April 14, 2026
Written by Jamela Adam
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Certified Financial Education Instructor®
Jamela Adam, CFEI®, is a personal finance writer covering topics such as savings, mortgages, investing, student loans, and more. Her work has appeared on Forbes Advisor, Yahoo Finance, Newsweek, U.S. News, and GOBankingRates, among other publications.
A monthly maintenance fee is a recurring charge by a bank simply for maintaining your account
Many banks will waive the fee if you meet certain criteria, such as maintaining a minimum balance, having monthly direct deposits, or using linked accounts
Some banks charge the fee by default, but online-only banks and fintech providers often eliminate it altogether
If you're charged the fee unexpectedly it may trigger overdrafts or closing of your account, so it's wise to review your account's fee schedule
Financial institutions may charge monthly maintenance fees in exchange for their services. You may be thinking, why should I have to pay to keep an account open if I'm storing my money there? Sadly, both online and brick-and-mortar accounts may charge monthly maintenance fees, which can easily add up over time.
Many financial institutions will charge a monthly maintenance fee if you don't meet certain requirements. While some banks don't have monthly fees associated with their accounts, there are ways to avoid the ones that do.
You should be aware of maintenance fee charges as a consumer. Let's jump in and help you avoid these fees if you can.
A monthly maintenance fee, or a monthly service fee, is a fee charged by a financial institution to a customer using a checking or savings account if certain requirements aren't met. This fee is sometimes automatically withdrawn from your account. For example, some banks may charge a monthly maintenance fee if your account balance is under a certain threshold.
Financial institutions are for-profit businesses and need to make money to stay open. Monthly bank service charges contribute to this profit and can help cover day-to-day operating costs.
Banks that do charge monthly maintenance fees often allow account holders to avoid them by meeting certain requirements. The ability to waive fees might also attract new customers to make larger deposits each month, hold larger balances, and even use their accounts more frequently.
Not all banks charge monthly maintenance fees for checking accounts or savings accounts. However, several large financial institutions have these account charges.
Banks will add on different amounts for their monthly maintenance fee, as it's part of how they make their money. Here's a closer look at some of the bank service charges at the biggest banks in the U.S. and how you can avoid them.
Disclaimer: Fees for each bank may vary based on location.
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid Bank of America Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $14 | • Have a $1,500 or more minimum daily balance in the account. • Or: have a $2,000 or more minimum daily balance in a linked Regular Savings account. • Or: have a $5,000 or more minimum daily balance in a linked Money Market Savings account. • Or: maintain a $5,000 or more average daily balance in Checking with linked savings, CD, and IRA accounts. • Or: enroll in the Preferred Rewards® program and qualify for the Gold, Platinum, Platinum Honors, Diamond, or Diamond Honors tier. |
Savings | $5 | • Maintain a minimum daily balance of at least $300. • Or: link your Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking account to your savings account (waiver applies to first four savings accounts). • Or: enroll in the Preferred Rewards® program and qualify for the Gold, Platinum, or Platinum Honors tier (first four savings accounts), or Diamond or Diamond Honors tier (unlimited). |
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid Chase Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $12 | • Have an electronic deposit made into this account totaling $500 or more. • Or: have a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more. • Or: have an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying deposits or investments. |
Savings | $5 | • Have a balance at the beginning of each day of $300 or more. • Or: have $25 or more in total Autosave or other repeating automatic transfers from your personal Chase checking account. • Or: have a Chase College CheckingSM account linked to this account for Overdraft Protection. • Or: the account owner is under the age of 18. • Or: have a linked Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM , Chase SapphireSM Checking, or Chase Private Client CheckingSM account. |
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid U.S. Bank Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $6.95 | • Have a combined monthly direct deposit totaling $1,000 or more. • Or: keep an average account balance of $1,500. • Or: have an eligible U.S. Bank credit card. • Or: qualify for one of the bank's four Smart Rewards tiers. • Or: are a member of the U.S. military. • Or: are under the age of 24. • Or: are 65 or older. |
Savings | $4 | • Have a $300 minimum daily ledger balance. • Or: have a $1,000 average monthly collected balance. • Or: hold an account with a child under the age of 12. |
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid TD Bank Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $15 | • Have $500 or more in direct deposits within a statement cycle. • Or: maintain a minimum daily balance of $500. • Or: maintain a $5,000 minimum daily combined balance across all personal deposit accounts that you choose to link. • Or: if the primary account owner is aged 17 to 23. |
Savings | $5 | • Maintain a $300 minimum daily balance. • Or: the primary account owner is 18 or under or 62 or older There's no fee for the first year with a recurring transfer of $25. |
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid Citibank Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $15 | • Fee waived for the first three months after opening the account. • Have $250 or more in enhanced direct deposits. • Or are in one of Citibank's tiers: Citigold® Private Client, Citigold®, or Citi Priority Relationship tier. |
Savings | $4.50 | • Maintain an average monthly balance of $500. • Or: also have a regular checking account or access checking account with Citibank.The fee is waived for the first three months after you open the account. |
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid Wells Fargo Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $10 | • Maintain a $500 minimum daily balance • Or: have $500 or more in total qualifying direct deposits • Or: an account owner who is 17 to 24 years old • Or: have a linked Wells Fargo Campus ATM Card or Campus Debit Card (for college students) |
Savings | $5 | • Have a $300 minimum daily balance • Or: one automatic transfer each fee period of $25 or more from a linked Wells Fargo checking account • Or one automatic transfer each business day within the fee period of $1 or more from a linked Wells Fargo checking account • Or one or more Save As You Go transfers from a linked Wells Fargo checking account • Or an account owner who is 24 years old or younger |
Account Type | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid PNC Monthly Maintenance Fee |
|---|---|---|
Checking | $7 | • Have $500 in monthly direct deposits. • Have a $500 monthly balance in Spend and Reserve. • Or: the account holder is 62 years old or older. • Or: the account holder is a PNC employee. |
Savings | $5 | • Have an average monthly balance of $300. • Or: link account to a Performance checking or Performance Select checking account. • Or: set up an Auto Savings transfer of $25 or more each month from your PNC Checking account to your Savings account. • Or: the account owner is under the age of 18. |
Monthly maintenance fees can add up quickly, especially if you have multiple accounts. You may want to choose a financial institution that allows you to waive monthly fees. Typically, this involves meeting certain requirements.
Some banks make it possible to waive monthly maintenance fees, and they're required to disclose any fees upfront. If you are looking to open a new checking account, make sure you read the account disclosures.
Here are some smart ways to avoid maintenance fees:
Maintain the minimum balance. The most straightforward way to avoid monthly maintenance fees is by keeping a minimum balance in your account. Some financial institutions will waive your checking account maintenance fee as long as you maintain the minimum daily balance.
Switch to online banking. Many banks offer mobile banking apps that let you deposit checks, transfer funds, and pay bills with just your phone. This can help you manage your account more easily and maintain the minimum balance needed to avoid a monthly fee.
Set up an additional account at the same institution. Some banks waive monthly maintenance fees if you already have another account with them.
Stay above the minimum debit card usage limit. Another way to avoid a bank's maintenance fee is to stay above the minimum debit card usage limit, which means you'll have to use your card a minimum number of times per month.
Try getting the fee forgiven. Some banks waive certain charges, like overdraft fees, if you typically pay your bills on time and have a good relationship with them. It's worth contacting customer service to see if this option is available to you.
Use only ATMs in your bank's network. Use your bank's network of ATMs to avoid out-of-network ATM fees. You could also avoid this bank charge by signing up for an account that offers ATM fee reimbursement.
Make monthly direct deposits. Some banks waive the monthly maintenance fee when you make a certain number of direct deposits or deposit a certain amount of money each statement period.
Monthly maintenance fees will ultimately vary, depending on the type of account you open and the financial institution you choose to hold your money. Each bank also has different requirements and ways to avoid these fees.
To help you maximize your savings and avoid bank fees, we've gathered some of the best online checking accounts you can open for free. Some of these checking accounts even allow you to earn interest on your balance.
Whether you're opening an account online or in person, the monthly fees associated with that account are usually listed on the company's website or at the brick-in-motor branch. Financial institutions are required to let you know about any monthly fees upfront so that you aren't surprised down the line. It's a good idea to first do your research and compare fees before opening an account.
Monthly maintenance fees are commonly associated with personal checking and savings accounts and sometimes with business accounts as well. Other types of accounts, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), may charge fees or have monetary penalties.
Overdraft fees vary by bank, but they're typically around $35 per transaction.13 The average monthly maintenance fee for non-interest accounts charged by banks in the U.S. was around $5.31, and the average out-of-network ATM transaction fees were $4.73.14
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. FDIC deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.
Chime Checkbook: While Chime doesn’t issue personal checkbooks to write checks, Chime Checkbook gives you the freedom to send checks to anyone, anytime, from anywhere. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Chime Checkbook details.
By clicking on some of the links above, you will leave the Chime website and be directed to a third-party website. The privacy practices of those third parties may differ from those of Chime. We recommend you review the privacy statements of those third party websites, as Chime is not responsible for those third parties' privacy or security practices.
Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).
APPLE and the Apple Logo are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. GOOGLE PLAY and the Google Play Logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC. Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Chime does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. You should check with your legal, financial, or tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.
Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.
Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more here.
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.
Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime account. You may use your barcode, debit card, or Chime Card to deposit cash. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade. Cash deposits using a barcode or debit card are deposited to your Checking Account. If you have the Chime Card, those funds will be automatically swept to your Chime Card Secured Deposit Account. Cash deposits using your Chime Card first go to your Chime Card Account, then transferred to your Chime Card Secured Deposit Account. Cash deposits are not payment for any Chime Card balance due.
Licenses
Chime Capital, LLC, Nationwide Multistate Licensing System ("NMLS") ID 2316451
Chime Payments, Inc., Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (“NMLS”) ID 2538752
Address: 101 California Street, Floor 5, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States.
No customer support available at HQ. Customer support details available on the website.
© 2013-2026 Chime Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.