With a smaller selection of cards than many competitors and no airline and hotel transfer partners for most of its cards, Wells Fargo may seem at first glance like a less valuable option for credit card rewards enthusiasts. But if you value simplicity over maximizing travel rewards or juggling multiple cards, several of Wells Fargo’s credit cards are among our top picks for cash-back and balance transfer cards.
And if you want to earn transferable travel rewards, Wells Fargo’s Bilt Mastercard® sets itself apart from the competition by letting you earn rewards on rent. Best of all, none of the below Wells Fargo cards currently have annual fees.
However, you’ll typically need a good credit score (670 or more) to get approved for a Wells Fargo credit card, as the issuer doesn’t offer any cards geared toward those building credit. If you have a lower credit score or are looking for premium travel rewards instead of cash back, check out our best credit cards for average credit, students or travel.
The Active Cash card is one of the best flat-rate cash-rewards cards on the market. Its rewards rate alone is hard to beat, but when you combine it with its welcome offer, intro APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers and additional card perks, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best cards to choose.
You can learn more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
The Active Cash card is one of the best flat-rate cash-rewards cards on the market. Its rewards rate alone is hard to beat, but when you combine it with its welcome offer, intro APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers and additional card perks, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best cards to choose.
You can learn more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
If you need to finance a large, planned purchase or knock out some existing credit card debt, the Reflect offers an above-average amount of time to do so. The offer length is 21 months from account opening of 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, (18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99% variable APR thereafter). 21 months is as good as it gets among balance transfer cards, but make sure your balance transfer is within 120 days from account opening in order to qualify for this introductory rate. There will be a balance transfer fee of 5% ($5 minimum).
You can find all the details in our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Regular APR
- 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5%, min: $5
If you need to finance a large, planned purchase or knock out some existing credit card debt, the Reflect offers an above-average amount of time to do so. The offer length is 21 months from account opening of 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, (18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99% variable APR thereafter). 21 months is as good as it gets among balance transfer cards, but make sure your balance transfer is within 120 days from account opening in order to qualify for this introductory rate. There will be a balance transfer fee of 5% ($5 minimum).
You can find all the details in our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Regular APR
- 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5%, min: $5
The Autograph is an all-around solid rewards card. It features a strong reward rate for popular expenses including restaurants, gas stations, travel and more. If you spend across a wide variety of purchases, this could be a good way to earn rewards for items you likely buy frequently. Its welcome bonus has a lower spending threshold than many of its competitors. It also includes an introductory APR offer on purchases to help potentially cut down on interest charges.
Check out our Wells Fargo Autograph card review to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
The Autograph is an all-around solid rewards card. It features a strong reward rate for popular expenses including restaurants, gas stations, travel and more. If you spend across a wide variety of purchases, this could be a good way to earn rewards for items you likely buy frequently. Its welcome bonus has a lower spending threshold than many of its competitors. It also includes an introductory APR offer on purchases to help potentially cut down on interest charges.
Check out our Wells Fargo Autograph card review to learn more.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard charges a $95 annual fee, and in return offers decent rewards at Choice Privilege hotel brands -- including Radisson hotels, Comfort Inn and Quality Inn, to name a few. It also earns rewards for gas stations, grocery stores and, interestingly, home improvement stores and phone plan service.
Cardholders will get an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, plus hotel amenities like automatic Platinum Elite membership, which includes a 25% bonus to earning Elite Points.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5%, min: $5
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard charges a $95 annual fee, and in return offers decent rewards at Choice Privilege hotel brands -- including Radisson hotels, Comfort Inn and Quality Inn, to name a few. It also earns rewards for gas stations, grocery stores and, interestingly, home improvement stores and phone plan service.
Cardholders will get an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, plus hotel amenities like automatic Platinum Elite membership, which includes a 25% bonus to earning Elite Points.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5%, min: $5
The Choice Privileges Mastercard is a good pick for people who prefer to stay with hotels in the Choice Privilege portfolio, which includes Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Radisson hotels. In addition to what it earns with these specific brands, it also provides a return on popular travel expenses like gas stations and grocery stores. And, more surprisingly for a hotel card, it also earns rewards at home improvement stores and for phone plan services.
Cardholders will also receive automatic Gold Elite membership with Choice Privilege hotels which includes amenities like early check in and late check out and a 10% bonus to earning Elite Points.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5%, min: $5
The Choice Privileges Mastercard is a good pick for people who prefer to stay with hotels in the Choice Privilege portfolio, which includes Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Radisson hotels. In addition to what it earns with these specific brands, it also provides a return on popular travel expenses like gas stations and grocery stores. And, more surprisingly for a hotel card, it also earns rewards at home improvement stores and for phone plan services.
Cardholders will also receive automatic Gold Elite membership with Choice Privilege hotels which includes amenities like early check in and late check out and a 10% bonus to earning Elite Points.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5%, min: $5
The Bilt Mastercard® uniquely offers rewards for your rent payments. Most times, using a credit card to pay rent requires you to pay a transaction fee, but with the Bilt card, you won’t have to worry about that. You will, however, need to have at least five transactions on the card each statement period to qualify for rewards, which are earned as Bilt Points. That shouldn’t be too hard though, considering the card also earns rewards for dining and travel. See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
The Bilt Mastercard® uniquely offers rewards for your rent payments. Most times, using a credit card to pay rent requires you to pay a transaction fee, but with the Bilt card, you won’t have to worry about that. You will, however, need to have at least five transactions on the card each statement period to qualify for rewards, which are earned as Bilt Points. That shouldn’t be too hard though, considering the card also earns rewards for dining and travel. See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
Credit score requirements for Wells Fargo credit cards
Wells Fargo cards primarily cater to people with higher credit scores, specifically those with good to excellent credit. In order to be considered to have good to excellent credit, your FICO score needs to be at least 670 or your VantageScore needs to be at least 661.
Wells Fargo preselection
Wells Fargo, like most issuers, offers a way for you to check if you qualify for any preselection offers on its website. You’ll need to supply your name, address and the last four digits of your SSN.
Preselection -- also known as preapproval or prequalification -- is a way for you to see your chances of getting approved for a credit card without damaging your credit. You’ll undergo a soft credit check, which matches some of your superficial financial information with a credit product. It’s important to keep in mind that even if you’re preselected, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the card once you formally apply.
A formal application will result in a hard credit check. Hard checks will typically lower your credit score by a few points, but the effect is temporary.
Wells Fargo vs. other issuers
Wells Fargo is lacking in some respects when compared with other issuers, but it also has a number of strong cards that are worth considering.
Its flagship rewards card -- the Wells Fargo Active Cash -- is one of the best credit cards you could choose, and the Autograph is certainly worth considering if you spend across its bonus categories. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great tool if you need to mitigate some existing credit card debt.
However, there’s few business credit cards and no dedicated travel cards. Other issuers -- like Chase and Bank of America -- offer a wider variety of card types. Bank of America also has the Preferred Rewards program, which increases the rewards rate of its cards based on your Bank of America bank account and/or Merrill Investment account balance.
Is Wells Fargo the right credit card issuer for you?
Wells Fargo has a somewhat limited card offering, but if you’re looking to earn a return on your general spending, the Active Cash is one of the best cards to choose. Similarly, if you need to knock out some existing credit card debt or finance a large, planned purchase, the Wells Fargo Reflect is a good option to consider.
How to choose the right Wells Fargo credit card
Compare your needs, goals and spending habits to the features and rewards of Wells Fargo’s card offerings. Then, compare the cards you’re interested in with the best travel cards, the best balance transfer cards and the best rewards cards to find the perfect credit card for you.
How many Wells Fargo cards can you have?
There’s no defined limit to how many Wells Fargo cards you can have, but the more cards you have, the more you’ll need to juggle. So long as you’re able to manage your spending and monthly payments, you could have as many cards as you want. Just keep in mind each card you apply for will result in a hard check on your credit.
The number of credit cards you have will also increase your total available credit, which can help keep your credit utilization low. A low credit utilization -- how much of your total credit you’re using -- contributes to better credit scores. The age of credit accounts also leads to healthier scores.
How to apply for a Wells Fargo credit card
Follow these steps to apply for a Wells Fargo card:
- Choose the card that meets your financial needs
- Follow the links above and fill out an application with all of the required financial and personal information
- Use the card responsibly and pay your bill on time
FAQs
Wells Fargo personal credit cards don’t charge annual fees, but one of its business card offerings -- the Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card* -- does.
Wells Fargo doesn’t offer credit cards for people with limited or lower credit scores, so you’ll need to have good or excellent credit to qualify for them. That means the chances of your approval will come down to your creditworthiness.
To cancel a credit card, you can contact the issuer over the phone or cancel online. However, canceling a credit card could be detrimental to your credit score, as it’ll increase your credit utilization and the age of your credit accounts contributes to higher credit scores.
*All information about the Wells Fargo Business Platinum and the the Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
