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Mitchel holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from The Goizeta School of Business at Emory University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Haas School of Business at The University of California.
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Updated August 2026.
Short answer: Chase charges a $34 overdraft fee per paid item on Total Checking, with a daily max of 3 fees ($102). You avoid the fee if you end the day overdrawn by $50 or less, if the item is $5 or less, or if Overdraft Assist brings you back inside that $50 cushion by 11 p.m. ET the next business day. A linked Overdraft Protection transfer from another Chase account is free.
| Chase overdraft, at a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $34 per transaction |
| Daily limit | Up to 3 fees per business day (so $102 at most) |
| $50 / $5 cushions | No fee if overdrawn by $50 or less at end of day, or if the transaction is $5 or less |
| Overdraft Assist | Bring the balance to overdrawn by $50 or less by 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. PT) the next business day to avoid the fee |
| Returned-item (NSF) fee | Not listed as a separate amount in Chase’s current overdraft disclosures |
| Extended overdraft fee | Not listed with an amount in Chase’s current overdraft disclosures |
| Overdraft Protection transfer | Free from a linked Chase account |
| ATM and debit card overdrafts | Off unless you opt in to Chase Debit Card Coverage |
| Account | Figures describe Chase Total Checking |
Fees verified August 9, 2026 from Chase’s Additional Banking Services and Fees (Total Checking) and its Standard Overdraft Practice page.
How much is Chase’s overdraft fee?
Chase charges $34 each time it pays a transaction your balance cannot cover. It will charge at most 3 of these fees in one business day, so the most you can pay in a single day is $102.
Two automatic cushions and Overdraft Assist can bring that $34 down to $0.
The $50 and $5 no-fee rules
Chase will not charge an overdraft fee if your account ends the business day overdrawn by $50 or less. It also will not charge a fee when the transaction itself is $5 or less.
Overdraft Assist: how to erase the fee
If you go past the $50 cushion, Chase gives you until 11 p.m. Eastern Time (8 p.m. Pacific) the next business day to bring your balance back to overdrawn by $50 or less. Do that in time and the overdraft fee is avoided.
Business days are Monday through Friday. Weekends and federal holidays do not count against the clock the same way.
Does Chase charge an NSF fee?
Chase’s current overdraft disclosures we checked do not list a separate NSF or returned-item fee amount. The deposit agreement may mention returned items in general language without a dollar figure. We are not treating that silence as a confirmed $0.
Extended overdraft fees
An extended or continuous overdraft fee is not listed with an amount in the current Chase overdraft disclosures we checked. If Chase adds or publishes one later, that would change this section.
Overdraft Protection transfers
You can link another Chase account so money moves over when checking runs short. Chase says there is not a fee for that Overdraft Protection transfer.
ATM and debit card overdrafts
By default, Chase will typically decline an ATM withdrawal or everyday debit purchase if you do not have the money. Paid overdrafts on those transactions require opting in to Chase Debit Card Coverage. Checks and automatic payments can still overdraw the account under Chase’s standard practice.
How to avoid Chase overdraft fees
- Stay inside the $50 cushion when you can, or keep small items at $5 or less.
- Use Overdraft Assist on purpose. Move money in before 11 p.m. ET the next business day.
- Link a Chase backup account for free Overdraft Protection transfers.
- Skip Debit Card Coverage if you would rather have a decline than a $34 fee.
- Set low-balance alerts so a shortfall is not a surprise.
Short before payday? A $34 bank fee can cost more than a small advance when you qualify and repay on time.
See how to borrow $50 instantly, or compare every option side by side below.
How Chase compares to other banks
Overdraft terms vary a lot by bank. Here is how Chase lines up against a few others we track, using each bank’s own current fee schedule.
| Bank (typical account) | Overdraft fee | No-fee cushion |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington (Asterisk-Free) | $15, up to 3/day | $50 Safety Zone + 24-Hour Grace |
| Capital One (360 Checking) | $0, no overdraft fee | Fees eliminated |
| M&T (EZChoice) | $15, max 1/day | No fee on items under $5 |
| Chase (Total Checking) | $34, up to 3/day | $50 buffer + Overdraft Assist |
| U.S. Bank (Smartly) | $36 per item over $5 | $50 buffer + Fee Forgiven |
See fee details for more banks in our overdraft fees by bank hub.
Compare cash advance apps that can cover a shortfall. If you keep landing in overdraft, an app that fronts you a small amount until payday may cost less than repeat bank fees.
Chase overdraft FAQ
How much is Chase’s overdraft fee?
$34 per transaction, with a limit of 3 fees per business day (up to $102). There is no fee if you end the day overdrawn by $50 or less, or if the transaction is $5 or less.
What is Chase Overdraft Assist?
If you overdraw, you have until 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. PT) the next business day to bring your balance to overdrawn by $50 or less and avoid the fee.
Does Chase charge an NSF or returned-item fee?
Chase’s current overdraft disclosures we checked do not list a separate NSF or returned-item fee amount. We do not treat that silence as a confirmed $0.
Is there a fee for Chase Overdraft Protection transfers?
No. Chase says there is not a fee for an Overdraft Protection transfer from a linked Chase account.
Can Chase overdraft my debit card or ATM withdrawal?
Only if you opt in to Chase Debit Card Coverage. By default those transactions are typically declined when you do not have the money.
Does Chase charge an extended overdraft fee?
An extended or continuous overdraft fee is not listed with an amount in Chase’s current overdraft disclosures we checked.
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 Tilt |
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 MoneyLion |
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 Chime |
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 Grant |
8.9 | Up to $500 | Get Grant |
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Mitchel holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from The Goizeta School of Business at Emory University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Haas School of Business at The University of California.
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