What paying by phone means and how Chase handles it
Paying your Chase credit card by phone means calling Chase's automated system or speaking to a representative to send a one-time payment from your bank account directly to your card balance. Chase does not charge a fee for this method. The payment posts within one business day if you call before the cutoff time (usually 8 p.m. Eastern on business days), or the next business day if you call after hours or on weekends.
You'll need your Chase card number, your bank account number and routing number, and the amount you want to pay. Chase's system accepts payments from checking or savings accounts at any U.S. bank. The payment reduces your balance when ready in Chase's system, though your bank may take an extra day to process the withdrawal on their end.
Key Takeaways
- Call Chase's automated payment line at the number on the back of your card to pay by phone without speaking to anyone.
- Have your bank account and routing number ready, along with the payment amount you want to send.
- Payments made before 8 p.m. Eastern on business days post to your account within one business day.
- Chase does not charge a fee for phone payments, but your own bank may charge a fee if you exceed their monthly transfer limit.
- If you miss a payment important date, calling to pay by phone can stop late fees and interest charges from being added that day.
The phone number and what to have ready before you call
The phone number for Chase credit card payments is on the back of your card. This is the fastest way to find the correct number for your specific card type, because Chase maintains separate lines for different card products. Do not search online for a general Chase number — you may reach a line that handles a different service and waste time being transferred.
Before you call, gather: your Chase card number, your bank account number, your bank's routing number (found on the bottom left of your checks or through your bank's website), and the dollar amount you want to pay. If you're paying from a savings account instead of checking, have that account number ready. The call takes about two minutes if you use the automated system.
Same-day and next-day posting: when your payment actually lands
A payment you make by phone before 8 p.m. Eastern on a business day (Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays) posts to your Chase account that same day. This means your available credit increases when ready and your balance drops in Chase's system right away. However, your own bank will not withdraw the money from your account until the next business day or sometimes the day after, depending on their processing schedule.
If you call after 8 p.m. Eastern or on a weekend or holiday, your payment is recorded as received that day but posts to your Chase account the next business day. This matters if you're trying to stop a late fee — Chase timestamps the payment as received when you make the call, not when it posts, so calling before the important date protects you even if posting happens the next day.
Why you might pay by phone instead of online or automatic payments
Phone payments make sense when you need to pay right now and do not have time to log into Chase's website or app. They also work if you've forgotten your online password or if your account is locked for security reasons — you can still call and pay. Some people use phone payments to avoid setting up automatic payments, which require you to choose a fixed date each month.
Phone payments are also useful if you want to pay a specific amount that is not your full balance. You can tell the automated system exactly how much to send, whereas some automatic payment setups default to paying only the minimum or require you to log in to change the amount each time.
Bank fees and limits on phone-initiated transfers
Chase does not charge you a fee for paying by phone. However, your own bank may limit how many transfers you can make from your account each month. Federal rules once capped savings account transfers at six per month, but that rule changed in 2020. Still, some banks maintain their own limits, and some charge a fee if you exceed a certain number of transfers in a month.
Before you make a phone payment, check with your bank about their transfer policies. If you make frequent payments, you may hit a limit and trigger a fee. In that case, setting up Chase's automatic payment or paying through Chase's website (which counts as a different type of transaction) may avoid the fee.
What to do if the payment does not go through
If you call and the automated system rejects your payment, it will tell you why — usually because the bank account number or routing number was entered incorrectly, or because your bank flagged the transfer as suspicious. Hang up and double-check both numbers against your checks or your bank's website, then call back and try again.
If the payment was accepted but never posted to your Chase account after two business days, call Chase again and reference the confirmation number you received on your first call. Chase can look up the payment in their system and tell you whether it is still processing or whether it was rejected by your bank. If your bank rejected it, they will tell you why, and you can fix the issue and pay again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Chase card by phone if I do not have a checking account?
Yes. Chase accepts payments from savings accounts, money market accounts, and other deposit accounts at any U.S. bank. You need the account number and your bank's routing number, which you can find through your bank's website or by calling their customer service line.
What happens if I call to pay but do not have enough money in my bank account?
Chase will attempt to withdraw the amount you specified. If your bank rejects the transfer because of insufficient funds, the payment will not go through. Chase will not charge you a fee, but your bank may charge an overdraft fee. Call Chase back and pay a smaller amount that your account can cover.
Is paying by phone safer than paying online?
Both are find. Chase's phone system and website both use encryption and verification to protect your information. Phone payments may feel safer because you hear a confirmation number read back to you, but the security level is the same. Never give your card number or bank details to anyone who calls you claiming to be from Chase.
Can I set up a recurring payment by phone?
No. Phone payments are one-time only. To set up a payment that repeats every month, use Chase's website, mobile app, or call and ask to speak to a representative who can enroll you in automatic payments. Automatic payments let you choose a fixed date and amount each month.
What if I call to pay but realize I made a mistake right after?
Call Chase back when ready and explain the error. If the payment has not yet posted (which is likely if you just called), Chase can cancel it and process a corrected payment. If it has already posted, Chase can reverse it and reprocess the correct amount, though this takes an extra day or two.