500+ daily balance | $34, up to 3 a day |
| Chase Premier Plus Checking | $25 | $15,000+ average balance in linked accounts, or military service | $34, up to 3 a day |
| Chase Private Client Checking | $35 | $150,000+ average balance in linked deposits and investments | $34, up to 3 a day |
Zelle, cash, checks and wire transfers don't count as qualifying electronic deposits. New accounts aren't charged the monthly fee for at least the first two statement periods.
Chase Bank, step by step
Pick an account
Total Checking suits most people with direct deposit. Secure Checking ($4.95) has no overdraft fees and no paper checks, and is free for ages 17 to 24.
Open with the bonus coupon
Apply online or at a branch using the $400 offer code. Existing Chase checking customers and anyone who closed an account in the last 90 days aren't eligible.
Set up direct deposit
Have $1,000 or more in direct deposits land within 90 days. Chase pays the bonus within 15 days, and the account must still be open.
Keep the fee waived
After the first two statement periods, keep $500 in monthly electronic deposits or a $1,500 daily balance to avoid the $15 fee.
Close carefully
Move bills and direct deposits first, then bring the balance to $0 and close. If you're closing soon after a bonus, read your offer terms first, since the bonus requires the account to be open at payout.
Chase checking safe and legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Chase checking accounts are held at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., an FDIC member bank (certificate 628) supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, so deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. Size brings complaint volume: the CFPB received 9,289 complaints about Chase checking or savings accounts between October 12, 2025 and October 12, 2026, most about managing or closing accounts, and Chase answered all of them on time. The BBB rates the JPMorgan Chase & Co. profile A-, and it is not accredited.
Chase checking fees and how to avoid them
- Monthly fee: $15 on Total Checking. Waive it with $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits (Zelle, cash and checks don’t count), a $1,500+ balance at the start of every day, a $5,000+ average balance across linked Chase deposits and investments, or a linked qualifying checking account.
- Overdrafts: $34 per item once you’re overdrawn by more than $50, up to 3 a day. Chase Overdraft Assist waives the fee if you’re $50 or less overdrawn at the end of the day or bring the balance back within $50 by the end of the next business day.
- ATMs: $3 at non-Chase ATMs in the U.S. and $5 abroad, plus the owner’s fee.
- Foreign transactions: 3% of the amount on debit card purchases in other currencies.
Chase checking bonus: $400 offer
Chase’s offer page lists $400 for new Chase checking customers who open Chase Total Checking and receive $1,000 or more in direct deposits within 90 days of enrolling in the offer. Micro-deposits don’t count. Chase pays the bonus within 15 days of meeting the requirements, and the account can’t be closed or restricted at payout. You’re not eligible if you already have Chase checking, closed an account within 90 days, or closed one with a negative balance in the last 3 years, and you can get only one checking opening bonus every two years. The offer expires January 27, 2027.
What customers say about Chase Bank
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Branches and ATMs nearly everywhere
- Highly rated mobile app with Zelle and mobile deposit
- Sign-up bonuses for new customers
- One login for checking, cards, loans and investing
Common complaints
- Accounts frozen or closed with little explanation (CFPB top issue: managing an account)
- Monthly fees and overdraft fees
- Fraud and Zelle disputes that weren't refunded
- Long holds and slow phone support
Which Chase checking account fits you
Chase Secure Checking ($4.95, or free for ages 17 to 24 and with $250 in deposits) has no overdraft fees and no paper checks. Chase Total Checking ($15, waivable) is the standard account. Chase Premier Plus ($25) earns a variable rate and is free with a $15,000 average balance in linked accounts. Chase Private Client ($35) is for $150,000 or more in deposits and investments. For teens, Chase High School Checking allows direct deposits and Zelle, and Chase First Banking is a debit card for kids.
Complaints and how to avoid problems
The CFPB’s most common Chase checking and savings issues in the last year were managing an account (5,324), closing an account (1,386), problems with a company charging your account (1,369) and opening an account (603). Trustpilot reviews, which skew negative, focus on frozen accounts, fraud disputes and fees.
- Keep direct deposit or the balance waiver in place so the $15 fee never posts.
- Leave debit card overdraft coverage off and link a savings account as backup.
- Use Zelle only with people you know; authorized payments to scammers are hard to recover.
- Expect holds on large check deposits, and keep a cushion for bills.
- If a dispute stalls, file at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or with the OCC at helpwithmybank.gov.
Rules that protect Chase checking customers
FDIC insurance covers deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. Regulation E caps your loss on unauthorized debit card or electronic transfers at $50 if you report within 2 business days of learning of it, up to $500 after that, and you can lose protection for transfers reported more than 60 days after your statement. Chase also offers Zero Liability Protection on debit cards when you report promptly. Under federal rules, banks can’t charge overdraft fees on ATM and one-time debit card transactions unless you opt in.
Alternatives to Chase Bank
- Capital One 360 Checking No monthly or overdraft fees and 70,000+ fee-free ATMs, if you don't need a Chase branch. Read review
- Ally Bank Online-only checking with no monthly or overdraft fees and up to $10 a cycle in ATM fee refunds. Read review
- Chase Secure Checking Stay at Chase for $4.95 a month (free for ages 17 to 24) with no overdraft fees if you can't meet the Total Checking waiver. Read review
- A local credit union Often free checking and lower fees, with NCUA insurance up to $250,000 at federally insured credit unions.
Chase Bank reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How do I avoid the Chase Total Checking monthly fee?
Do one of these each statement period: get $500 or more in qualifying electronic deposits, keep $1,500 or more at the start of each day, keep a $5,000 average across linked Chase accounts and investments, or link a qualifying Chase checking account.
What is the current Chase checking bonus?
$400 for new Chase checking customers who open Total Checking and receive $1,000 or more in direct deposits within 90 days. The offer page lists an expiration of January 27, 2027.
Does Chase Total Checking earn interest?
No. Total Checking doesn't pay interest. Chase Premier Plus and Private Client checking earn a variable rate.
How much is a Chase overdraft fee?
$34 per item when you're overdrawn by more than $50, up to 3 fees a day. There's no fee if you end the day $50 or less overdrawn, or bring it back within $50 by the end of the next business day.
Does Chase charge for using other banks' ATMs?
Yes, $3 per withdrawal in the U.S. and $5 abroad on Total Checking, plus whatever the ATM owner charges.
Can I get the Chase bonus if I already have a Chase account?
Not if you already have Chase checking, closed a Chase checking account in the last 90 days, or closed one with a negative balance in the last 3 years.
Is Chase checking FDIC insured?
Yes. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is an FDIC member, so deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category.
What's the cheapest Chase checking account?
Chase Secure Checking at $4.95 a month, which is $0 with $250 in qualifying electronic deposits or for owners aged 17 to 24. It has no overdraft fees.
Does Zelle count as a direct deposit for Chase?
No. Zelle, cash, checks and wire transfers don't count as qualifying electronic deposits for the fee waiver.
Does Chase have a refer-a-friend bonus?
Yes. Existing eligible Chase checking customers can earn $50 for each friend who opens an eligible account, up to $500 per calendar year, according to Chase's offer page.
Sources (10)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Chase: Chase Total Checking (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Chase: $400 Chase Total Checking offer for new customers (expires January 27, 2027) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Chase: Additional Banking Services and Fees for Personal Accounts (PDF, effective June 14, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FDIC BankFind: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (cert 628) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB complaint database API: JPMorgan Chase checking or savings complaints, October 12, 2025 to October 12, 2026 (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: JPMorgan Chase & Co. business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Chase reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Chase Mobile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Bank of America: Advantage Banking (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Capital One: 360 Checking (accessed October 12, 2026)
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