Chase College Checking account review
- Fee
- $12 per month
- APY
- N/A
- Minimum deposit to open
- $0
Our verdict
Enjoy a $100 signup bonus and no monthly fee if enrolled in school — but the perks stop there.
As part of the Big Four, Chase is a well-known bank with many banking products for a myriad of consumers, including college students. Students between the ages of 17 and 24 can open the Chase College Checking account and take advantage of a $100 signup bonus. Although there's a $12 monthly fee, you can avoid it if you're enrolled in school. But the monthly fee can only be avoided for up to five years while you're in school. After that, you'll need to set up a direct deposit or keep a $5,000 minimum daily balance to avoid the fee.
Best for: College students looking for a free checking account backed by a well-known bank.
Pros
-
$0 opening deposit
-
$100 signup bonus
-
Large ATM network
Cons
-
17-year-olds or students with no SSN must open at a branch
-
$12 fee unless you meet age or deposit requirements
Who is Chase College Checking best for?
The Chase College Checking account is best for college students aged 17 and 24. If you have proof you’re currently enrolled in college, you can avoid the $12 monthly maintenance fee for up to five years. Otherwise, you’ll need to set up a direct deposit or maintain a minimum daily balance of $5,000.
What we like about Chase College Checking
As the top US bank, Chase offers the security, services and customer support that you’d expect. Chase has the largest bank-owned ATM network, with over 15,000 ATMs across the country. There are also over 4,700 physical branches if you ever need in-person support.
And like most modern bank accounts, you can make mobile deposits through Chase’s QuickDepsoit feature and Zelle integration, so you can send and receive money with your Chase account with no fees on Chase’s side.
Free for enrolled students
The Chase College Checking account doesn’t require an opening deposit, and if you’re in school, you can waive the $12 monthly maintenance fee for up to five years.
Once the five years are up, there are other ways to avoid the $12 fee:
- Set up monthly direct deposits, or
- Keep an average ending daily balance of at least $5,000
Pair with other accounts for more benefits
If you’re also in need of a savings account, look into pairing the Chase College Checking account with Chase’s Savings account for additional benefits. The Chase Savings account’s $5 monthly service fee is waived if you link your Chase College Checking account for overdraft protection.
If you have both a checking account and credit card, you can use the budget feature in Chase’s app. Set up your monthly expenses and payments, then track your spending throughout the month. Plus, set up text or email notifications to get alerts about your account balance, payments and other transactions in real time.
Signup bonus
Get a $100 signup bonus as a new customer when you complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of enrolling in the signup bonus.
Where Chase College Checking falls short
One of the biggest drawbacks of this account is its $12 monthly fee — unless you meet the requirements to waive it. If you don’t meet the criteria, plenty of free accounts don’t have attached requirements.
Also, if you’re 17 or you don’t have a SSN, you’ll have to visit a branch to open the account. Only those who are at least 18 years old with a SSN can apply online.
Overdraft charge and no ATM reimbursements
Chase charges a $34 overdraft fee if you overdraft by more than $50.
There are also no reimbursements for out-of-network ATM fees. You’ll pay $3 per withdrawal and $3 for any transfers or inquiries when you use an ATM outside of Chase’s network.
Chase College Checking’s fees and access
| Type of fee | Fee details |
|---|---|
| Monthly service | $12 (can be waived) |
| Opening deposit | $0 |
| ATMs |
|
| Debit card fees |
|
| Overdraft or nonsufficient funds | $34 |
| Wire transfers |
|
| Other fees |
|
Compare Chase College Checking to other bank accounts
Narrow down top accounts by features, monthly fees and more.
How to open the Chase College Checking
Open a Chase College Checking account online or at a branch. However, if you’re age 17, you’ll need to visit a branch to apply.
Eligibility and required info
At signup, you must provide a valid student ID or proof of enrollment or acceptance, the college’s name and your expected graduation date.
You must meet these eligibility requirements:
- Between the ages of 17 and 24
- Enrolled in a college or university
Customer experience
Chase — or JPMorgan Chase — is the largest bank in the US, currently holding around $4 trillion in assets. It has multiple banking products and services and has been in business for nearly 200 years.
It currently holds an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is not accredited. Customer reviews are largely negative, and it has over 4,000 BBB complaints in the last few years. Each negative review appears to be a unique situation, but many reference unhelpful customer representatives, issues with locked accounts or resolving fraud charges. But as a large bank with over 4,700 branches, your experience will likely vary.
In 2020, Chase entered into a resolution with the US Department of Justice to resolve criminal charges around wire fraud. The charges specifically were “unlawful trading in the markets for precious metals futures contracts, and the second involving thousands of episodes of unlawful trading in the markets for US Treasury futures contracts and in the secondary (cash) market for US Treasury notes and bonds,” as reported on Chase’s BBB profile.
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.
Your reviews
Bethany Finder
Editor, Banking
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