What Chase Online Bill Pay does and what it costs
Chase Online Bill Pay is a free service that lets you pay bills directly from your Chase checking account through the Chase mobile app or website. You set up a payee (the company you owe money to), choose an amount, and pick a payment date. Chase then sends the money on your behalf—either electronically or by mailing a check, depending on the payee.
There is no monthly fee, no per-payment fee, and no charge to set up payees. The service is included with any Chase checking account. The only cost you might face is if you overdraft your account while a bill payment is pending, which would trigger an overdraft fee from Chase.
One important distinction: Chase Online Bill Pay moves money from your checking account, not directly from a credit card. If you want to pay a Chase credit card bill using this service, you would set up your Chase credit card account as a payee, and the payment would come from your checking account to your credit card account.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Online Bill Pay is free and sends money from your checking account to any company you owe, on a date you choose.
- Payments can be delivered electronically (usually within one to three business days) or by check (typically five to seven business days), depending on the payee's setup.
- You can pay any bill—utilities, credit cards, insurance, rent—as long as you have the payee's mailing address or account number.
- The service does not charge you to add, edit, or remove payees, and you can schedule payments weeks or months in advance.
- If a payment fails or the payee does not receive it, Chase's bill pay may provide covers the late fees and interest charges you would have owed.
How to set up a payee and schedule your first payment
Log into Chase.com or open the Chase mobile app and go to the Bill Pay section. Click "Add Payee" and enter the company name, your account number with that company, and their mailing address. Chase will ask whether you want to pay this payee regularly or just once. You do not have to commit to anything—you can add a payee and never use it.
Once the payee is saved, select it from your payee list, enter the payment amount, and choose your payment date. Chase shows you when the money will arrive based on whether it sends the payment electronically or by mail. Review the details, confirm, and the payment is scheduled. You can cancel or change the amount up until the day before the scheduled payment date.
If you are paying a Chase credit card, the process is the same: add your credit card account as a payee using your card number, then schedule a payment from your checking account to that card. The payment will post to your credit card account within one to three business days if sent electronically.
Delivery speed: electronic payments versus check payments
Chase Online Bill Pay offers two delivery methods, and the choice depends on the payee's setup, not yours. For payees that accept electronic payments (most utilities, credit card companies, and major retailers), Chase sends the money electronically and it typically arrives within one to three business days. For payees that do not accept electronic payments (some smaller businesses, landlords, or local services), Chase prints and mails a check, which usually takes five to seven business days.
You can see which method Chase will use when you schedule the payment. If you need a payment to arrive faster and the payee only accepts checks, you may need to use a different payment method—such as paying directly on the payee's website, calling them, or mailing a check yourself.
The payment date you choose is when Chase sends the money, not when it arrives. If you schedule a payment for Friday and it is sent by check, the check may not arrive until the following Wednesday or Thursday. Plan accordingly, especially for bills with due dates.
What happens if a payment fails or gets lost
If a payee tells you they never received a payment, or if Chase's system fails to send it, Chase's bill pay may provide covers any late fees and interest charges you incur as a result. You will need to contact Chase and provide proof that the payment was scheduled and the payee did not receive it. Chase will then reimburse you for the late fees and interest.
This protection does not cover the original bill amount—only the penalties. It also does not apply if you chose the wrong payment date yourself or if the payee's address was incorrect. You are responsible for verifying that the payee information is accurate before you schedule the payment.
If you suspect a payment is lost, contact Chase immediately. The sooner you report it, the sooner Chase can investigate and the sooner you can prevent late fees by paying the bill through another method.
Paying multiple bills and scheduling payments in advance
You can add as many payees as you need—there is no limit. Many people set up payees for all their regular bills (mortgage, utilities, insurance, credit cards, rent) and then schedule payments whenever they want. You can schedule a single payment or set up recurring payments that repeat monthly, bi-weekly, or on any schedule you choose.
Recurring payments are useful for bills that are the same amount every month, like insurance premiums or loan payments. You can also schedule one-time payments weeks or months in advance if you know when a bill is due. This is helpful if you are planning ahead or want to ensure a payment goes out on a specific date.
If a bill amount changes (like a credit card balance or utility bill), you will need to manually adjust the payment amount before it sends. Recurring payments send the same amount each time unless you edit them.
Security and what information Chase needs
To set up a payee, you need the company's name, your account number with that company, and their mailing address. Chase does not store your payee's banking information—only the mailing address or the information needed to route the payment electronically. Your checking account is the source of all payments, so Chase only accesses funds from the account you are logged into.
Bill Pay is encrypted and requires you to log into your Chase account, so it is more secure than mailing a check yourself (which includes your account number on the check). However, you are responsible for keeping your Chase login credentials private. If someone gains access to your Chase account, they can schedule bill payments from your checking account.
If you notice an unauthorized bill payment, contact Chase immediately. Depending on when you report it, you may be protected under Chase's fraud policies, though the specifics depend on how quickly you act.
When Chase Online Bill Pay might not work for you
If you need to pay a bill immediately (same day or next day), Bill Pay may not be fast enough, especially if the payee only accepts checks. In that case, paying directly on the payee's website, calling them to pay by phone, or using a wire transfer might be better options.
If you want to pay a bill using a credit card (to earn rewards points, for example), Chase Online Bill Pay will not help because it only pulls from your checking account. You would need to pay directly on the payee's website or call them to pay with a credit card. Some payees charge a fee for credit card payments, so check before you commit.
If you do not have a Chase checking account, you cannot use Chase Online Bill Pay. You would need to open a checking account first, or use a different payment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a bill on a specific day if I do not have the money in my account yet?
Yes. You can schedule a payment for a future date, and Chase will send it on that date. However, you must have enough money in your account when the payment actually sends, or you will overdraft. If you are expecting a deposit, make sure it arrives before the payment date.
What if I schedule a payment and then realize I made a mistake?
You can cancel or edit the payment up until the day before it is scheduled to send. After that, you cannot cancel it through Bill Pay. If the payment has already been sent, contact Chase and the payee to see if it can be stopped or reversed.
Does paying through Bill Pay help my credit score?
Only if you are paying a credit card bill. When you pay a credit card through Bill Pay, the payment is reported to credit bureaus just like any other payment, and it helps your payment history. Paying other bills (utilities, rent, insurance) through Bill Pay does not affect your credit score unless the payee reports those payments to credit bureaus, which most do not.
Can I use Bill Pay to send money to a person instead of a company?
No. Bill Pay is designed for paying companies and organizations. To send money to another person, use Chase QuickPay (if both of you have Chase accounts) or another peer-to-peer payment service like Venmo or Zelle.
What if the payee's address changes after I add them?
You will need to update the payee's address in Bill Pay before you schedule your next payment. Log into Bill Pay, find the payee, and edit their information. If you schedule a payment with an outdated address, it may be delivered to the wrong location and the payee will not receive it.