Wells Fargo & Co is a financial services company that has over $1.9 trillion in assets. The company has a vision to meet the financial needs of its customers to help them be financially successful. Wells Fargo & co offers investment, mortgage and other banking products including credit cards with over 7,000 locations. In fact, Wells, Fargo serves one in three U. S households.
Wells Fargo may not have as many credit card options as some of the other well-established banking brands, but it does have a card to meet most circumstances.
Here are The Smart Investor Select’s picks for the top Wells Fargo credit cards:
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee | Best For |
| 2%
2% cash rewards on purchases (unlimited)
| $200
$200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
| $0 | Cash Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | None | $0 | Balance Transfer |
How Do Wells Fargo Points Rewards Program Work?
The Wells Fargo points rewards operate in a similar way to the cash back. You’ll earn points for each dollar you spend on the card. Again, there is a two tiered reward system on cards, so you earn extra rewards on your gas station, grocery store and drugstore purchases.
Where the difference occurs is in the redemption. You can often get better redemption rates for your points in specific areas. For example, the Hotels.com card allows you to accumulate stamps, which you can then trade for a reward night.
Other points reward cards give preferential redemption rates for travel. This makes cards such as the Visa Signature, a very attractive option. You can obtain 50% more value if you redeem your points against airfare.
So, if you’re a keen traveler, this may be a great option for you. However, you can also redeem your points for gift cards, merchandise or even cash.
How to Redeem Your Points Rewards?
Wells Fargo operates the reward program, Go Far Rewards. This program allows you to earn points with purchases using an eligible Wells Fargo card. You can also accrue points when you shop though the Earn More Mall, Wells Fargo’s online bonus mall.
There are a number of ways that you can redeem your Go Far Rewards points. These include:
- Cash back: A major positive for this program is that you can redeem your points for cash using your Wells Fargo ATM or debit card. For this redemption, 1 point has a value of 1 cent, so you will need a minimum of 2,000 points. You can also only redeem in $20 increments.
- Statement credit: You can use the Go Far Rewards portal or call Wells Fargo to redeem your points for statement credit. This is in $25 increments, but can be applied to your card or paid into your Wells Fargo checking or saving account.
- Gift cards or merchandise: The rewards portal features a section where you can browse redemption categories. Gift cards typically allow a value of 1 cent per point, but the redemption values on merchandise can vary. So you will need to do a little comparison shopping to check whether it is better to claim the merchandise deal or request cash and buy the item you want separately.
- Travel: When you click “Use Your Rewards”, you’ll see a travel section. This will redirect you to a site to search for hotels, flights, car rentals or even vacation packages. Points are generally worth 1 cent each, unless you have the Signature Visa card.
One significant advantage of this reward program is that you can pool your rewards with family members to claim greater rewards. However, you need to ensure that you make your card payments on time or your rewards account will be suspended.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Review
On Wells Fargo Website, Terms Apply
The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Review
Reward details
Current Offer
Credit Rating
Annual Fee
0% Intro
APR
On Wells Fargo Website, Terms Apply
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card does not charge any annual fee and stands out by it offers. You can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases (unlimited) on every purchase you make with this card, as well as a decent bonus for a card with no annual fee and an introductory 0% APR with a cash bonus.
Wells Fargo also offers built in protections against unauthorized transactions with additional security features such as Voice verification.
- Rewards Plan: 2% cash rewards on purchases (unlimited)
- APR: 17.49% to 29.49% variable APR
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5% (the greater)
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
- Sign Up bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- 0% APR Introductory Rate period: 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Sign-Up Bonus
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
- Cashback on All Other Categories
- No Annual Fee
- 0% APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases
- Minimum Redemption Amounts
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Lower Cashback Rate
- Can I get car rental insurance? Yes, it offers rental insurance for cars if you pay for the full cost with this credit card and you decline the rental company’s insurance.
- Is there a cash-back rewards limit? No cap
- Does Wells Fargo Active Cash Card ask for proof of income? No out and out income requirements and normally you will not have to provide proof of income.
- Can I get pre-approved on card Wells Fargo Active Cash Card? Yes, pre-approval is a possibility.
- What is the initial credit limit ? It will usually be at least $500.
- How do I redeem cash back? You are able to redeem the rewards in numerous ways. This includes as statement credit, as cash, withdrawn at an ATM, or redeemed as a gift card. You can also use the rewards when paying through PayPal at an online checkout.
- What purchases don't earn cash back? All purchases will earn you cashback
- Why did Wells Fargo Active Cash Card deny me? What to Do Next? Perhaps you did not meet all of the requirements. You can ask the customer service team what you need to do to get accepted or you can look at other card options.
- How to Use Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Benefits? Use in conjunction with other cards and make the most of the signup offer.
- Top reasons NOT to get the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card? If you want bigger cashback rates or don’t want to pay any foreign transaction charges.
Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card
Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Review
Reward details
Current Offer
Credit Rating
Annual Fee
0% Intro
APR
On Wells Fargo Website, Terms Apply
The Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card offers one of the longest 0% intro APR in the market - 18 months on purchases and balance transfers (17.49% to 29.49% variable APR after that), which mainly relevant for those who are looking to pay off their debt or planning a big purchase in the next couple of months.
The card also offer perks such as Roadside Dispatch - 24/7 on-demand referral dispatch network that provides emergency roadside assistance, towing, or locksmith service when you need them. You're eligible for cell phone protection (up to $600 worth) and zero liability protection - you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized transactions that you have promptly reported
However, while there is no annual fee attached, the card doesn't offer any type of cash back rewards or sign up bonus, so if you're looking for rewards you may choose another card.
- Rewards Plan: None
- APR: 17.49% to 29.49% variable APR
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance Transfer Fee: 5$ or 5% (the greater)
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
- Sign Up bonus: None
- 0% APR Introductory Rate period: 18 months on purchases and balance transfers
- No Annual Fee
- 0% APR Introductory Rate
- Roadside Dispatch
- Cell Phone + Zero Liability Protection
- No Cashback Rewards
- No Welcome Bonus
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- Balance Transfer Fee
Yes, it offers rental insurance for cars if you pay for the full cost with this credit card and you decline the rental company’s insurance. Please review the specific details before, to make sure you're covered as needed.
There are no out and out income requirements and normally you will not have to provide proof of income.
Perhaps you did not meet all of the requirements. You can ask the customer service team what you need to do to get accepted or you can look at other card options.
You are not able to earn any sort of rewards when you are using the Wells Fargo ReflectSM Card to make purchases, so there is no such cap in place for you to consider.
You are not able to earn any sort of rewards when you are using the Wells Fargo ReflectSM Card to make purchases, so there is no such cap in place for you to consider.
Yes, you can get pre-approval when you are signing up for a Wells Fargo ReflectSM Card. This allows you to see if you can get your hands on this card without needing a hard credit check.
The credit limit for this type of credit card is usually at least $500. The exact limit will depend on your personal financial situation that you have outlined in your application.
How to Compare Wells Fargo Credit Cards
What Credit Score Do You Need for Wells Fargo Credit Cards?
Wells Fargo has a focus on keeping customers informed about their FICO scores, with online tools to help you to keep track of any changes in your score. However, for many of the Wells Fargo credit cards, you will need a good to excellent score to qualify. This means that you will need a score of 690 or more to successfully apply for a card.
The reason for this is the generous rewards offered across the board with the range of Wells Fargo cards. There is no annual fee for any of the current Wells Fargo cards, which is unusual in today’s marketplace.
Additionally, you can earn some impressive rewards. You can earn up to 5x rewards on your purchases, so Wells Fargo is targeting customers with an established record for creditworthiness.
Once you qualify, your APR, after any introductory bonuses will be determined by your creditworthiness. So, those with excellent credit scores will attract a lower rate.
The only exception to the high credit score requirements is the Cash Back College. Since this card is designed to help college students build their credit, the credit score requirements are far more flexible.
Wells Fargo Cash Back Cards: What Can You Get?
Wells Fargo aims to make credit rewards simple, so you can enjoy cash back on your spending without complex calculations or confusing categories.
Many of the cards have a two tiered cash back reward system. So, you can earn a higher percentage on grocery, gas and drugstore purchases. This means that you don’t need to worry about rotating categories or activating rewards each quarter. Most cards have a cap on this higher reward spending, but you will still earn the standard amount on any purchases over and above this cap.
You can track your cash back earnings and then redeem them for cash, gift cards or other rewards. Most redemptions operate in $25 increments. You can opt to have the cash rewards paid into your Wells Fargo bank account or as a credit on your card statement. You can also request a paper check.
This makes the cash back offers quite flexible. Unlike some credit card providers that only offer the option of a statement credit, you can use your cash back to create an emergency fund or save for a special occasion.
You can direct your cash back rewards into a Wells Fargo savings account, so there is no temptation to spend them. With the welcome bonus on many of the cards, you could create a decent savings fund while enjoying a low APR on your spending.
Wells Fargo Cash Back Calendar 2023
Unlike other credit card providers, such as Chase, Wells Fargo does not have a cash back calendar. These calendars typically offer a higher rate of rewards for specific quarters in the year. This means that you need to activate the spending categories when the next phase of the calendar is announced.
However, this type of calendar can be confusing and it can mean that you may need to be far more strategic in your spending habits. For example, if you are planning on upgrading to a new laptop, you may be waiting months to find out if there is a technology and IT point bonus later in the year.
Wells Fargo takes a more simple approach. You’ll receive a set amount of points or percentage of cash back on your purchases at any time of the year. Instead of creating point bonuses on a calendar, Wells Fargo has focused on other card benefits, such as no annual fee or a 0% APR intro bonus. Many of the cards also have introductory bonuses, such as additional points if you spend a specific amount or more on your card within the first 90 days.
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How to Maximize Wells Fargo Rewards?
With such a simple reward structure, you don’t need to be highly strategic to maximize your rewards. You don’t need to time purchases or wait for specific offers to get the most amount of points. However, there are some tips and tricks that can help you.
- Focus on Grocery, Drug Store and Gas
If you are disciplined about using your card and can pay off these purchases at the end of each month, you can maximize your rewards by focusing on these categories. Many of the Wells Fargo cards including Rewards, Cash Back College and Visa Signature offer a far higher reward rate of up to 5x on these purchases.
- Make Use of the Introductory Bonus
Part of the Wells Fargo cards offer an introductory bonus, so in case you're eligible – it can be a nice option to increase rewards . For example, the Active Cash card provides $200 cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Make Your Payments on Time
Wells Fargo will suspend your rewards if you are late making your credit card payments. While this suspension will be released when your account is up to date, you could miss out on a really good deal. During a suspension, you will be unable to redeem or trade your points, so it could prevent you from getting the maximum redemption at the opportune time.
- Team up
Wells Fargo does allow family members and friends to pool their points. So, think about teaming up if you want to save for a great reward. You could use your communal rewards to pay for a superb group vacation.
- Don’t Let Them Expire
Most reward points have a five year expiration. So, don’t leave money on the table by allowing your points to expire. If you’re approaching the expiration point and you’re still unsure how to spend your points, simply request gift cards or statement credit, so they don’t go to waste.
What Are the Other Benefits of Having a Wells Fargo Card?
Each card has its own advantages, but there are some great benefits associated with having a Wells Fargo card. These include:
- Travel Protections: Some cards offer some fantastic travel protections including travel accident insurance trip cancelation protection, lost luggage reimbursement, 24/7 travel assistance, auto rental collision coverage and emergency card replacement.
- Travel Features: There are also offers some hotel benefits such as 24/7 complimentary concierge service.
- Cell Phone Protection: Many of the Wells Fargo cards offer cell phone protection. This protects against theft or damage when you pay your monthly cell bill using your card.
- Zero Liability Protection: This protects you from unauthorized transaction liability when you promptly report them.
- Activity Alerts: You can enjoy account and card activity alerts to track purchases and your spending.
- Overdraft Protection: You can link your credit card to your Wells Fargo checking account to cover a negative balance and prevent overdraft fees.
- Retail Protection: Some Wells Fargo cards offer coverage for eligible items purchased using your card. This provides 90 days of coverage should they be stolen or damaged.
- Extended Warranties: You can also double the manufacturer’s original warranty on eligible purchases.
- Budget Watch: This is a great tool to help you get your finances on track. You can set budgets, maintain budget goals, track your income and spending, and even view charts and graphs.
How Many Wells Fargo Credit Cards Can I Have at One Time?
There are no hard and fast rules that prevent you from having multiple Wells Fargo cards at any one time. However, the company does stipulate that you may not qualify for another Wells Fargo card if you’ve opened a Wells Fargo credit card account in the last six months.
This means that you will need to adequately space out your applications, or even if you have an excellent credit score, you may be rejected.
Additionally, since the rewards programs are so generous, the company is likely to be hesitant to permit multiple cards that will allow rewards stacking.
How Do I Cancel a Wells Fargo Credit Card?
Wells Fargo does recommend avoiding canceling your credit card as it could have an impact on your credit score. The company recommends checking your credit utilization ratio to determine if canceling the card will unnecessarily raise your ratio beyond the recommended 30%.
Maintaining an open credit card with a zero balance can actually help your credit score, as your credit card balances will be measured against all your available credit limits. If you close your account, it will reduce your available credit and could lower your score.
The Wells Fargo team advises that customers balance the benefits of the card against canceling the account. For example, if you’re struggling to use the credit responsibly, and having access to more credit may increase your debt, closing the card may be the best option. However, if gaining access to account benefits by keeping the account open or it is helping you to maintain a 30% or lower debt utilization ratio, it may be better to keep the card.
If you decide that canceling the card is the best option for you, you will need to call the Wells Fargo customer service line. You’ll need to enter your credit card number and inform the representative that you want to close the account.
Account closures are processed immediately. Wells Fargo will mail you a letter confirming the change formally within 10 business days. So, be sure to clear any outstanding balance and redeem any remaining reward points before you make the call
