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Chase Secure Bankingâ„ account review
A checking account with minimal fees, but it has an unavoidable monthly fee.
finder.com’s rating: 4.2 / 5.0
★★★★★
Chase Secure Banking has no overdraft services, which can help keep you from overspending and new Chase customers may qualify for a $100 signup bonus. But watch out for the unavoidable $4.95 monthly fee.$4.95 per month
Fee
N/A
APY
$0
Minimum deposit to open
Details
| APY | N/A |
|---|---|
| Fee | $4.95 per month |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| ATMs | Access to 16,000 ATMs and more than 4,700 branches nationwide |
| ATM transaction fee | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2.50 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
Review by
Kimberly Ellis
kimberly.ellis@findercrew.comKimberly Ellis is a writer at Finder. She hails from New York City with a BA from Queens College and a New York State teaching certificate. After teaching in both public and private schools, Kimberly decided to take the world by storm and dive into the media industry — where she covers everything from home loans and investing to K–12 education and shopping. She’s also an aspiring polyglot, always in a book and forever on the hunt for the perfect classic red lipstick.
Expert review
Chase Secure Banking has minimal fees and a strong network of ATMs, so you can access your money from almost anywhere. You also don’t need to worry about getting hit with an overdraft fee as transactions won’t go through if your balance can’t cover the amount.Though there are some instances where your transaction might go through. For instance, if you leave a tip at a restaurant and you don’t have enough to cover the tip. The transaction may go through and you may get a negative balance. But in cases like this, Chase still won’t hit you with an overdraft fee.
Although Chase Secure Banking comes with a lot of benefits, it has an unavoidable $4.95 monthly fee. If you don’t think the features outweigh the fee, consider looking at free checking account options like Ally Bank Interest Checking, which offers up to 0.15% APY.
Deal
Get $100 for new Chase Secure Banking customers
To get the $100, you'll need to open a new Chase Secure Banking account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment. Offer expires April 20, 2022.
How do I open a Chase Secure Banking account?
Follow these steps to sign up for a Chase Secure Banking account:
- Click Apply now.
- Select Open an account to open the account online, or choose Email my coupon to open your account at a branch.
- Answer the question about whether you’re a current Chase customer, then choose Next.
- Log in to your account to complete the application process if you currently bank with Chase
- Enter your full name, home address, contact details, and citizenship status, if you’re not a current Chase customer. You’ll also need to provide your Social Security number and details from a government-issued ID.
- Authorize Chase to check your credit history, then select Next.
- Follow the prompts to open and fund your account when you pass the verification check.
Eligibility
To qualify for a new Chase checking account, you’ll need to meet these requirements.
- At least 18 years old
- A US citizen or permanent resident
Required information
You should have the following information handy when opening your Chase Secure Banking account:
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license or state ID
What are the benefits of Chase’s Secure Banking checking account?
Check out a few interesting features of a Chase Secure Banking account:
- No minimum deposit. No funding required to open an account.
- No overdraft fee. Even if you have a negative balance, Chase won’t charge you an overdraft fee. But if you don’t have enough money to cover a transaction, it won’t go through.
- No fees for money orders and cashier’s checks. Unlike most banks that charge for each money order and cashier’s check, Chase offers them for free to Secure Banking customers.
- Chase Credit Journey. This account comes with an identity theft protection service that lets you check your credit score for free and get alerts to help prevent identity fraud.
- Chase Offers. Get a statement credit when you activate an offer from a participating merchant and use your linked debit card to pay.
- Sign up bonus. New Chase checking customers can earn $100 for opening a new Chase Secure Banking account and completing 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days. To qualify for this offer, you must request a coupon code by email and apply it when you open the account. Promotion is valid until April 20, 2022.
What should I look out for?
This account isn’t a complete bed of roses.
- Monthly fee. This account has an unavoidable monthly service fee of $4.95.
- No checks. While you can conveniently cash checks using mobile deposits, you can’t write checks from this account.
- No wire transfers. Chase restricts all incoming or outgoing wire transfers.
Chase’s ATM network and fees
Make deposits and withdrawals for free at any of Chase’s 16,000 network ATMs. But if you venture outside of the Chase network, you’ll see the following fees:
- Non-Chase ATM in the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands: $2.50
- International ATMs: $5
- Withdrawal from a non-Chase bank teller: 3% of the transaction amount or $5, whichever is greater
Compare Chase Secure Banking with other checking accounts
How do I deposit or withdraw my money?
Although you can’t write paper checks or accept or send wire transfers, Chase provides several other ways to access your cash:
Deposits
- ATM deposits
- Zelle payments
- Remote check deposits with Chase Online and the Chase mobile app
- ACH transfers
- Direct deposits
Withdrawals
- ATM withdrawals
- Chase Online Bill Pay
- Zelle payments
- ACH transfer
What other checking options does Chase offer?
Chase isn’t shy when it comes to checking accounts. If Secure Banking isn’t the right fit, consider the following alternatives:- Chase Total Checking®. A checking account with overdraft services and a $12 monthly fee.
- Chase Premier Plus Checking. Unlock multiple fee waivers, including out-of-network ATM fees, money orders and cashier’s checks fees and fees for Chase-designed checks. While you earn 0.01% interest on your balance, this account will run you $25 per month.
- Chase First Banking. A parent-owned checking account for kids ages six to 17 with no monthly service fee.
- Chase High School Checking. A checking account designed for students 13 to 17 years old but requires a cosigner and a linked parent or guardian Chase personal checking account.
- Chase College Checking. An account for college students ages 17 to 24 with a $6 monthly fee.
- Chase Sapphire Banking. A premium checking account with no ATM fees worldwide, 0.01% APY and a $25 monthly fee.
- Chase Private Client Checking. A personalized account with all the perks of Sapphire Banking but additional benefits, including a dedicated banker and banking advisor. Comes with a 0.02% APY and a monthly service fee of $35.
How do I contact Chase customer service?
Get help with your banking needs by:
- Calling 800-935-9935.
- Tweeting @ChaseSupport or sending a message to its Facebook account @chase.<//b>
- Speaking to a local banker at any of its 4,700 nationwide branches.
Checking account ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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.
