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Chase College Checking account review
Enjoy a $100 signup bonus and no monthly fee if enrolled in school — but the perks stop there.
finder.com’s rating: 3.2 / 5.0
★★★★★
The information about Chase College Checking has been collected independently by Finder and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Students between the ages of 17 and 24 can open the Chase College Checking account and take advantage of a $100 signup bonus and no monthly maintenance fees as long as you’re in school. But unlike other student accounts, this one doesn’t earn interest and you won’t find any tools to help you better manage your money.
$6 per month
Fee
N/A
APY
$0
Minimum deposit to open
Details
| APY | N/A |
|---|---|
| Fee | $6 per month |
| To waive the fee | Have any ONE of the following: • College enrollment for up to five years • OR a direct deposit made to this account (Direct deposits can be an ACH credit, payroll, pension or government benefits such as Social Security) • OR an average ending day balance of $5,000 or more in this account |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| Intro or bonus offer | New Chase customers can get a $100 signup bonus when they complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening. |
| ATMs | 16,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches nationwide |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2.50 in the US or $5 outside the US |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% |
| Overdraft fee | $34 |
| Nonsufficient funds fee | $34 |
Review by
Peter Carleton
peter.carleton@findercrew.comPeter Carleton is a writer that covers banking and investing, breaking down what you need to know about where you put your money. When Peter's not thinking about cutting-edge banking apps and robo-advisors, he runs a creative agency and spends his spare time cooking or reading.
Expert review
The Chase College Checking account is best for college students between the ages of 17 and 24. It has a $100 sign-up bonus and no monthly maintenance fee as long as you’re actively enrolled in college.
But that’s where the features stop. While most student checking accounts reward you with interest or tools to help you better manage your money, Chase offers neither. The $100 sign-up bonus may be enough to lure you in, but you’ll likely earn more over time with a student checking account that earns interest.
The Chase College Checking account also isn’t ideal for students who plan to study abroad because there’s a 3% foreign transaction fee and out-of-network international ATMs have a $5 withdrawal fee.
How do I open a Chase College Checking account?
Opening a Chase College Checking account can be done online or at a branch.
Follow these steps for applying online:
- Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
- From the Chase website, click Checking accounts.
- Click the Students tab.
- Click Open now next to Chase College Checking.
- Fill in your personal information including your name, address and Social Security number.
- Proceed through each step and enter all required information, then click Next.
- Review and submit your application and make your initial deposit.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Chase College Checking account, you’ll need to meet these requirements:
- Between the ages of 17 and 24
- Enrolled in a college or university
- Have a Social Security number or passport for foreign students
Required information
When applying for this checking account, be prepared to provide the following:
- Name and contact information
- Date of birth
- Social Security number or passport for foreign students
- Government-issued ID number
- Proof of student status, including your acceptance letter, transcript or student ID
- Income information
What are the benefits of the Chase College Checking account?
As the top bank in the US, Chase offers the security, services and customer support that you’d expect. This account, geared for students, sports standard features like free online bill pay, a Visa debit card, an user-friendly mobile app and these perks:
- No minimum deposit requirements. Open this account with as little as $0.
- Signup bonus. Get a $100 signup bonus as a new customer when you complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening.
- Convenient deposits. Deposit money at branches, ATMs, by mail, online or through the bank’s mobile app using Chase QuickDeposit.
Chase ATM network and fees
This account comes with a Visa debit card with access to the largest bank-owned ATM network, with over 16,000 across the country. While you won’t be charged fees at these locations, you will at non-Chase ATMs:
- Domestic ATM fees. You’ll be charged $2.50 in the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands per inquiry, transfer or withdrawal — not including fees from the ATM owner.
- International ATM fees. Look out for a $5 fee per withdrawal and a $2.50 fee per transfer or inquiry — not including fees from the ATM owner.
What should I look out for?
Despite having convenient deposit methods and an attractive sign-up bonus, the Chase College Checking account has these drawbacks:
- Monthly fee. This account has a $6 monthly fee unless you get direct deposits, have a $5,000 minimum daily balance or are between the ages of 17 and 24 and can prove you’re enrolled in school.
- Limited services. Although Chase has nearly 5,000 branches, it only operates in 28 states and Washington, DC.
- No interest. Unlike some other student checking accounts, Chase College Checking doesn’t reward you for growing your balance.
If you prefer a checking account that earns interest, you’ll want to keep looking. As always, compare your options when looking for a checking account.
Case study: Dawn’s experience – April 2019
Dawn Daniels
Associate Editor
Chase branches are everywhere in major cities, and their in-person customer service has always been stellar. But calling customer service when you can’t get to a branch leaves a lot to be desired. Last time I needed a new debit card, it took me over four months to get one — the bank sent me a card in the mail with no PIN and refused to send a PIN or give me one over the phone. I couldn’t get a working card until I was able to visit a branch.
I moved to a city shortly after, so it made sense to keep my Chase card. But if I ever move back to an area with no local branches, I’ll switch banks to avoid hours on the phone getting transferred between customer service agents.
Where does Chase have branches?
Chase has branches in the following states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Compare with other student checking accounts
What other checking options does Chase offer?
You’ll find a few other checking accounts at Chase, including:
- Chase Total Checking®. Chase’s most popular checking comes with a $12 monthly service fee that can be waived if you make at least $500 in direct deposits into this account each month or meet its minimum balance requirements.
- Chase Premier Plus Checking. This account earns interest at 0.01% APY and comes with four non-Chase ATM fee waivers each month. To avoid the $25 monthly maintenance fee, make sure to have an average beginning day balance of $15,000 between your linked checking, savings and other qualifying accounts.
- Chase Sapphire Checking. Chase’s premier checking account comes with a $25 monthly service fee that’s waived if you keep an average beginning day balance of $75,000 between your linked checking, savings and other qualifying accounts.
- Chase High School Checking. Designed for students aged 13 to 17, this account must be linked to a parent’s personal checking account, which in turn waives the $6 monthly service fee.
Frequently asked questions
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We analyze top checking accounts and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: monthly fees, the ease at which monthly fees can be waived, the breadth of ATM access, ATM and overdraft fees, and customer service.