Updated March 10, 2023

Wells Fargo Bank Review: Account Good for You?

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Wells Fargo offers nationwide access with thousands of ATMs and branch locations. But are their checkings and savings accounts right for you? Read on to see the best options.

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With more than 12,000 ATMs and 4,500 retail branches nationwide, Wells Fargo is one of the most recognized names in the banking industry.

They offer a large variety of banking products, including checking and savings accounts.

Did You Know? Wells Fargo mortgage borrowers or investment clients may get access to higher interest rates than those offered on standard checking accounts.

Services Offered

Wells Fargo offers checking and savings accounts that you find at your typical physical bank. But they also have a few features that you may not find elsewhere.

Checking

The Wells Fargo checking accounts each come with a Platinum Debit card featuring chip technology. You'll also get online bill pay, online transfers, and mobile deposit.

And you'll have access to 24/7 customer service and text banking. Here are your account options:

  • Everyday Checking: You can open an Everyday Checking account with a small deposit. Wells Fargo does charge monthly service fees.

    But you can waive them by meeting requirements such as making a certain number of debit/credit purchases or carrying a specific monthly balance.

  • Preferred Checking: Preferred Checking offers interest if you meet the minimum balance requirement. If you have a Wells Fargo mortgage, your monthly service fee waived for this checking account.

    With Preferred Checking, you also get access to budgeting and cash flow tools.

  • Portfolio by Wells Fargo: If you have a significant amount of money to keep in your checking account, you may earn higher interest rates with the Portfolio account.

    The more money you have, the higher the interest rate you may receive. You'll also get benefits like:

    • Waived ATM fees for non-Wells Fargo transactions
    • Interest rate discounts on Wells Fargo loans
    • No overdraft protection transfer fees

  • Teen Checking: Teens ages 13 - 17 can have their own checking account with a parent as the co-owner. The account comes with tools to learn financial responsibility like 24/7 access, spending limits, and free budgeting tools.

    If you opt-in to online statements, you can have the monthly fee waived.

  • Opportunity Checking: This account may be the best option if no other bank will give you a traditional checking account.

    It has lower balance requirements, includes mobile banking and opportunities to waive the monthly fees.

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Savings

The savings accounts at Wells Fargo aren't much different from what you'd find at any other bank. The interest rates are low and each account has monthly fees.

TIP: You may avoid savings account fees by meeting requirements like minimum daily balances or a certain number of direct deposits.

Wells Fargo offers the following savings account options:

  • Way2Save Savings: If you find it hard to save, the Way2Save program may help.

    For every qualifying purchase you make with your linked Wells Fargo checking account, Wells Fargo will transfer $1 to your savings account automatically.

  • Platinum Savings: If you keep a higher balance in your savings account, you may have access to higher interest rates with the Platinum Savings.

    Even though it's a savings account, you do have the option to write free checks with this account, giving you easier access to your funds.

  • Wells Fargo CDs: If you can tie up your money for a while, CDs offer the highest interest rates than other deposit products.

How to Find Your Wells Fargo Routing Number:
Finding your Wells Fargo routing number is as easy as visiting the Wells Fargo website and clicking on Routing Number.

After entering information regarding the state you are in and the type of account you need the routing number for, you'll obtain the requested information.

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Reasons We Like Wells Fargo

  • Wells Fargo has a large ATM network. With over 12,000 ATMs nationwide, you may be able to avoid the fees charged for using a non-Wells Fargo ATM.

    This makes it easier for consumers throughout the US to use Wells Fargo.

  • Wells Fargo gives consumers a "second chance." Many nationwide banks don't offer second-chance checking accounts like Wells Fargo does.

    This program gives consumers who suffered an unfortunate financial event a chance to redeem themselves financially. Which means they can work their way up to other deposit products in the future.

  • You can set up online bill pay to automatically pay bills. If you are tired of missing due dates, you can set up recurring payments with Wells Fargo. You don't have to worry about making your payments late.

    TIP: You can set up alerts to remind you of impending due dates if you prefer making manual payments.

  • You can send/receive payments with Zelle®. All you need to send money to friends/family is an email address or phone number.

    You do this right from Wells Fargo online or your Wells Fargo mobile app. This makes it easy to pay a friend for dinner or pay the babysitter without cash.

  • You can set up account alerts. If you are worried about going over your balance, forgetting about upcoming payments, or you want to be alerted of recent deposits, you can set up your custom alerts.

  • You get zero liability protection on your debit card. Using a debit card comes with its risks of fraud and theft. Wells Fargo protects you from those transactions with its zero liability promise.

    TIP: Report fraudulent transactions right away so you can avoid paying for the charges.

  • You can deposit your check with your smartphone. With just a picture of the front and back of your check, you can deposit your check without visiting the bank.

    You can make deposits 24/7 and receive immediate confirmation of receipt of the funds.

  • You can receive text alerts regarding your bank account. If you don't have access to your mobile app or computer, you can text your command to 93557 and receive an answer instantly.

    All you have to text are words like (BAL) for balance, (ACT) for recent transactions or (DUE) for due dates.

  • You have access to Mobile Wallet features. Wells Fargo is compatible with Samsung Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. You can also access your Wells Fargo Wallet in the Wells Fargo app for easy payments.

  • Wells Fargo provides 24/7 fraud monitoring on your checking accounts. Wells Fargo is continually checking your account for fraudulent activity and alerts you if they get suspicious.

    This can help protect you from identity theft or fraudulent activity on your account before you even realize it.

Reasons You May Want to Look Elsewhere

  • You'll make minimal interest. It's not unusual for a big bank like Wells Fargo that offers a multitude of bank services to offer minimal interest rates.

    TIP: Looking for higher rates? You may be better off with an online bank that focuses strictly on deposit accounts.

  • The requirements to waive the monthly service fees are hard to meet. Wells Fargo has rather steep minimum daily balance requirements that you must meet in order to get the monthly service fee waived.

    Some accounts do give allowance for direct deposits. But even the Opportunity Checking account charges $10 per month, which can be steep.

  • You'll pay a fee for overdraft protection. If you link a savings account or credit account to your Wells Fargo Checking account, you'll pay a fee for the service.

    If Wells Fargo has to advance money to your checking account to prevent an overdraft, you'll pay a fee for each transfer.

Is Wells Fargo in trouble?
Wells Fargo is under investigation for unfair lending practices. This is a part of President Trump's promise to crack down on banking. No charges have been made and the final outcome has not been decided.

This isn't the first time Wells Fargo has been in trouble with federal regulators, but the bank is working with the government to make things right.

How It Compares

Bank of America: Bank of America has locations throughout 37 states, but they aren't as widespread as Wells Fargo.

Bank of America offers banking products similar to those at Wells Fargo, except for teens. BofA doesn't have a teen-specific checking account, which gives Wells Fargo the leg up on that competition.

US Bank: US Bank is another mega bank with locations all throughout the US. US Bank and Wells Fargo charge similar fees and have similar minimum opening balances.

US Bank has around 5,000 ATM locations, whereas Wells Fargo has around 12,000. Both banks offer 24/7 customer service and give you easy access to a mobile app.

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Bottom Line

Wells Fargo is well known and has been around for many years. If you're looking for stability and your basic banking features, you'll find them here.

If you are looking for more sophisticated budgeting tools or you want high interest rates, though, you'll likely find yourself looking elsewhere.

Chase
Member FDIC

Chase Total Checking® - $200 Bonus

Expires 10/18/2023
  • New Chase checking customers enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and set up direct deposit
  • Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
  • Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
  • Open your account online now
  • Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
  • Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Bank of America
Member FDIC

Bank of America Business Advantage Checking Account - $200 Bonus Offer

Expires 12/31/2023
Earn a cash bonus in three steps:
  1. Open a new eligible business checking account by December 31, 2023
  2. Make Qualifying Deposits* of $5,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the new eligible business checking account
  3. Maintain an average balance of $5,000 for the next 60 days (day 31-90) during the maintenance period**
*Qualifying Deposits are deposits of new money, which is money not currently or previously held in any account at Bank of America or Merrill
**The maintenance period begins thirty-one (31) days after account opening and ends ninety (90) calendar days after account opening.
Member FDIC
Citibank

Citi Priority - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus

Expires 1/9/2024
  • Earn up to $2,000 when you open a new eligible Citi checking account and enroll in the offer the same day
  • New to Relationship customers can choose their Relationship Tier.
  • Within 20 days of opening, deposit the minimum amount of new-to-Citibank funds.
  • Maintain a minimum balance for 60 consecutive calendar days from the 21st day.
  • If your balance falls to a lower Balance Level at any point during the maintenance period, the bonus changes.
  • Bonus will be paid within 30 days after you successfully complete all required activities.
  • Restrictions apply.
Discover Bank
Member FDIC

Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus

Expires 12/14/2023

To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY923 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.

What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 12/14/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.

CIT Bank
Member FDIC

CIT Bank Platinum Savings - 5.05% APY

  • 5.05% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
  • 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
  • $100 minimum opening deposit
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • Member FDIC

Write to Kim P at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

This content is not provided by Citi. Any opinions expressed are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Citi.

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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

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