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Chase Total Checking® is the bank’s most affordable checking account. It has a $12 monthly service fee that is relatively easy to waive — this is opposed to Chase Secure Banking℠, which charges a fixed $4.95 fee, and Chase Premier Plus Checking℠, which has a $25 fee that is harder to waive.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Pros
- No required opening deposit
- Over 4,700 branches
- $225 sign-up bonus
- Free overdraft protection when you link to savings for automatic transfers
Cons
- $12 monthly fee unless you meet direct deposit or minimum balance requirements
- $2.50 fee for out-of-network ATMs
- No out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- $34 overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees
- New Chase customers enjoy a $225 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit
- Access to 16,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
- Chase Mobile® app – Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more — all from your device.
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Waive $12 monthly service fee by depositing $500 electronically each month OR starting each day with a $1,500 balance, OR maintaining a $5,000 average daily balance in this account combined with other linked Chase accounts
- Member FDIC
Read Our Review
How Chase Total Checking works
Chase has around 4,700 branches in 32 US states and Washington, DC. There are also 16,000 free ATMs nationwide.
Chase Total Checking® charges a $12 monthly service fee, but you can waive it each month that you receive $500 in electronic deposits, or start each day with a $1,500 balance, or maintain a $5,000 average daily balance in this account and all linked Chase accounts.
If you’re a new Chase customer, you’ll receive a $225 sign-up bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and set up a direct deposit within the first 90 days.
Your deposits are FDIC insured for up to $250,000, or up to $500,000 for joint accounts.
Is Chase trustworthy?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is Chase’s parent company. The Better Business Bureau gives JPMorgan Chase & Co. an A+ in trustworthiness. A good BBB rating signifies a company responds effectively to customer complaints, has honest advertising practices, and is transparent in how it handles business.
Although its BBB rating is pretty good, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has dealt with a few scandals in the past few years. Here are some recent conflicts:
If Chase’s history worries you, you may decide to bank elsewhere. But keep in mind that similar banks, such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America, have their own history of public controversies.
How Chase Total Checking compares to similar accounts
We’ve compared Chase Total Checking® to similar accounts at other national banks: Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
Chase Total Checking vs. Bank of America Advantage Plus
If you’re looking for a good sign-up bonus, you’ll probably prefer Chase to Bank of America. Chase Total Checking pays you $225 for signing up and setting up a direct deposit of any amount within 90 days. Bank of America only pays $100, and you need at least two recurring deposits of $250 in the first 90 days to qualify for the bonus.
Your choice could also come down to if you’re able to waive monthly fees with one account but not the other. Both banks charge a waivable $12 fee, but the requirements for skipping the fee differ slightly.
Chase Total Checking vs. Wells Fargo Everyday Checking
Wells Fargo also has a good sign-up bonus. However, you’ll need to deposit $1,000 in the first 90 days, while Chase lets you deposit any amount. Chase’s bonus is also a little higher.
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking may be better for students, because there’s no monthly fee if you’re ages 17 to 24, or if you link to a Wells Fargo campus ATM or debit card.