Chase Checking Account

Chase bank is one of the biggest banks in the country and it provides consumers with financial products and services ranging from savings accounts to credit cards to investments.

With a massive presence throughout the country, you're likely to consider Chase for a checking account -- your most important financial account.

The Chase Total Checking Account is the bank's basic checking account and it's probably the one that most people would think about opening for themselves.

In this review, learn more about the fees and features of the Chase Total Checking Account and compare it to other options to see if it is the right choice for you.

More Than 16,000 ATMs and 5,000 Branches

With a Chase checking account, you can access to a huge branch and ATM network that offers a strong physical presence to customers.

Through more than 16,000 ATMs, you won't have a tough time trying to find an ATM to withdraw or deposit funds for free.

It's important before choosing a checking account to know the ATM/debit card transaction limits. With the debit card that's linked to your Total Checking account, your limits are:

Purchase limit: Up to $3,000

Up to $3,000 Chase in-branch ATM limit: Up to $3,000

Up to $3,000 Other Chase ATM limit: Up to $1,000

Up to $1,000 Non-Chase ATM limit: Up to $500 ($1,000 for accounts opened in CT, NJ, NY)

These limits are not set in stone, however. You may be able to get a higher limit if you ask a Chase representative to raise it, or by simply showing Chase you're a loyal and trustworthy banking customer.

Further, there are 5,100 branches, which can be a benefit especially if you prefer to be able to do your banking at a physical bank.

Along with its availability, Chase provides 24/7 customer service so you shouldn’t ever run into any difficulty if you have questions or concerns about your bank account.

If the comfort of being able to speak with a banker in person is something you desire, Chase doesn't disappoint.

Chase Checking Account Pros & Cons

Pros Cons Large branch network

Mobile app available Non-interest account

Minimum opening deposit

Monthly maintenance fee

Easy Ways to Access and Manage Your Chase Accounts

Besides being able to access your account from thousands of different locations or ATMs, the Chase Total Checking account also comes with feature-packed online and mobile banking platforms that allow you to perform financial chores with ease.

These are some of the most notable benefits:

Chase Quickpay with Zelle

Paying your friends and family cannot get any easier when you can simply send money to another person with just their email or phone number.

Chase Quickpay with Zelle is accessible through online banking and Chase's mobile banking apps and it is completely free.

For Chase Total Checking Accounts and Chase Liquid cards, you can send:

Up to $2,000 in a single transaction

Up to $2,000 per day , and

, and Up to $16,000 in a calendar month

The great part is that the recipients get the money directly in their bank accounts (if the bank is also a participating financial institution in the Zelle network).

This means that you don't have to download and worry about other third-party mobile payments apps.

Time-Frame to Send/Receive Money Using Zelle for Chase Total Checking

Sending Money Receiving Money Chase Customer As little as a few minutes or 1 business day at most As little as a few minutes or 1 business day at most Not a Chase Customer but bank participates in the Zelle network As little as a few minutes or, 1 to 2 business days if their bank does not support real-time payments As little as a few minutes or, 1 to 3 business days if bank does not support real-time payments Not a Chase customer or a Zelle member 1 to 2 business days at most 1 to 2 business days for Chase to receive money and process it, and then 4 to 5 business days for you to receive money

Online bill pay

You can pay bills through your checking account and schedule them to be sent automatically on a recurring basis. It's a free service that you can access through online banking and the Chase mobile apps.

Chase QuickDeposit

You can deposit checks into your Chase Total Checking account through the mobile check deposit feature in Chase's mobile apps. It's free and convenient -- saving you from a trip to the bank or ATM.

These are the mobile deposit limits:

Customers with accounts opened for fewer than 6 months: $500 per day and $1,500 per month

Customers with accounts opened for 6 months or longer: $1,000 per day and $3,000 per month

These mobile deposit limits may vary by account because your limits could be higher if you've had a long history, large balance, or good history with the bank.

Ways to Avoid the Monthly Service Fee

Chase Bank App

This account comes with a $12 monthly service fee. However, you can avoid paying this fee in a few different ways.

Have direct deposits totaling $500 or more

or more Have a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more

or more Have an average daily beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of Chase accounts and linked qualifying deposits

Although there are ways to avoid paying the $12 monthly fee, this can add up if you don’t meet one of the ways to get the fee waived.

Note: Some customers report that other incoming transfers and payments from non-Chase sources have been consider direct deposits. You can test and confirm this with your other financial accounts by setting up an account alert to notify you when a transaction is a direct deposit.

As you might guess, there are a number of lesser-known bank account options that come with zero monthly fees, so even if you don’t have a direct deposit or a larger daily balance, you won’t have to worry about paying every month just to have a checking account.

For a big bank, the monthly fee and the fee waiver requirements are relatively in line with what you'd expect.

Other Fees to Consider with the Chase Total Account

There are other fees you should be aware of before you open a checking account with Chase Bank.

Some of those fees include a non-Chase ATM fee of $2.50 fee for inquiries, transfers, or withdrawals made at an ATM that isn’t in the Chase network, as well as a $15 for overdrafts and an insufficient funds fee of $34.

Chase Checking Account Fees

Type Fee Monthly Maintenance Fee $12 Non-Chase ATM $2.50 Overdraft Fee $34 Returned Item $34 Stop Payment $30 Online or Automated Phone Stop Payment $25 Deposited Item Returned or Cashed Check Returned $12 Domestic Wire Transfer $15 Online Domestic Wire $25 International Wire Transfer $50 Online International Wire $40 Money Order $5 Cashiers Check $8

Minimum Deposit to Open an Account

In order to open a checking account with Chase you will need at least $25. Keep in mind, however, that there are accounts with other institutions that don’t require a minimum deposit to open an account.

This could be something to consider if you want to open an account right away but don’t have the funds on hand immediately.

Compared to the Top Checking Accounts

With online banks trying to take business from the brick-and-mortar banks, you are likely to be tempted to switch banks because online banks tend to provide amazing perks with lower fees.

Axos Bank Rewards Checking

This account isn’t as well known as some of the others that are available, especially when compared to a major bank like Chase.

However, the Axos Bank Rewards Checking account is an online account that has no extra fees.

It also offers an opportunity to earn extra cash back when you use your debit card, and you can earn interest on your balance if your monthly direct deposits total $1,000 or more, or if you use your debit card at least 10 times per month.

TIAA Bank Checking

Another lesser-known banking option that is considered a competitor of the Chase Total Checking account is TIAA Bank Checking.

This account is also an online account, but its biggest difference setting itself apart from others is that it offers a rate of 15x the rate that other banks offer.

On the other hand, there is a huge drawback, which is the $5,000 minimum deposit requirement.

There is a basic checking option that has a smaller deposit requirement of $25, but this comes with a requirement of a $25 minimum daily balance in order to avoid a $5 monthly fee.

So, if you have $5,000 to start out with, you might want to consider opening an account here because of the potential for growth.

Capital One 360 Checking

Capital One App

If you prefer banking with major banks or banks that are well known, you might want to consider an account with Capital One 360.

With the Capital One 360 Checking account, you don't have to deal with any monthly service fee charged. Another great thing about the Capital One checking account is that your balance can earn a decent interest rate.

Final Verdict

One of the most attractive features of the Chase Total Checking account is the convenience, comfort, and reputation that comes with banking with a large major bank.

If you are more comfortable with a financial institution with a long history and reputation, this account should be at the top of your list.

However, if popularity matters less to you than value, there’s a good chance that you have many other options when it comes to choosing a checking account.

Not only are there numerous online banks offering the features you get with the Chase account, but there are increasingly more accounts available with more impressive features.

Plus, many of the newer banks are waiving minimum deposit requirements and monthly service fees, while also providing accounts that pay interest or offer other types of cash back opportunities.

More: Best Checking Accounts of the Year