Chase Total Checking® account review

Deal

$200 signup bonus when you open a Chase Total new account with direct deposit

Expires 20 Jul 2022

Offer valid for new Chase Total Checking customers through July 20, 2022, when you set up direct deposit within 90 days of opening your account.

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How do I open a Chase Total Checking account?

You can open a Chase Total Checking account at a branch or online by following these steps:

1. Select Apply now.
2. From the Chase site, select Checking accounts from the navigation menu.
3. Tap or click Open account under Chase Total Checking.
4. Fill in your personal information, including your name, address and Social Security number, then click Next.
5. Once your application is complete, you’ll need to fund the account.
6. After your opening deposit has been made, you can submit your application.

3 benefits of Chase Total Checking

Here are some of the perks you can look forward to when you open a Chase Total Checking account.

• Bonus offer. If you’re a new Chase customer, you can get a $200 signup bonus when you open this account and set up direct deposit within 90 days.
• Branch network. Chase has more than 4,700 branches across the US, making it easy to meet with a banker in person in many parts of the country.
• Low opening deposit. You can open this account with as little as $0.
• Overdraft services. Overdraft Assist lets you bypass Chase’s insufficient funds fee if you overdraw your account by $50 or less, and comes standard on its Total Checking account. You can also enroll in Overdraft Protection, which links your Chase savings account as a backup to cover overdraft transactions and avoid the $34 overdraft fee entirely. Keep in mind that all savings accounts are limited to six monthly withdrawals and transfers. Any additional withdrawal is subject to a $5 fee.

3 things to look out for

Keep these drawbacks in mind before applying for this account.

• Monthly service fee. The Chase Total Checking account comes with a $12 monthly fee, which you can only waive when you receive direct deposits totaling $500 or more per month, have a balance of $1,500 or more at the beginning of each statement period or have an average balance of $5,000 or more at the beginning of each statement period, including qualifying linked deposits and investments.
• Limited availability. Although Chase has more than 4,700 branches, it only operates in 28 states and Washington, D.C. But you can open an online account nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
• Overdraft fee. Expect to pay a $34 insufficient funds fee for each transaction that leaves your account overdrawn by more $50 — up to three fees per day.

If you prefer an interest-bearing checking account or one with no foreign transaction fee, you’ll want to keep looking. As always, compare your options when looking for a checking account.

Chase ATM network and fees

This account comes with a Chase Visa debit card, giving you access to Chase’s network of more than 16,000 ATMs. Transactions at these ATMs are free, but if you use an ATM from another bank, you’ll be charged the following fees:

Chase Total Checking reviews and complaints

Chase is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which gives it an A- rating based on its handling of 3,612 complaints in the past three years. However, there are 322 customer reviews for Chase on the BBB’s website, with an average rating of 1.1 out of 5. And among the 551 customer reviews for Chase on Trustpilot, the bank earns a dismal rating of 1.4 out of 5.

On both Trustpilot and the BBB’s website, customers complain about Chase’s banking, mortgaging and auto financing services. But we didn’t find any reviews specifically about the Total Checking account.

Compare Chase Total Checking to similar accounts

We gathered a quick comparison of Chase Total Checking and similar accounts to help you decide which one is best for you. Select Compare accounts to compare even more checking accounts.

Chase Total Checking®	HSBC Premier Checking	Chime Spending account
★★★★★ Finder rating 3 / 5	★★★★★ Finder rating 2.7 / 5	★★★★★ Finder rating 4.7 / 5
Go to site on Chase's secure site	Go to site on HSBC's secure site	Go to site on Chime's secure site
Fee $12 per month (can be waived)	Fee $50 per month (can be waived)	Fee $0
APY N/A	APY 0.01% on balances of $5+	APY N/A
Minimum deposit to open $0	Minimum deposit to open $0	Minimum deposit to open $0

Compare even more checking accounts

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How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

There are several ways to move money into and out of your Chase Total Checking account.

Deposit

• Branch deposits. Chase has more than 4,600 locations across the US.
• ATM deposits. You can load cash into your account at participating ATMs.
• Mail a check. Address endorsed checks to National Bank, P.O. Box 6185, Westerville, OH 43086.
• Mobile deposits. Use your smartphone and the Chase mobile app to deposit paper checks.
• Chase QuickDeposit. If you operate a business, this service can help you scan checks using your computer.
• Direct deposit. Your employer can deposit your paycheck directly into this account.
• Incoming ACH transfers. Transfer funds into your account from a linked bank.
• Wire transfers. Send domestic or international wire transfers for a fee.
• Zelle. Use this platform to accept mobile payments to other Zelle-compatible accounts.

Withdraw

• Branch withdrawals. Withdraw cash from your account at any Chase branch.
• ATM withdrawals. Access cash at any ATM that accepts Visa and at Chase ATMs for free.
• Personal checks. Write checks that draw from this account, but you’ll need to buy the checks from Chase.
• ACH withdrawals. Transfer funds from your account to a linked bank.
• Zelle. Use this platform to send mobile payments to people in your life.

How to contact Chase customer service?

If you have questions or need help with your account, you can contact Chase customer service in the following ways.

• In person. Visit a local Chase branch to speak with a banker in person.
• Phone. Call 800-935-9935 for automated and live support with your account.
• Social media. Send tweets to @ChaseSupport or message the bank via Facebook.

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.

Read the full methodology of how we rate checking accounts.