Banking Checking Accounts

Chase Total Checking Review [2025]: In-person Banking Meets A Great Mobile App Experience

Chase Total Checking offers the best of both worlds with in-person branches and mobile banking services.

Updated July 31, 2025
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4.2
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Chase Total Checking®

OUR VIEW

Chase Total Checking is a great option for a straightforward, everyday checking account. If I was just starting out, I would consider setting up a Chase Total Checking account due to its low opening requirements, excellent mobile app, and the fact that it is supported by a large, well-known national bank.

Compared to other checking accounts from traditional banks, the Chase Total Checking account is similar with its waivable monthly fee1 and overdraft benefits. However, where it really stands out is with its $0 minimum initial deposit and its highly rated Chase Mobile app.

Pros

No minimum initial deposit
Offers overdraft assistance2
More than 4,700 in-person branches and 15,000 ATMs
Member FDIC

Cons

$12 monthly service fee ($15, effective August 24, 2025; can be waived if certain conditions are met)
$34 overdraft fee for overdrafts greater than $50
No earned interest
How we evaluate products

Chase Total Checking is the most popular checking account that the big bank offers.

Chase Total Checking® overview

Chase Total Checking®
Minimum deposit requirement $0
Monthly maintenance fees $12 ($15 effective August 24, 2025), but can be waived under certain conditions
Number of branches 4,700+ (48 states)
ATM access Fee-free access to 15,000+ Chase ATMs

$3-$5 fees at non-Chase ATMs

FDIC insured Up to $250,000 per depositor
Annual percentage yield (APY) N/A
Visit Chase Total Checking®

Note that Chase Total Checking isn't an interest-bearing account, which is common for checking accounts from traditional banks.

Who is a Chase Total Checking account best for?

The Chase Total Checking account makes sense for you if:

  • You want an everyday checking account you can access in person.
  • You're a beginner opening up your first account.
  • You'd be able to waive the monthly maintenance fee.

With overdraft assistance2 and no minimum initial deposit, this is a pretty beginner-friendly account. It's not the most feature-forward, but it is basic enough to be easy to use every day. Chase also provides a bit of wiggle room in case you accidentally overdraw your account. With Chase Overdraft Assist, you won't be charged overdraft fees as long as you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day. That means even if you are overdrawn by more than $50 at some point, you'll still avoid the overdraft fee if your account ends the business day overdrawn by $50 or less. This overdraft policy is by no means groundbreaking or unusual, but it's still nice to see a bit of flexibility here in a standard account from a big bank.

Chase Total Checking is also great for beginners looking to open up their first account. I opened it as a joint account with my parents when I was in high school, for example, and I found it helpful to learn about banking with support and the option to walk into a branch when I had questions. 

To avoid the $12 monthly maintenance fee ($15 effective August 24, 2025), you'll have to either set up direct deposits3 of at least $500 a month or maintain a sizable balance in your account (between $1,500 and $5,000). If you set up direct deposit pay or keep an eye on your balance, this shouldn't be an issue.

Pro tip
For those newer to banking, Chase offers FAQs on its site, as well as several guides and videos covering topics like how to set up a direct deposit, where to find your account and routing numbers, and how to track your spending.

Chase Total Checking®: $300 bonus

For a small amount of work, Chase is willing to give you a bonus for opening up a Chase Total Checking account. Some banks don't offer any bonus at all for opening up an account, so this makes it worth it in our book.

Chase is offering a $300 bonus when you open a new Chase Total Checking account with qualifying activities.

  • To earn $300: Make qualifying direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment. This includes payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers. Other electronic and check deposits, as well as person-to-person payments, are not considered direct deposits.

You can expect to receive this bonus within 15 days of completing the requirements. This offer expires on 10/15/2025.

4.2
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Chase Total Checking® Benefits
  • Get a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities; offer valid through 10/15/20254
  • Access to more than 15,000 ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
  • Manage all your accounts from the Chase Mobile® app
  • Monthly Service Fee as low as $0 when you meet qualifying electronic deposits or account balance minimums1
  • Member FDIC
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What we like about Chase Total Checking

  • In-person branches: Chase gives you access to more than 4,700 in-person branches nationwide. Customers can feel confident knowing that they can get in-person support from nearly anywhere in the U.S.
  • ATM access: Chase offers access to more than 15,000 fee-free Chase ATMs.
  • Excellent mobile app: Chase Mobile is highly rated on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. While I don't have the Chase Total Checking Account, I do use the Chase Mobile app to manage one of my credit cards. I find the app to be secure and easy to navigate. I especially like the "Spending Planner" feature, which provides insights into your spending habits and allows you to set a budget based on your monthly income and goals.
  • Customer Service: The Chase Mobile app has a "Digital Assistant" that you can chat with 24/7. Additionally, you can call 1-800-935-9935 to speak with a customer service representative. Because Chase is also a brick-and-mortar bank, you also have the option of speaking with someone in person about your banking needs.

What Chase Total Checking could improve

  • No APY: While some checking accounts provide interest, the Chase Total Checking option doesn't. It's worth noting that this is still relatively normal for most checking accounts.
  • Monthly service charge: Chase charges a $12 monthly maintenance fee for this account ($15 effective August 24, 2025). Chase will waive the fee if you meet certain criteria — like having monthly deposits of at least $500 or a beginning day balance of at least $1,500 — but some checking accounts don't have a fee at all.
  • No early direct deposit: Many checking accounts allow for early access to direct funds by up to two days, but Chase Total Checking isn't one of them.

4.9
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2025 award winner Best Overall Checking Account

Visit Capital One 360 Checking

Alternatives to consider

While Chase Total Checking offers a bonus for new customers and no minimum initial deposit, you may not be completely sold. Check out some of our best banks and alternative accounts.

SoFi Checking and Savings

If the monthly service fees, overdraft fees and low APY are a major turnoff, consider SoFi. SoFi® offers a 0.50% (as of 01/24/25) APY on checking balances, up to 3.80% APY on savings balances with qualified direct deposit, or 1.00% (as of 01/24/25) APY on savings balances without direct deposit5.

Plus, no monthly maintenance or overdraft fees67, is a win-win in our book.

Visit SoFi | Read our SoFi review

Truist One Checking

If you value being able to bank in person and live near a Truist, consider opening an account with them. New Truist One Checking account customers can earn a $400 bonus8 with qualifying activities.

Truist also doesn't charge overdraft fees. It also offers a Balance Buffer9 for Truist One Checking in case you overdraw funds from your account (up to $100). Chase Total Checking has a $34 overdraft fee for overdrafts greater than $50, so in a head-to-head match, Truist comes out on top.

Visit Truist | Read our Truist review

Chase Total Checking vs. Chase Secure Checking

Chase Total Checking monthly fee: $0 or $12

Chase Secure Checking monthly fee: $0 or $4.95

Chase Total Checking is the bank's "everyman" account, not geared toward a specific purpose or demographic. Chase Secure Checking, on the other hand, is ideal for people whose finances might be stretched thin from time to time. It doesn't charge overdraft fees (because it doesn't let you overdraw your account and will decline transactions that would cause this), and it offers early access to your paycheck with direct deposit. You can get paid up to two days early, a feature exclusive to this Chase bank account. 

Chase Total Checking makes more sense if you carry a higher balance (at least $1,500) so you can waive the $12 monthly maintenance fee ($15 effective August 24, 2025). If you tend to carry a lower balance, a Chase Secure Banking is best, but you'll have to pay a $4.95 monthly service fee (this fee can be waived if you have electronic deposits totaling $250 or more during each monthly statement period). 

FAQs

Is Chase Total Checking a good account?

Chase Total Checking is an excellent product if you want a checking account to use for everyday purposes, such as paycheck deposits and money transfers. Chase has a stellar reputation for its online and mobile banking services, but you also have the option to visit over 4,700 in-person branches.

Why did I get denied for Chase Total Checking?

It's possible that you have negative information, such as an unpaid overdraft balance or having too many open bank accounts in a short amount of time, showing up on a checking account report. Many large banks and credit unions use checking account screening companies, such as ChexSystems and Early Warning Services, to help screen bank account applicants.

How do I avoid monthly fees on Chase Total checking account?

Meet one of these three requirements to avoid fees on a Chase Total Checking account each monthly statement period:

  • Have qualifying electronic deposits totaling $500 or more
  • Have a beginning-day balance of at least $1,500 in your account
  • Have an average beginning-day balance of at least $5,000 in combined qualifying accounts

Bottom line

We recommend Chase Total Checking if you want to take advantage of a large network of in-person branches, more than 15,000 fee-free ATMs, and highly rated mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.

Chase Total Checking makes the most sense if you're able to easily waive the $12 monthly service fee ($15 effective August 24, 2025) by keeping at least a $1,500 balance or by meeting one of the other requirements.

However, Chase Total Checking isn't an interest-bearing account and doesn't completely waive overdraft fees, even with Chase Overdraft Assist. If it doesn't seem like the right fit for you, check out alternative options from our list of the best banks.

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4.2
info
No minimum initial deposit
Offers overdraft assistance2
More than 4,700 in-person branches and 15,000 ATMs
Member FDIC
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