It can be a drag to open a newchecking accountwith all the work you have to do to update direct deposit and set up all your autopayments. But more and more banks make it worth your while by offering new customers a bonus once they open an account and meet certain requirements.
The Chase Total Checking® account offers a $200 bonus for new customers and a top-rated mobile app that makes banking easy. With both physical and online banking options, you can tailor your experience to your needs. Chase Total Checking ranks on our list of best checking account bonuses because, in addition to the signing bonus, there is no minimum balance requirement to open a new account.
Note that the bonus applies only to new Chase customers. If you currently have a checking account with Chase, have received a Chase account-opening-related bonus in the past two years and/or have closed an account within 90 days or closed an account with a negative balance, you won't be eligible for the bonus.
To make your search easier, Select reviewed the Chase Total Checking account. We considered APY, access to cash, perks and fees. (Read more about our methodologybelow.)
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Chase Total Checking account review
- APY
- Access to your cash
- Perks
- Fees
- Bottom line
Chase Total Checking®
On Chase's secure site
Monthly maintenance fee
$12, with options to waive
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Minimum balance
$1,500daily balance to avoid monthly maintenance fee
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Free ATM network
Access to more than 16,000 Chase ATMs
ATM fee reimbursement
None
Overdraft fee
*With Chase Overdraft AssistSM, we won't charge an Insufficient Funds Fee if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.
Mobile check deposit
Yes
*Terms apply.
APY
The APY for this account is 0%. You will not earn interest on the money you have in this checking account. The average APY for interest checking accounts is low across the board, and many traditional banks don't pay out interest on their checking accounts. If you want to earn interest on your cash, consider a high-yield savings account, which can offer anywhere from 1% to 4% APY.
Access to your cash
Users can withdraw cash for free at over 16,000 Chase ATMs around the country or visit more than 4,700 branches nationwide.
Daily withdrawal limits cap at $500 for non-Chase ATMs ($1,000 for Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), $1,000 for Chase ATMs and $3,000 for in-person withdrawals at the bank. Debit card users are limited to $3,000 in daily purchases.
Perks
There is no minimum deposit for you to open an account or minimum balance you must maintain, but there is a $12-per-month maintenance fee unless you meet the requirements to waive it (we explain more below).
New Chase Total Checking® account holders can earn a $200 welcome bonus when they set up direct deposit within 90 days of account opening and keep the new account open for at least six months. Chase will deposit the welcome bonus into your account within 15 days of meeting the requirements. If you close the account within six months of opening it, Chase will deduct the bonus amount at closing.
Once you have your account, you'll be able to refer friends to Chase checking accounts and earn a $50 referral bonus for each friend who opens a qualifying account (up to $500 per calendar year).
You can send and receive money with Zelle® and deposit checks through the mobile app. Chase uses 128-bit encryption technology to protect your username, password and other personal account information when you're using the site or apps
Fees
The Chase Total Checking® account has a monthly service fee of $12, but you may qualify for a fee waiver. Aside from child and student accounts, Chase doesn't offer a checking account that is outright free. If you do want a fee-free checking account, check out our list of the best no-fee checking accounts.
To keep the Chase Total Checking account open for free, you'll need to meet one of the following requirements:
- Receive electronic deposits (including employer direct deposits or government benefit providers) totaling $500 or more
- Maintain a daily balance of $1,500 or more
- Maintain an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings and other accounts
Non-Chase ATM transactions also come with fees: $3.00 for inquiries, transfers and withdrawals while using a non Chase ATM in the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Fees from the ATM owner/network still apply. $5 per withdrawal and $3.00 for any transfers or inquiries at ATMs outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fees from the ATM owner/network still apply.
Chase charges a $34 insufficient fund fee (for transactions exceeding $5 over your balance) and a $34 returned transactions fee when account holders opt in to Chase Debit Card Coverage This feature gives Chase permission to approve and pay for your everyday debit card transactions when you don't have enough money available. You'll have until the end of the business day/cutoff time to transfer or deposit enough money to avoid an Insufficient Funds Fee on these transactions. There's a three-per-day maximum for these fees (totaling $102), and they don't apply to withdrawals made at an ATM.
Unless you opt into Chase Debit Card Coverage, transactions will automatically be declined when there are insufficient funds available, and you will not be charged a fee.
Wire transfers can incur various charges depending on the terms of the transfer. Here are the charges for each:
- Domestic or international incoming wire transfers: Chase charges a $15-per-transfer fee that can be waived if the transfer was originally sent with the help of a Chase banker or using Chase.com or Chase Mobile, in addition to any processing fees from other financial institutions.
- Domestic wire transfers out of your account: Chase charges a $35-per-transfer fee when you use the help of a banker. That fee is reduced to $25 when you use chase.com or Chase mobile.
- Transfers from your account to an international account: Chase charges a $50-per-transfer-fee when you use the help of a banker and $40 per transfer when you make the wire transfer online or from Chase mobile.
- Wire transfer from your checking account to a bank outside the U.S. in a foreign currency: Chase charges a $5-per-transfer fee that is waived for transactions equal to $5,000 or more.
Bottom line
The Chase Total Checking® account offers a high bonus offer when you set up direct deposit, plus easy ways to waive the monthly fee.
Read more
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Our methodology
To determine which checking accounts provide the best place to deposit your money and earn a bonus, Select analyzed dozens ofU.S. checking accountsoffered by online and brick-and-mortar banks, including major credit unions. We narrowed down our rankings by only considering checking accounts that have bonuses available to new applicants.
While the accounts we chose in this article all have bonus offers, we also compared each checking account on a range of features, including:
- Reasonable bonus requirements
- Available nationwide
- Physical branch locations and/or online accessibility
- Large ATM network
- FDIC or NCUA insured up to $250,000
All of the accounts included on this list areFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insured up to $250,000. This insurance protects and reimburses you up to your balance and the legal limit in the event your bank or credit union fails.
The rates and fee structures for checking accounts are subject to change without notice and they often fluctuate in accordance with theprime rate.
Your earnings depend on any associated fees and the balance you have in your checking account. To open an account, some banks and institutions may require a deposit of new money, meaning you can't transfer money you already had in an account at that bank.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
FAQs
How do I waive my monthly fee with Chase? ›
Total Checking account fees can be waived if you have a daily balance of $1500 or more. You can also get the monthly fee waived if you have more than $500 in Direct Deposits each month into the account.
How long does Chase 200 bonus take? ›Chase will deposit the welcome bonus into your account within 15 days of meeting the requirements. If you close the account within six months of opening it, Chase will deduct the bonus amount at closing.
How do I get a $250 Chase bonus? ›By opening both a Chase Total Checking® and Chase SavingsSM account, for example, you can earn $250 in bank bonuses with just one trip to your local branch. You could also combine Chase SavingsSM the Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM to earn even more.
How do I get my Chase welcome bonus? ›A cash back card could have an introductory bonus of $200 after you spend $600 within the first few months. Whether your rewards card offers points, miles or cash, you must spend at least the minimum amount required to qualify for the earnings detailed in the welcome offer.
What bank gives you 200 bonus? ›TD Bank: $200 bonus
You can earn $200 by opening a new TD Signature Savings or TD Simple Savings account. A deposit of at least $10,000 is required into a new TD Signature Savings or Simple savings account and a balance of $10,000 or more must be maintained for 90 days to earn this bonus.
- Sign up for direct deposit. ...
- Find a bank that doesn't charge monthly fees. ...
- Meet the minimum balance requirement. ...
- Have two or more accounts with the bank. ...
- Download a good financial app. ...
- Meet the minimum debit card usage. ...
- Ask for fee forgiveness.
Many financial institutions waive the monthly service fees if you maintain a minimum monthly balance in your account. Depending on the institution and the type of account, minimum balances range from $500 to $5,000. On most accounts, however, the minimum balance is generally $1,000 or $2,000.
What is monthly fee waived? ›Some banks will waive a monthly fee as long as you keep a certain balance in your account, either a minimum daily balance or an average daily balance requirement over the course of the month. You may also qualify for a waived fee if you meet a combined balance requirement across multiple accounts.
Which banks give you money for opening an account? ›- Citigold® Checking Account: Up to $2,000 cash bonus offer.
- Chase Total Checking®: $200 bonus offer.
- Citi Priority Account: Up to $2,000 cash bonus offer.
- Chase Secure Banking℠: $100 bonus offer.
- Bank of America Advantage Banking: $100 bonus offer.
- TD Bank Checking: $200 or $300 bonus offer.
Chase Secure Banking℠ - $100 bonus
Chase Bank is offering new customers $100 when they open a Chase Secure Banking℠ checking account with qualifying activities. This account does have a low monthly fee, but in exchange offers perks like no fees for cashier's checks and money orders.
Does Chase give you a signing bonus? ›
How to earn the bonus: Open a Chase Secure Banking account with qualifying activities, you'll earn a $100 bonus. Ten qualifying transactions need to be completed within 60 days, and these include online bill payments, purchases using a debit card, Zelle, ACH payments or credits and Chase QuickDeposits.
How to get Chase $600 bonus? ›Chase is back at it offering a solid $600 new account bonus to customers who open both a Chase Total Checking® and a Chase Savings℠ account at the same time.
How can I get $500 from Chase? ›Chase Freedom Flex℠: You earn up to $500 cash back per year by referring friends to any participating Chase Freedom credit card. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: You earn up to 75,000 bonus points per year by referring friends for the same card.
How do I get my free $100 from Chase? ›To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Secure BankingSM account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Complete at least 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment.
How often can you get Chase welcome bonus? ›You have to wait 48 months after earning the sign-up bonus on one Chase Sapphire card before you can earn it again on another. The waiting period starts when you receive the bonus — not when you're approved, activate the card or hit a cardmember anniversary.
How long does it take to get Chase welcome bonus? ›How Long Does It Take for a Chase Sign-Up Bonus to Post? Chase's terms typically say it can take between six and eight weeks after making qualifying purchases for the sign-up bonus to post to your account, whether it's for a co-branded card or a Chase Ultimate Rewards®-earning card.
Can you get Chase bonus twice? ›Can you get more than one Chase Sapphire bonus? You can earn more than one Chase Sapphire bonus, but as the terms stated above, you'll have to wait 48 months between each bonus. Plus you can't already have a Sapphire card at the time you apply for a new one.
How can I get free money for signing up? ›- Financial Apps That Give You Money for Signing Up. Personal Capital. Public.com. ...
- Survey Apps That Pay You to Sign Up. Swagbucks. InboxDollars. ...
- Cash Back Apps That Give You Free Money for Signing Up. Ibotta. ...
- Be Sure to Use These Sign-Up Bonus Apps That Give You Free Money Instantly.
Citi® Savings Account: Moving your cash to a Citi® Savings Account now earns a sign-up bonus of $5,000. That is the highest on the market today, but existing Citi customers with “new-to-Citibank funds” who open their account before April 3 will need $1 million to qualify.
Does Bank of America give you 200 dollars? ›Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card Bonus
New cardholders can earn $200 cash back after making $1,000 or more in purchases on their card within the first 90 days of opening an account. The bonus posts to the rewards balance in your account eight to 12 weeks after you qualify to receive it.
What is a good amount of money to keep in your checking account? ›
The general rule of thumb is to try to have one or two months' of living expenses in it at all times. Some experts recommend adding 30 percent to this number as an extra cushion. To determine your exact living expenses, track your spending over several months, including all bills and discretionary spending.
Which bank has no monthly fee? ›Ally Bank offers a checking account that doesn't have a monthly maintenance fee or a minimum opening deposit. It also pays 0.1 percent APY on balances less than $15,000 and 0.25 percent APY with a minimum daily balance of $15,000.
Why is Chase charging a monthly service fee? ›Banks charge these fees to cover any overhead or perks associated with the account, including overdraft coverage, ATM usage, and more. Several Chase checking accounts come with monthly service fees, but the bank will also waive the fee if you meet certain requirements for that account on a monthly basis.
What do you say to get a fee waived? ›When negotiating a fee waiver, it's important to be specific and straightforward. Call the bank, mention the fee you incurred and say you would like to have it waived by the bank. If the bank isn't immediately open to helping you, try to show you're a valuable customer.
How do I get my bank fees waived? ›Some banks may refund an overdraft fee after you contact customer service and explain your situation, especially if you've been a loyal customer and rarely overdraw your account. Other banks might have a formal program that either waives or helps you avoid overdraft fees.
Does fee waived mean free? ›Fee waiver means a full or partial release from the requirement of payment of a fee and from any provision in lieu of fee payment.
What banks have free checking with no minimum balance? ›- Ally Interest Checking Account. Why you want it: You keep a higher balance in your account. ...
- Axos Rewards Checking. ...
- Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking Account. ...
- NBKC Personal Checking Account. ...
- Discover Cashback Debit. ...
- Chime. ...
- USAA Free Checking. ...
- T-Mobile Money.
- BayVanguard Bank*
- Altamaha Bank.
- Androscoggin Bank*
- Axos Bank*
- BankFive.
- Bank of America*
- Bank of Travelers Rest.
- Bank Independent*
Consumer Checking Account - $400 Bonus
Open an eligible consumer checking account online or bring a bonus offer code to a participating Wells Fargo branch. Minimum opening deposit is $25. Within 90 days of account opening, receive a total of $4,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your new checking account.
- Easiest account to open — Revolut.
- 2nd-easiest account to open — Chime.
- 3rd-easiest account to open — Capital One.
- 4th-easiest account to open — Juno.
- 5th-easiest account to open — Current.
- 6th-easiest account to open — Wise.
- 7th-easiest account to open — Majority.
- FAQ about online banking.
Does Wells Fargo give you money for opening an account? ›
Open a new Everyday Checking account with a minimum deposit of $25, take in $1,000 worth of qualifying direct deposits during the first 90 days, and earn a $200 bonus..
Is there a free checking account with Chase? ›Chase does offer two checking accounts with no monthly fee. The accounts are for children: Chase First Banking and Chase High School Checking. What is the minimum balance for a Chase checking account?
What promotions does Chase have right now? ›Here are the current best Chase promotions you can benefit from today: Chase Business Complete Banking℠: $300 bonus. Chase Total Checking®: $200 bonus. Chase Secure Banking℠: $100 bonus.
What does Chase bank offer for free? ›No fees to cash or deposit checks
Deposit checks 24/7 with the Chase Mobile® app and deposit cash with no fees at any Chase ATM.
- Open a Chase Savings℠ account using the link below.
- Within 30 days, deposit at least $10,000 and maintain that balance for 90 days.
- Bonus will be deposited into your new account within 15 days of meeting the requirements.
Signing bonuses—one-time payments given when an employee begins a new job—are common, but aren't offered to every candidate.
Can I overdraft 500 from Chase? ›With Chase Overdraft Assist℠, we won't charge an Insufficient Funds Fee if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make ...
Does Chase give you 300 for opening an account? ›Qualifying for the $300 new Chase business account bonus isn't difficult. But there are a series of qualifying activities and transactions you'll need to complete after account opening to be eligible.
How do I get a Chase coupon code? ›How to Get a Chase Coupon 2023. You can open a new Chase account either in person online or at a branch. Once you do apply in person, you will get a coupon emailed to you to take to a branch.
How do I get my $200 cash rewards bonus online? ›Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. Score. Credit score is one of the many factors lenders review in considering your application.
How do I redeem my cash bonus? ›
- A statement credit.
- A direct deposit to a bank account.
- A check.
- Gift cards.
- Merchandise.
200% Source: Salary.com. Suppose that your target bonus is 20 percent of a base salary of $100,000 and you performed at the maximum performance level. That means you would earn 200 percent of that 20 percent bonus, or 40 percent.
How do I claim my $200 bonus Bank of America? ›To get the $200 Bank of America credit card bonus, apply online for the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card and spend $1,000 within the first 90 days. That will trigger a $200 bonus, which will be credited to your account within 8-12 weeks after qualifying for the bonus.
Can you withdraw bonus money? ›Remember that the body of the bonus can never be directly cashed out; the players can only cash out what they win after wagering the bonus money in casino games. Such bonuses are called cashable, or non-sticky. There are also sticky bonuses; for those, even the winnings cannot be cashed out.
Can you redeem money on Cash App? ›Go to the "Banking" tab by tapping the icon in the bottom-left corner (the icon looks like a house, or a bank.) 3. Underneath your "Cash Balance," tap the button on the right that says "Cash Out."
What is the Cash App promo? ›The best Cash App signup bonus available today is $5 when signing up with a referral code (mine is 737GWQC) and sending a transfer of $5 or more in the first 14 days. You can also earn an additional $15 for every friend you invite to Cash App.
How do I get my Chase $225 bonus? ›New Chase Bank customers can earn a sign up bonus of up to $225 when they open a new account and set up direct deposit. The best part is that Chase Bank offers a military banking program that waives fees for eligible military members and veterans.