How to Pay Your Chase Southwest Credit Card Bill Online
Where to pay your Chase Southwest card on Chase.com
To pay your Chase Southwest credit card bill through Chase.com, log into your account, select the Southwest card from your card list, and look for the "Make a Payment" button. This button appears on your card's main page, usually near your current balance and minimum payment due. Click it, enter the amount you want to pay, choose your payment date, and confirm. The payment posts to your account within one business day if you pay before the cutoff time (usually 8 p.m. Eastern).
You can pay the full balance, the minimum payment, or any amount in between. Chase also lets you set up automatic payments so the same amount withdraws from your bank account on the same day each month. This is useful if you want to avoid late fees or simply prefer not to think about the payment each billing cycle.
Key Takeaways
- Log into Chase.com, select your Southwest card, and click "Make a Payment" to pay online in minutes.
- Payments made before 8 p.m. Eastern typically post within one business day.
- You can pay any amount from the minimum due to the full balance, or set up automatic monthly payments.
- Chase pulls money directly from your linked bank account using ACH transfer, which is free and secure.
- If you miss a payment deadline, Chase reports it to credit bureaus after 30 days, which damages your credit score.
How ACH transfers work when you pay through Chase.com
When you make a payment on Chase.com, Chase initiates an ACH transfer — an electronic movement of money from your bank account to Chase. ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, a network that processes these transfers overnight. You authorize Chase to pull the money by entering your bank's routing number and your account number, which you can save for future payments.
The transfer is free and secure. Your bank and Chase both verify the account information before the money moves. If you enter incorrect account details, the transfer will fail and Chase will notify you, so you can correct it and try again. Most payments post within one business day, though weekends and holidays can add a day or two.
Payment deadlines and how late fees work
Your payment due date appears on your monthly statement and in your Chase account online. If you pay after that date, Chase charges a late fee — the amount depends on your card's terms, but typically ranges from $25 to $40 for the first late payment. If you're late again within six months, the fee may be higher.
More importantly, a payment that arrives 30 or more days after the due date triggers a report to the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This late payment stays on your credit report for seven years and can lower your credit score by 100 points or more. Even one late payment can raise your interest rate on this card and on other credit products you hold.
If you know you'll miss a due date, call Chase before the deadline. Some cardholders can negotiate a one-time courtesy waiver of the late fee, though this is not may provide. Paying even a small amount before the due date is better than paying nothing, because it shows good faith and may prevent the credit bureau report.
Setting up automatic payments to avoid missed deadlines
Chase lets you schedule automatic payments directly on Chase.com. Go to your card account, select "Manage Automatic Payments," and choose the amount (minimum payment, full balance, or a fixed dollar amount), the day of the month, and your bank account. Chase will pull that amount on the day you choose, every month, until you cancel.
Automatic payments are useful if you want a hands-off approach, but they come with one risk: if your bank account doesn't have enough money on the payment date, the transfer will fail and you'll be late. To protect yourself, make sure your account has a small buffer — at least $50 more than your payment amount — so a small unexpected charge doesn't cause the payment to bounce.
Other ways to pay besides Chase.com
You can also pay by phone by calling the number on the back of your card. A representative will take your bank account information and process the payment over the phone. This takes a few minutes and posts the same way as an online payment.
You can mail a check to the address on your statement, but mail takes 5 to 10 days to arrive, so you must send it well before your due date to avoid a late payment. Some people use this method if they distrust online banking, but it is slower and riskier than ACH transfer.
You can also pay in person at a Chase branch if one is near you, though this is uncommon and not faster than online payment. Ask a teller for the exact procedure, as some branches have specific rules about card payments.
What to do if your payment fails or doesn't post
If your ACH payment fails, Chase sends you a notification (by email or mail, depending on your preferences) explaining why. Common reasons include insufficient funds in your bank account, an incorrect account number, or a closed account. Log back into Chase.com, check the payment status, and correct the problem if you can.
If the payment was supposed to post before your due date but didn't, contact Chase immediately. Explain what happened and ask them to review the failed payment. If it was Chase's error, they may waive the late fee. If it was your bank's error, your bank may be able to help, though this is less common.
To avoid this situation, pay at least two business days before your due date. This gives you a buffer if something goes wrong and time to fix it before the deadline passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Chase Southwest card from a different bank account?
Yes. When you make a payment on Chase.com, you can enter any U.S. bank account you own. Chase verifies the account before processing the transfer. You can save multiple accounts and choose which one to pay from each time, or set up automatic payments from any of them.
What time does my payment have to arrive to count as on-time?
Payments made on Chase.com before 8 p.m. Eastern on your due date typically post the next business day and count as on-time. If you pay after 8 p.m., Chase may process it the following day, which could be late. To be safe, pay before noon on your due date.
If I pay more than the minimum, does the extra go toward my balance?
Yes. Any amount you pay above the minimum goes toward your total balance. If you pay the full balance, your next statement will show zero balance and zero interest charges. If you pay more than the minimum but less than the full balance, the extra reduces what you owe, and interest accrues on the remaining balance.
Can I cancel an automatic payment after I set it up?
Yes. Log into Chase.com, go to "Manage Automatic Payments," and select the payment you want to stop. You can cancel it immediately, and Chase will not pull money on the next scheduled date. If you want to change the amount or date instead of canceling, you can edit the payment in the same place.
What happens if I pay late but then pay the full balance the next month?
Paying on time the next month does not erase the late payment or remove it from your credit report. The late payment stays on your report for seven years. However, paying on time going forward shows lenders that you have corrected the problem, and your credit score will gradually recover over time.