APY GUY: Maximize Your Savings & Earnings

Chase Bank

Chase Bank CD Rates Today – Are they Worth Opening?


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[Update May 15, 2021: The CD rates offered at Chase Bank today remain the same as they’ve been for all of 2021. Top APY’s sit at just 0.05% while some deposits pay as little as 0.02% APY.]

image credit: Unsplash.com, Christin Hume

Chase, or Chase bank, headquartered in downtown Manhattan (New York City) is the consumer and commercial subsidiary of the multinational JPMorgan Chase which holds nearly $2.63 trillion in assets.

Chase Bank has 5,100 branches and 16,000 ATMs nationwide. They offer a full range of financial services that reach nearly every age group and demographic.

For the purposes of this review, however, we will focus on the certificate of deposit suite offered by Chase Bank.

Despite the bank’s eye-popping asset size, their current CD rates are quite poor and underperforming the national average.

Chase Bank CDs come with terms ranging from 1 months to 10 years and can be opened online or in a local branch. If you wish to open a CD online; however, you will need to be an existing Chase Bank customer.

Chase Bank CD Rates + Account Details

Chase Bank is member FDIC and all consumer deposits are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor or $500,000 for joint accounts.

All Chase Bank CDs require a minimum deposit of $1,000 to open. In normal interest rate environments the interest rates paid on Chase Bank CDs are tiered by deposit amount.

The tiers are $1,000 to $9,999.99, $10k to $24,999.99, $25k to $49,999.99, $50k – $99,999.99, $100k to $249,999.99 and $250k plus.

Today; however, the increase in APY by deposit size is negligible, with the yield increasing from 0.02% APY to 0.05% APY at the $10,000 mark.

Chase also requires you to enter in your location by zip code before viewing rates online. Presumably this means location may affect your interest rate, however, we ran multiple scenarios in different locations throughout the country and found the same rates everywhere.

Chase Bank CD Rates

CD TermAPY ($1k – $9,999.99)APY ($10K +)
1 month0.02%0.02%
2 month0.02%0.02%
3 month0.02%0.02%
6 month0.02%0.05%
9 month0.02%0.05%
12 month0.02%0.05%
15 month0.02%0.05%
18 month0.02%0.05%
21 month0.02%0.05%
24 month0.02%0.05%
30 month0.02%0.05%
36 month0.02%0.05%
42 month0.02%0.05%
48 month0.02%0.05%
60 month0.02%0.05%
84 month0.02%0.05%
120 month0.02%0.05%

To give these yields some context, the current national average for a 12 month CD sits at roughly 0.14% APY while the average on a 5 year CD sits at roughly 0.24% APY according to recent FDIC data.

If you’re looking for FDIC-insured alternatives that don’t require you to lock up your money for a predetermined period of time, there are still a handful of online savings accounts providing yields above 0.50% APY. For example, the Axos High Yield Savings account still holds an APY of 0.61% APY!

How is Interest Calculated on a Chase CD?

Interest is compounded daily and you have some choice as to the frequency in which it is paid out. Depending on the term you may choose to have it paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Early Withdrawal Penalties

Early withdrawal penalties for Chase Bank CDs are as follows:

  • CD terms less than 6 months pay 90 days of interest
  • CD terms 6 months to 24 months pay 180 days of interest
  • CD terms 24 months or more pay 365 days of interest

Additional Chase CD Fees

Chase Bank CD accounts do not come with any monthly maintenance fees like their other accounts, but depending on how you plan to move funds around, you may encounter some fees.

Below is Chase Bank’s wire fee schedule:

TypeFee
Domestic and international incoming wire$15 per transfer OR
$0 if the transfer was originally sent with the help of a Chase banker or using chase.com or Chase Mobile.
Domestic Outbound Wire (in-branch)$35 per transfer
Domestic Outbound Wire (online)$25 per transfer
Consumer USD/FX international wire (in-branch)$50 per transfer
Consumer USD international wire (online)$40 per transfer
Consumer FX international wire (online)$5 per transfer OR
$0 per transfer if the amount is equal to $5,000 USD or more

Transferring funds online is always going to be a cheaper option than having a banker help you in a physical branch.

If you plan on opening a CD with $1,000,000 or more; however, you must do this in a local branch.

Chase Bank CD Grace Period

A certificate of deposit’s grace period is the brief window of time in which the deposit holder may move funds into and out of their certificate of deposit without facing a penalty. During this time you may also roll your funds into another deposit with a different term.

All Chase Bank CDs come with a standard 10 day grace period for CDs with terms of 14 days.

Chase Bank will alert you via email prior to your CD maturity date, but you should set up your own reminders as well.

Why are Chase Bank CD Rates so Low?

Unfortunately for consumers looking to lock in good rates on certificates of deposit, the nation’s largest banks will all leave you hanging. Whether it’s Chase Bank, Wells Fargo or Bank of America, consumers simply can not expect anything in the way of decent savings rates.

Why is that?

The simple fact of the matter is that banks don’t need your money. With key rates at historic lows and the Fed printing money through qualitative easing (among other programs), these large banks have no need to attract consumer capital with competitive savings rates on long-term CDs or other deposit accounts.

Alternatives to Consider

If you’re looking for FDIC-insured CDs and/or savings accounts, then we would recommend online banks or nationally available credit unions. Some of these institutions still pay above 1.0% APY on long-term CDs and close to 0.50% APY on savings accounts.

If FDIC-insurance is less important to you, you can read our 12 alternatives to CDs and savings accounts for ideas that don’t just consist of banking products.

Final Thoughts

Although Chase Bank has vast coverage across the country and abroad, their current CD rates are underperforming an already abysmal national average by a considerable margin.

If you value in-person banking and are looking for federal insurance on your savings, then you may want to consider a local credit union. They can likely beat Chase’s CD rates and your money will be insured by the NCUA (FDIC equivalent for credit unions) up to $250,000.

If you value high rates and prefer online banking to traditional banking, then check out Ally bank or Discover as potential options for parking your cash.

Chase First Banking – A Debit Card for Kids and Teens with Digital Tools


image credit: Chase.com

Chase Bank is the largest bank in the United States as of 2021. This bank has over $3.03 trillion in assets and one of the highest customer satisfaction rates across the board. But how does the new Chase Bank debit product for kids and teens stack up against its competitors?

The Chase First Banking account was created as a kid-friendly banking account that helps kids learn the value of money and parents play an active role in this process. Launched in 2020 in partnership with Greenlight, Chase First Banking has many of the features seen in popular kids’ banking products, plus a few management options parents may love. 

Is the Chase First Banking account right for your family? Continue reading our comprehensive review below, and see how it stacks up against the competition in our rundown of the best debit cards for kids and teens this year!

Who’s It For

Average age: 6-13

Good candidate: Older children and younger teens who are not quite ready to be financially independent and would benefit from moderate parental control.

Kids between the ages of six and 17 are eligible to be added as users to this account. However, a Chase First Banking account does not support direct deposit, so if your teenager is already earning their own money and they want to deposit it directly into their own account, they will need to do so another way or get a different account like the Chase High School Checking account.

Only Chase customers are eligible to sign up for this account and parents must link a qualifying Chase checking account in order to get started. Qualifying accounts include but are not limited to the Chase Total Checking, Chase Premier Checking, Chase Better Banking, and Chase Private Client accounts.

Features and Benefits

Fees: no monthly service fee, no fee for in-network ATMs ($2.50 per withdrawal from out-of-network ATMs), $5 card replacement fee per card, 3% foreign exchange fee

The Chase First Banking account debit card is offered through Greenlight, one of the most popular kids’ banking products and apps on the market. So not surprisingly, there are a few similarities between this product and Greenlight. However, this checking account by Chase is structured differently and better for kids that are a little older.

This is a fee-free banking product that gives kids valuable learning experiences and parents the ability to “micromanage” their kids’ accounts. For both parents and kids, this account is divided into three categories: Spend, Save, and Earn. Take a look at what this is like for each.

For Parents

As the account owner of a Chase First Banking checking account, parents have control over their kids’ spending and are responsible for transferring money into their account. They must fund their child’s account with a linked Chase checking account.

In the Spend category, parents can choose where their kids do or don’t shop, how much they may spend at certain places, and even freeze their cards as needed from the app. They can set “Places to spend” which can be either specific merchants or merchant categories they would like to restrict. 

Restrictions may mean setting spending limits for those categories or prohibiting spending at them altogether. For example, a parent may decide to allow their child to spend only $20 at a movie theater. 

Money not in a “Places to spend” category becomes “Spend anywhere” funds. “Spend anywhere” money can be used anywhere (except for prohibited establishments) until there is no more available. All transactions that would overdraft either “Places to Spend” or “Spend Anywhere” funds are automatically declined. Kids can only use funds from “Places to spend” or “Spend anywhere.” 

In the Save category, parents can essentially require their kids to set aside their money for future use by assigning it to their savings for them. By placing money into the “General savings” category, parents can effectively save for their kids and teach them good habits. Kids can then decide which categories to put their savings into if they have specific goals set up.

Finally, in the Earn category, parents can pay their children allowances via recurring transfers into either their “Spend anywhere” or “General savings” balance. Chores can be assigned in the app that earn allowance when completed. For one-time payments, parents can select “Transfer money” and initiate this transaction from their own linked checking account.

Parents may choose to set up alerts to be notified when their kids use their cards. Only one parent or guardian may manage and have access to a Chase First Banking account.

For Kids

On the kids’ side, users are more limited in what they can and can’t do. Their parent will decide for them what money they can spend and what they can spend it on.

But stringent though these terms may be, kids still have a lot of options for what they do with their Chase First Banking funds. For example, they can set savings goals for themselves that they contribute to, even if their parents have already designated a certain chunk of money to be put away in savings. After they reach a goal, a parent may choose to move this money to a spending category for their child to use or leave it in savings. 

Unlike some similar products, kids will not receive rewards from their parents for reaching savings goals or saving more money (i.e. an interest rate paid on their savings balance or an account bonus when a goal is met). This account does not earn interest paid by Chase bank either.

Kids can also ask for more money. If a child would like more money added to their account, they can request this from their parent from the app. This money can be transferred into a spending or saving category at the parent’s discretion.

Another way kids can receive funds is by completing chores or tasks for their parents. Many parents assign chores to their kids through the app and set a reward amount that their child can see for the completion of these chores. Others set fixed recurring allowances without specific chores.

Chase First Banking debit cards can be used online and almost anywhere Visa is accepted, including at more than 16,000 transaction-free Chase ATMs. They can also be used internationally, but foreign exchange fees may apply. Unfortunately, many types of withdrawals and transfers are prohibited.

There are only two ways that kids can withdraw funds from their account:

  • At an ATM (fees are assessed at out-of-network locations)
  • As cashback on non-PIN debit card transactions for in-person or online purchases

The only other way funds can leave a child’s account is if their parent transfers it.

Kids can either spend or save their money only. They are not able to invest it into real stocks or donate it to charity through Chase.

A child may lock or unlock their own card from the Chase mobile app in the event that it is lost or stolen.

How Much Does the Chase First Banking Account Cost

This checking account does not charge service fees or penalize low balances. It does not cost most users anything to use, open, or keep (with the only real fees coming from foreign transactions, card replacement, and withdrawals from out-of-network ATMs).

This is not a subscription-based product, so there are also no costs associated with keeping your account and accessing all of its features. As long as the qualifying Chase checking account linked with a Chase First Banking account remains in good standing, your First account will stay open. 

Please note that this account does not qualify for signup bonuses applied to other Chase personal checking accounts.

Chase First Banking Vs. Competitors

One of the main benefits of Chase First Banking is that it does not charge unnecessary subscription or service fees like many other kid-friendly deposit products (including FamZoo).

Chase First Banking is also a popular choice because it gives parents much more control than other apps and products. For example, few kids’ debit cards or checking accounts allow parents to set spending categories for their kids or set aside money for savings on their behalf. These could be especially useful for parents of children who have not had much practice managing their own money.

Chase First Banking checking accounts are incredibly safe too. As we’ll talk about, they protect against unsafe spending, fraud, and unauthorized debit transactions.

Potential Drawbacks

One potential drawback to this product is that it requires you to be a Chase customer to open. And while Chase is a great bank for many people, this may be an inconvenience for some.

There are also several limitations on how money can go into and out of this account. For example, the account owner cannot deposit money into this account via ACH transfer or wire transfer or transfer money in these ways. 

Additionally, kids are limited in how they may use their money. Some families may prefer a product that allows them to put money toward giving or investments in addition to spending and saving.

A Chase First Banking account also has no check writing capabilities and does not allow check deposits of any kind. Chase convenience services included Chase QuickPay and Chase QuickDeposit are not available for this account, and users cannot use peer-to-peer transaction services such as Zelle or Venmo.

This account does not pay interest on money saved, so look elsewhere if this feature is important to you and your child.

Consumer Sentiment

Chase Bank is known for providing above-average customer service, and Chase First Banking account users are generally satisfied.

The Chase mobile app is highly regarded with 4.4 stars in Google Play and 4.8 stars in the App Store. Its interface is easy to navigate and most users have little to no trouble accessing their accounts and getting questions answered through the app and/or online platform.

To contact customer support, you can send a secure message through the app or online banking platform or give Chase a call at 1-800-935-9935.

Is It Safe

In addition to being FDIC insured up to $250,000, Chase First Banking checking accounts are covered by Zero Liability Protection and 24/7 Fraud Monitoring. These features will keep your child’s money safe from unauthorized debit transactions and flag you if suspicious activity occurs.

Chase protects kids’ safety by prohibiting spending at dangerous establishments and by capping daily spending and withdrawals. Prohibited transaction types include:

  • Gambling purchases
  • Rental purchases
  • Cash withdrawals
  • Check purchases

As mentioned, parents can also take their kids’ safety into their own hands by limiting or restricting their spending at certain establishments. Additionally, use of these debit cards on peer-to-peer spending networks like Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal is prohibited.

How to Sign Up

Signing up for this checking account can be done completely online or through the Chase mobile app. To be eligible to sign up, you must be a Chase checking account customer already or be willing to open an account. 

If you qualify, you can sign up by providing your personal information and linking your Chase checking account. Your child should receive their debit card within three to five business days.

Only one parent or guardian may be the owner of a Chase First Banking account. Each Chase customer can open up to five Chase First Banking accounts per qualifying checking account (if at any time your linked checking account is closed, this account will be as well).

Final Thoughts

For parents of kids and young teens that want a little more control over their kids’ spending, the Chase First Banking account is not a bad way to go. This account allows parents to manage their children’s spending on a more granular level than other products and apps do, making this one of the best options for parents hoping to help their children learn important money management skills. 

If you don’t mind the restrictions and limitations of this account (i.e. few funding options and a number of services not available), then it may be a good fit.

Chase Bank Fees: What to Expect For Each Chase Account


image credit: chase.com

Chase Bank is one of the most recognizable names in banking. Their presence – both branch and ATM – is as vast as their customer base with 16,000 ATMs and 4,900 branches nationwide. On top of this tremendous reach, they also sit on roughly $2.69 trillion (yes, with a T) in assets.

While a bank of this size has much to offer in terms of accessibility, it is no secret that the institution’s most popular bank accounts and products typically come with fees.

These fees generally include:

  • overdraft charges,
  • monthly maintenance fees,
  • checking account fees,
  • wire transfer fees and
  • ATM fees for using a non-Chase machine (not to mention what that ATM owner charges)

While the monthly maintenance fees can be waived on most accounts, some of the other fees may be inevitable.

Below is a complete breakdown of all the fees you can expect to pay with Chase Bank’s most popular accounts as well as how to waive them (if possible).

Chase Total Checking Account Fees & How to Avoid Them

The Chase Total Checking account is the most basic checking account option. It comes with a minimum deposit requirement of $25 and a hefty monthly fee of $12 that can be waived by doing any of following:

  • Direct deposit totaling $500 or more made to this account
  • 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 deposits or investments.

Below is a complete list of fees to look out for if opening a Chase Total Checking account.

Chase Total Checking Fees

TypeFee
Monthly Maintenance$12 (can be waived)
Minimum Deposit$25
Overdraft$35
Card Replacement$5
Foreign Transaction3%
ATM (out of network, domestic)$2.50 (plus whatever the ATM owner charges)
ATM (out of network, international)$5
Wire (incoming, domestic)$15
Wire (outgoing, domestic)$25
Wire (incoming, international)$15
Wire (outgoing, international)$5 if sent in foreign currency,
$40 if sent in USD
Stop Payment$30
Online or Automated Phone Stop Payment$25
Returned Item or Check$12
Money Order$5
Cashier’s Check$8

Of course, you’ll also have to pay for things like paper checks or paper statements ($6 per statement copy) should you wish to obtain them, but Chase Bank has a robust online banking platform and native apps on IOS and Android that will give you plenty of access to all your account information free of charge.

Chase Secure Banking Checking Account Fees & How to Avoid Them

The Chase Secure Banking account is considered the middle tier in terms of Chase checking account options. The big difference with this account is that it has a flat $4.95/month service fee that can not be waived. In exchange for this, the account comes with no overdraft fees. If you overdraft your account, they will simply decline or return the transaction.

Chase Secure Banking Fees

TypeFee
Monthly Maintenance$4.95 (can not be waived)
Minimum Deposit$25
OverdraftNone
Card Replacement$5
Foreign Transaction3%
ATM (out of network, domestic)$2.50 (plus whatever the ATM owner charges)
ATM (out of network, international)$5
Wire (incoming, domestic)$15
Wire (outgoing, domestic)$25
Wire (incoming, international)$15
Wire (outgoing, international)$5 if sent in foreign currency,
$40 if sent in USD
Stop Payment$30
Online or Automated Phone Stop Payment$25
Returned Item or Check$12
Money Order$5
Cashier’s Check$8

Chase Premier Plus Checking Account Fees & How to Avoid Them

The Chase Premier Plus Checking account is the top tier in terms of Chase checking account options. It comes with an interest rate (although the standard rate sits at just 0.01% APY at the moment) and they waive fees for counter checks, money orders and cashier’s checks.

It comes with an even heftier monthly maintenance fee of $25 that can be waived by doing any of following:

  • An average beginning day balance of $15,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying deposits or investments
  • OR have a linked qualifying Chase first mortgage enrolled in automatic payments from your Chase account

If you cannot meet the two qualifications above, Chase will also let you waive the $25 monthly fee by linking:

  • Up to two additional personal Chase checking accounts (excluding Chase Sapphire, Checking and Chase Private Client Checking)
  • Chase personal savings account(s), excluding Chase Private Client Savings
  • Chase Liquid Card(s)

Below is a complete list of fees to look out for if opening a Chase Premier Plus Checking account.

Chase Premier Plus Checking Fees

TypeFee
Monthly Maintenance$25 (can be waived)
Beginning Day Balance$15,000 to avoid $25 fee
Overdraft$35
Card Replacement$5
Foreign Transaction3%
ATM (out of network, domestic)$2.50 (plus whatever the ATM owner charges)
ATM (out of network, international)$5
Wire (incoming, domestic)$15
Wire (outgoing, domestic)$25
Wire (incoming, international)$15
Wire (outgoing, international)$5 if sent in foreign currency,
$40 if sent in USD
Stop Payment$30
Online or Automated Phone Stop Payment$25
Returned Item or Check$12
Money Orderfree
Cashier’s Checkfree

Chase Bank Savings Account Fees and Rates

Chase Bank currently offers two different savings accounts – The Chase Savings and the Chase Premier Savings. Both of these accounts come with monthly fees that can be waived.

The Chase Savings account comes with a $5 monthly maintenance fee unless one of the following conditions apply:

  • you’re under the age of 18
  • you maintain at least a $300 minimum daily balance
  • you set up at least one recurring automatic transfer of $25 from a Chase checking account
  • you link your savings to a Chase Premier Plus Checking, Chase Premier Platinum Checking, or Chase Private Client Checking account

The Chase Premier Savings account comes with a $25 monthly maintenance fee unless one of the following conditions apply:

  • maintain a minimum daily balance of $15,000
  • link up a Chase Premier Plus Checking or Chase Sapphire Checking account

All of the additional miscellaneous fees from the table(s) above apply to both of the chase savings accounts.

You won’t earn much in the way of interest on either savings account offered by Chase Bank currently. Current rates vary between just 0.01% and 0.05% APY depending on your relationship standing with the bank (ie how many accounts you hold with them) and your balance amount(s).

Chase Checking Account Bonuses: $100 – $600!


image source: chase.com

If you’re a new Chase customer opening a College, Total, or Premier Plus checking account, you qualify for a welcome bonus offer of $100, $200, or even $300, respectively. Yes, up to $300. This offer is valid until July 20, 2020.

While we are going to focus on the Chase Bank checking account bonuses for this article, please note that it is also possible to lock in up to $600 from Chase Bank by doing the following:

  1. Open a new Chase Total Checking account + set up direct deposit
  2. Open a Chase Savings account with $15,000 in new money within 20 days + maintain this avg balance for 90 days.

The savings account only pays an APY of 0.02% and comes with some steep deposit requirements to capture this bonus.

To read more about this opportunity click here.

Now back to the checking account bonuses…

The checking account bonuses that pay up to $300 are far more attainable and don’t require you to lock up funds in a low paying savings account.

There are pros and cons to each of these accounts, so you’ll want to learn more about the options before you decide.

Read more about these offers, account terms, potential fees and how to avoid them.

Chase College Checking account + $100 Sign-Up Bonus

A Chase College Checking account is perfect for students ages 17 to 24 years old.

They’re fairly basic and don’t come with many bells and whistles. They do, however, offer a safe place to stash cash while in school and with great accessibility.

This account does not require a minimum opening deposit to open and a $6 monthly maintenance fee can be waived quite easily.

To open one of these, you’ll need to prove that you’re a student at a college or university with a transcript or acceptance letter. You’ll also need to have a Social Security number (if you don’t, visit a branch to discuss your options). This account can be opened online or in person.

How to waive the $6 monthly fee?

The $6 monthly maintenance fee associated with this account can be waived by doing just one of the following:

  1. prove that you are a college student (for up to 5 years),
  2. set up a direct deposit into this account, or
  3. maintain an average daily balance of at least $5,000.

This account (and all other Chase checking accounts) offer Overdraft Protection through standard overdraft practice.

If you choose to opt into this, you must link your checking account to your Chase savings account. Then Chase will make payments for you from the savings account when you overdraw your checking account. Note that this is done at their discretion and there is no guarantee it will happen every time.

In the event of an overdraft, you will incur a $34 fee. You will also incur a $34 fee every time a check or automatic payment is returned due to insufficient funds.

Chase also offers Debit Card Coverage, which, when activated, will decline transactions—without charging a fee—that would cause your account balance to go negative. Sign up for account alerts when your balance gets low and opt into this Debit Card Coverage if you’d like to avoid declined payments or overdrafts and the fees that come with them.

Other fees associated with this account include:

  • $15 per incoming wire transfer,
  • $25 per outgoing domestic wire transfer,
  • $12 returned check fee,
  • $6 paper statement fee (see this ​deposit account agreement​ for a complete list of fees for all accounts).
  • $2 for each page of printed personal checks. 3 per page.
  • $2.50 charge for out-of-network ATM usage.

How to qualify for the $100 bonus:

$100 for new College Checking Accounts!

To qualify for the $100 bonus, make sure you make 10 qualifying transactions—such as purchases with your debit card, QuickDeposits, online bill payments, etc.—within 60 days of opening the account. Use this link to access the offer.

Chase Total Checking account + $200 Sign-Up Bonus

The Chase Total Checking account is one of the bank’s more popular deposit products. And from now until July 20, 2020 this account features a $200 sign-up bonus for new customers.

How to qualify for the $200 bonus:

$200 for new Chase Total Checking Accounts!

Anyone can open this account with a minimum deposit of just $25. To earn the $200 bonus you will need to set up a direct deposit to this account within 90 days of opening it. This direct deposit must come from an employer, government agency in the form of benefits (social security) or pensions. Person to person payments are not considered direct deposits.

The direct deposit requirement to earn the cash bonus is often the largest ‘catch’ for offers like these. Early this week we covered the $400 Wells Fargo checking account bonus which had similar requirements.

Use this link to access the Chase Total Checking bonus offer.

Fees and how to avoid them:

This account has a $12 monthly service fee that you can avoid by meeting one of the following criteria:

  1. setting up direct deposits totaling $500 or more,
  2. maintaining an average daily balance of at least $1,500 in just this account, or
  3. maintaining an average daily balance of at least $5,000 across all linked deposit and investment accounts.

The insufficient funds and returned item overdraft fees of $34 each apply to all Chase checking accounts, and so does Debit Card Coverage, if you choose to use it. Overdraft protection options are also the same on all accounts.

This is a standard checking account, which doesn’t earn interest.

Chase Premier Plus Checking Account + $300 Bonus

The Chase checking account that will give you the highest signup bonus—$300—is the Premier Plus checking account, which requires a minimum opening deposit of just $25 and comes with many features that the others do not.

How to qualify for the $300 bonus:

$300 for new Chase Premier Plus Checking accounts!

The same direct deposit requirements to earn the bonus on the Chase Total Checking account (mentioned above) also apply to the Chase Premier Checking account.

You’ll need to set up a direct deposit from your employer or government agency (social security benefits, pension payments, etc) within 90 days of opening the account to qualify. Peer to peer payments of any kind do not apply.

Once this direct deposit requirement is met, the $300 bonus will be directly deposited into your account within business 10 days.

Use this link to access the offer.

Fees and how to avoid them:

This account’s high $25 monthly maintenance fee can be avoided by:

  1. either maintaining a combined average daily balance of $15,000 across all linked Chase accounts or
  2. by having a linked qualifying Chase first mortgage that you are paying in automatic installments.
  3. These qualifications must be met every statement period. 

Although this account is technically interest-bearing, the payoffs you’ll get from this feature are next to nothing. Right now, these checking accounts are earning just 0.01% APY across all balance tiers, in every state, so the interest-bearing part doesn’t count for much.

However, the perks on this account go beyond a meager interest rate. If you are the owner of a Chase Premier Plus checking account, you’ll have:

  1. monthly service fees automatically waived on up to 2 other Chase Premier Plus checking accounts,
  2. you’ll get checks and money orders for free,
  3. you can have out-of-network ATMs fees waived up to 4 times per period,
  4. your service fees will be waived on any and all linked Chase savings accounts, and more.

Though not quite the most elite account Chase has to offer (that title belongs to the Sapphire checking account), this one will reward you much more than your average checking account.

About Chase Bank Checking Accounts + Customer Sentiment

The Chase checking account options range from the very basic but less rewarding College checking account, to a benefits-packed Premier Plus account. All three options have their advantages. The majority of customers opt for a Total checking account, but Chase has an account that’ll work for nearly anyone.

Please note that there are even more Chase checking accounts to choose from, but these are the most popular accounts and the ones that most frequently offer signup bonuses.

This bank is very good at meeting its clients’ needs according to review agencies.

According to a study conducted by J.D. Power in 2019, Chase scored 846 on a 1,000 point scale in customer satisfaction and was tied for 2nd in a ranking of banks with the highest overall satisfaction score (the national average is 838).

Per this press release:

“Customers of Chase recognize the bank for providing innovative technology, having the lowest incidence of problems, and high satisfaction associated with credit cards and ATMs.”

As one of the largest and highest-asset banks in the U.S., it should come as no surprise that Chase has thousands of ATM and branch locations across the country. As of June 2020, there are over 16,000 ATMs and almost 4,900 Chase branches.

It’s also worth noting that the Chase mobile banking app is superb. It is easy to navigate and allows you to do anything you may need to do, from account management to getting help with a question. Across the millions of Apple and Android customers that use this app the vast majority are happy with it – scoring a 5 star and 4.5 star rating, respectively. This cannot be overstated, as many banking apps receive lower ratings.

Final Thoughts

Chase Bank offers far-reaching access through their branches and ATM networks, comprehensive online banking and mobile app features, and cold hard cash for new accounts.

Just remember, these three bonus offers are not available to existing Chase customers. But if you are new to Chase and in need of a checking account, you likely find a home with one of these accounts.