What It Costs to Open a Checking Account at Chase Bank

Chase checking accounts have no opening deposit requirement

You can open a Chase checking account with $0. Chase does not require a minimum deposit to start the account, and you do not have to maintain a minimum balance to keep it open. You can walk into a branch, call 1-800-935-9935, or open one online at chase.com — all three routes have the same zero opening cost.

What matters instead is what happens after you open it. Chase charges a monthly service fee on most checking accounts unless you meet one of their waiver conditions. The fee ranges from $12 to $15 per month depending on which account type you choose, but you can avoid it by keeping a minimum balance, setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account with a certain balance.

Key Takeaways

• Chase checking accounts cost nothing to open and require no minimum opening deposit.
• Most Chase checking accounts charge $12 to $15 per month, but the fee is waived if you maintain a $500 minimum balance or set up direct deposit.
• Chase Total Checking and Chase Sapphire Checking are the two main consumer accounts, with different monthly fees and waiver requirements.
• You can open an account online, by phone, or in person at a Chase branch, and the process takes about 10 minutes.
• If you do not meet a waiver condition, you will be charged the monthly fee automatically on the same day each month.

The two main Chase checking account types and their monthly costs

Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month. You can waive this fee by maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance, setting up direct deposit of any amount, or maintaining a linked Chase savings account with a $500 minimum balance. Many people choose this account because the direct deposit waiver is the easiest — you do not have to keep money sitting in the account.

Chase Sapphire Checking costs $25 per month and is designed for customers who want higher rewards on debit card purchases. The fee waives if you maintain a $10,000 minimum daily balance or set up direct deposit. This account also includes travel protections and higher cash back rates on certain purchases, but the higher balance requirement makes it less common for everyday banking.

Chase also offers Chase Premier Checking, which costs $15 per month and requires a $25,000 minimum balance to waive the fee. This account is aimed at customers with larger balances and includes benefits like higher interest rates on savings and waived fees on certain services.

How to open an account without spending money upfront

Opening online is the fastest route. Go to chase.com, click "Open an Account," select the checking account you want, and enter your Social Security number, date of birth, address, and employment information. Chase will verify your identity when ready in most cases. You can fund the account when ready with a transfer from another bank, or leave it empty — there is no requirement to deposit anything on day one.

If you open in a branch, bring a government-issued ID and your Social Security number. A banker will walk you through the same questions and can answer questions about which account fits your situation. The process takes about 10 minutes. You can fund it at the desk or wait until later.

By phone, call 1-800-935-9935 and a representative will guide you through the same steps. You will need to verify your identity and provide the same information, but you cannot fund the account during the call — you will have to transfer money online or in person afterward.

What happens if you do not meet a fee waiver condition

If you open Chase Total Checking and do not set up direct deposit, maintain a $500 balance, or link a savings account with $500, you will be charged $12 at the end of each month. Chase deducts the fee automatically from your account on the same date each cycle. The fee will continue every month until you meet one of the waiver conditions.

You can check your account online or in the Chase app to see which waiver conditions you currently meet. If you fall below the minimum balance temporarily, Chase may still waive the fee that month if you meet another condition — for example, if you have direct deposit set up, the balance does not matter. But if you meet no conditions, the fee applies.

Avoiding the monthly fee with direct deposit

Setting up direct deposit is the most common way to waive the monthly fee because it requires no balance and works even if you are paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly. You give your employer or benefits administrator your Chase account number and routing number (which you can find in the Chase app or online), and the deposit hits your account automatically on payday.

Chase counts any direct deposit toward the waiver — it does not have to be a paycheck. Social Security, unemployment benefits, pension payments, and tax refunds all count. The deposit can be for any amount; there is no minimum. Once direct deposit is set up, the monthly fee disappears and stays waived as long as the deposits continue.

Other costs to know about after opening

Opening the account is free, but Chase charges for certain transactions and services after you open it. Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction if you spend more than your balance, though Chase offers overdraft protection that you can set up to link your savings account and prevent overdrafts. Out-of-network ATM withdrawals cost $3 per transaction, but Chase has over 16,000 ATMs nationwide, so this rarely applies.

Wire transfers cost $15 for domestic transfers and $20 for international ones. Cashier's checks cost $10 each. Stop payment requests cost $30. These are not automatic — you only pay if you use these services. The monthly service fee is the only charge that hits your account automatically if you do not meet a waiver condition.

Timeline from opening to your first deposit

If you open online, your account number appears on screen when ready, and you can transfer money from another bank the same day. The transfer usually arrives within one to three business days. If you open in a branch, you can deposit cash or a check at the desk and have it available right away, or you can link another bank account and transfer funds online.

Once your account is open, you can set up direct deposit when ready by giving your employer your account and routing number. The first direct deposit usually arrives on your next scheduled payday. If you are setting up direct deposit to waive the monthly fee, make sure it is scheduled before your first billing cycle closes — Chase typically charges the monthly fee on the same day each month, so timing matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a minimum balance to open a Chase checking account?

No. Chase does not require any deposit to open a checking account. You can open with $0 and fund it later, or not at all. However, if you want to avoid the monthly service fee, you will need to either maintain a $500 minimum balance, set up direct deposit, or link a savings account with $500.

Can I open a Chase checking account online without going to a branch?

Yes. You can open entirely online at chase.com in about 10 minutes. Chase will verify your identity when ready in most cases. You can fund the account with a transfer from another bank or leave it empty. You do not have to visit a branch unless you want to deposit cash.

What is the difference between Chase Total Checking and Chase Sapphire Checking?

Chase Total Checking costs $12 per month and is the standard account for most people. Chase Sapphire Checking costs $25 per month but offers higher rewards on debit card purchases and travel protections. Sapphire requires a $10,000 minimum balance to waive the fee, while Total Checking only requires $500. Choose Total Checking unless you spend heavily on debit card purchases and can maintain the higher balance.

If I set up direct deposit, will the monthly fee go away?

Yes. Once direct deposit is set up and the first deposit arrives, the monthly fee waives permanently as long as direct deposits continue. The deposit can be any amount — there is no minimum. If direct deposits stop for more than a month, the monthly fee may restart.

What happens if I do not meet the balance requirement or set up direct deposit?

Chase will charge you the monthly service fee ($12 for Total Checking, $25 for Sapphire) automatically at the end of each billing cycle. The fee comes out of your account balance. You can avoid future fees by meeting one of the waiver conditions, but past fees are not refunded unless you contact Chase and ask them to review your account.