Discover Cashback Debit is a strong choice for users who want to avoid monthly fees and earn cashback on debit card purchases. Chase Total Checking may be better for those who prefer in-person banking and can meet the requirements to waive the monthly fee, but it lacks cashback rewards and charges for non-Chase ATM usage.
| Attribute | Discover Cashback Debit | Chase Total Checking |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | There are no monthly maintenance fees. | $12 (waivable); Effective 08/24/2025, the fee changes to $15 |
| Minimum Balance Requirement | There is no minimum balance requirement. | No minimum to open; $1,500 minimum daily balance to waive monthly fee |
| ATM Access and Fees | Access to over 60,000 fee-free ATMs in the U.S. through the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks. You may be charged a fee by the ATM owner if you use an ATM that is not part of Discover's no-fee network. You can withdraw cash at ATMs, but you can't deposit cash at ATMs with a Discover checking account. | Access to 15,000 Chase ATMs and over 4,700 branches; $3 fee for non-Chase ATMs in the U.S.; $5 fee for international non-Chase ATMs |
| Overdraft Fees and Options | No overdraft or insufficient funds fees. Fee-free overdraft protection service by linking another Discover account. Balance+ is a no-fee overdraft coverage that applies to debit card transactions but not to checks, ATM withdrawals, or electronic payments like Zelle. | $34 per overdraft item (max 3 per day); No fee if overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the day; Chase Overdraft AssistSM available |
| Cashback Rewards on Debit Card Purchases | 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in monthly debit card purchases. Maximum cashback is $30 per month or $360 per year. Rewards are deposited directly into your Discover account monthly. Ineligible purchases include money orders, peer-to-peer payments, loan payments, or ATM transactions. | No cashback rewards program mentioned |
| Early Direct Deposit Access | Early Pay allows access to funds from qualifying direct deposits up to 2 days early. Availability depends on when the payment initiator sends information to Discover. | Not specified for Chase Total Checking; Chase Secure BankingSM customers may get it up to two business days early |
| Mobile Banking Features | Highly rated app on Google Play and Apple App stores. Features include checking balances, scheduling transfers, paying bills, reviewing transaction history, and mobile check deposit. Mobile app also allows you to set up and manage alerts, transfer money, and find ATMs. | Chase Mobile app: view transaction history, account balances, eStatements, deposit checks, set alerts, send messages, transfer funds, pay bills |
| Online Bill Pay | Free online bill pay is offered. | Yes, via Chase Online Bill Pay or Chase Mobile app |
| FDIC Insurance | Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor. | Yes, up to the maximum amount allowed by law ($250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each ownership category) |
| Customer Service Availability | 24/7 U.S.-based customer service is available. | 24/7 customer service line is available for Sapphire checking account holders. |
| Mobile Check Deposit | You can deposit checks using Discover's Mobile Check Deposit Service. | Yes, Chase QuickDeposit allows deposits through the Chase Mobile app |
| Interest Rate on Balance | This account does not earn interest. | No interest earned |