Top perks
Large branch network: Chase is one of the largest banks in the country, with over 4,700 branches nationwide and more than 15,000 ATMs. This makes it a great fit for those who prefer to visit their bank's locations for personalized service.
Excellent customer service: Chase earned the second-highest rating in J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction Study. It could be a good fit for you if you put a big emphasis on customer support and talking to a real person when you need assistance.
Flexible access to your funds: Between its huge branch network and online and mobile tools, the Chase Total Checking® account provides customers with a variety of ways to access their cash when they need it. Customers can deposit and withdraw funds electronically, by visiting a branch, or by making a wire transfer. They can also deposit checks from their smartphones with the mobile app and make withdrawals via debit card or check.
Overdraft Assist: Those who enroll in the Chase Total Checking® account's Overdraft Assist program won't pay an overdraft fee if they've overdrawn their account by less than $50 at the end of the day. They also won't owe a fee if they overdraw it by more than $50, but bring the account balance to overdrawn by less than $50 by the end of the next business day.
What could be improved
Maintenance fee: Like many brick-and-mortar checking accounts, the Chase Total Checking® has a monthly maintenance fee. There are multiple ways to waive this fee each monthly statement period:
- Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network,
- OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account,
- OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
But if you don't think you'll be able to do this, you'd be better off seeking an account that doesn't charge you to own it.
APY: You won't earn any interest with the Chase Total Checking® account. This isn't unusual among checking accounts, especially those offered through traditional banks. But there are online checking accounts with this perk for those who want it. Alternatively, you can keep your extra cash in a high-yield savings account to earn interest.
