How to Open a Joint Bank Account at Chase

What You Need to Do to Open a Joint Account at Chase

To open a joint account at Chase, you and the other account owner visit a Chase branch together with government-issued photo ID for each person, or you can start the process online and finish it in the branch. Both account owners must be present and agree to the account terms — Chase will not let one person open a joint account on behalf of another. You'll choose the account type (checking, savings, or money market), decide how the account is owned (joint tenants with rights of survivorship, tenants in common, or tenants by the entirety, depending on your state), and fund the account with an opening deposit.

The whole process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes in a branch. If you start online, you'll complete the process, verify your identity, and then schedule an appointment or visit a branch to finish. Chase will run a background check through ChexSystems (a banking history database) and may ask about the source of your opening deposit if it's large.

Key Takeaways

• Both account owners must visit a Chase branch together with photo ID, or start online and complete the process in person at a branch.
• You and the co-owner must decide together how the account is owned — joint tenants with rights of survivorship is the most common choice and means the surviving owner inherits the account if one dies.
• Chase requires an opening deposit, which varies by account type but is often $25 for a basic checking account.
• Each account owner gets their own debit card and online banking access, and both can deposit, withdraw, and manage the account independently.
• Chase will check your banking history through ChexSystems and may ask about large deposits before approving the account.

What Documents Each Account Owner Must Bring

Bring a government-issued photo ID for each person — a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID all work. Chase will also ask for your Social Security number, so be ready to provide it verbally or on the process form. If you're opening the account in person, bring the ID itself; if you're starting online, you may be able to photograph it as part of the process.

If either account owner has moved recently, bring a piece of mail showing your current address — a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days. Chase uses this to verify your address. You don't need to bring a checkbook, deposit slips, or anything else; Chase will provide those after the account opens.

How Ownership Type Affects Your Account

Chase offers three ways to own a joint account, and the choice matters if one owner dies or if the account is involved in a legal dispute. Joint tenants with rights of survivorship is the default and most common option — it means if one owner dies, the surviving owner automatically owns the entire account without going through probate. The account passes directly to them, and their creditors cannot touch it.

Tenants in common means each owner has a separate, equal share of the account. If one owner dies, their share goes to their estate and may be subject to probate and their debts. This is less common for joint accounts but may be chosen if the owners want to keep their finances more separate or if they're not married.

Tenants by the entirety is only available in some states and only to married couples. It offers similar protections to joint tenants with rights of survivorship but also protects the account from one spouse's individual creditors. Ask the Chase banker which option is available in your state and which one makes sense for your situation.

Opening Deposit Requirements and Account Types

Chase requires an opening deposit to fund the account, though the amount depends on the account type. A basic Chase Total Checking account typically requires a $25 opening deposit. A Chase Savings account also usually requires $25. If you choose a Chase Money Market account, the opening deposit is typically higher — often $2,500 or more — but these accounts earn interest on your balance.

You can fund the account with a check, a transfer from another bank account, or cash if you're opening in person. If you're opening online, you'll link an external bank account and transfer money from there. Chase will hold the funds while they verify the transfer, which usually takes one to two business days.

What Happens After You Submit Your process

Chase will run a ChexSystems check, which is a report of your banking history — whether you've had accounts closed for overdrafts, fraud, or other issues. This usually takes a few minutes. If the check comes back clear, your account opens when ready or within one business day. If there's a problem, Chase will contact you to discuss it.

Once the account is open, both owners can log into Chase online banking or the mobile app using their own username and password. Each owner will receive a debit card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can use the card right away if you set up it, or wait for the physical card to arrive. Both owners can see all transactions, balances, and account activity — there's no way to hide deposits or withdrawals from the other owner.

How Both Owners Can Use the Account

In a joint account at Chase, both owners have equal rights to all the money. Either owner can deposit money, withdraw money, pay bills, set up automatic transfers, or close the account without the other owner's permission. This is different from an authorized user on someone else's account — an authorized user can only use the account the way the primary owner allows, but a joint owner has full control.

Both owners receive their own debit card and can use it independently. Both can set up online bill pay, mobile check deposit, and transfers. If one owner makes a large withdrawal or closes the account, the other owner will see it in their transaction history, but Chase will not stop the transaction or require approval from both owners. This is why joint accounts work best between people who trust each other completely — spouses, domestic partners, or close family members managing shared expenses.

Alternatives If You Cannot Both Visit a Branch

If the other account owner lives far away or cannot visit a Chase branch, you have limited options. Chase requires both owners to be present in person or to complete the process together online and then finish it in a branch. You cannot open a true joint account with one person signing remotely while the other signs in the branch.

If you need a shared account but cannot both visit, consider these alternatives: one person can open an individual account and add the other as an authorized user later (though this gives the authorized user less control), or you can open separate accounts and transfer money between them as needed. A third option is to wait until both owners can visit a branch together. Contact your local Chase branch to ask whether they offer any remote options, as policies vary slightly by location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a joint account online without visiting a branch?

You can start the process online, but Chase requires both owners to complete the process in person at a branch. You cannot finish a joint account process entirely online. If you start online, you'll schedule an appointment and visit together to verify your identity and fund the account.

What if one owner wants to close the account?

Either owner can close a joint account without the other owner's permission. Chase will ask for ID and will close the account and issue a check or transfer the balance to another account. The other owner will see the account closure in their transaction history, but they cannot prevent it. This is why joint accounts require trust.

Do both owners need to be present every time we use the account?

No. Once the account is open, either owner can deposit, withdraw, or manage the account alone. Both owners have full access and can use the debit card, make transfers, or pay bills without the other owner's permission or knowledge. All transactions appear in the shared account history.

What happens to the account if one owner dies?

If the account is set up as joint tenants with rights of survivorship (the default), the surviving owner automatically owns the entire account. The account does not go through probate and passes directly to the surviving owner. If it's set up as tenants in common, the deceased owner's share goes to their estate.

Can I add someone to my existing Chase account as a joint owner?

Chase does not allow you to convert an individual account to a joint account or to add a joint owner to an existing account. You must open a new joint account together. The other person can become an authorized user on your existing account, but that is different from being a joint owner.