Established in 1852, Wells Fargo is one of the oldest financial institutions in the U.S. Its storied history began with founders Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, who founded the company to fund train and stagecoach transportation. Today, Wells Fargo continues in that vein, securing both personal and corporate futures with reliable funding and lines of credit.
Wells Fargo offers several credit card options, but they differ significantly, making it confusing for some consumers to understand which one to choose. With things like APRs and rewards fluctuating from card to card, we break down the details of Wells Fargo’s best credit cards to help you find the right fit for your family or business.
Buyer’s guide
Product
Best for
Intro Offer
Regular APR
Rewards
Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card
Best for road warriors
2 reward nights after $1,000 in purchases within first 3 months
14.99% to 22.99% variable
1 stamp for every $500 spent; 10 stamps equal one hotel reward night
Best for unlimited cashback
0% intro APR for 15 months
$200 cash rewards bonus with $1,000 in purchases within first 3 months
14.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% variable
Unlimited 2% cash rewards
Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card
Best for large companies
$500 cash back bonus or 50,000 bonus points after $15,000 in purchases within first 3 months
Prime + 3.99%
1.5% cash back for every dollar spent
OR
1 point per dollar spent and 5,000 bonus points per billing cycle with $10,000 in qualifying purchases
Wells Fargo Business Platinum Card
Best for balance transfers
$300 cash back bonus or 30,000 bonus points with $3,000 in purchases within first 3 months
0% intro APR for first 9 months
Prime + 7.99% to Prime + 17.99%
1.5% unlimited cashback
1 point per dollar spent
1,000 bonus points per billing cycle for $1,000 in qualifying purchases
Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card
Best for bad credit
N/A
Prime + 11.90%
1.5% cash back on eligible purchases
1 point per dollar spent
1,000 bonus points per billing cycle for $1,000 in qualifying purchases
Best intro APR
0% intro APR for 18-21 months
12.99% to 24.99% variable
N/A
At a glance
With all its travel bonuses, the Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card is one of our picks for the best travel rewards business credit cards.
Its introductory offer includes two rewards nights when you spend at least $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months. Certain limits apply, like a maximum of $125 nightly reimbursement for each reward night.
After the introductory period, cardholders receive regular rewards. For every $500 you spend, you receive one stamp. When you receive 10 stamps, you can redeem them for one reward night worth $110. You will also receive an additional stamp for every night you stay at a property after booking it. There are no black-out dates, and rewards are redeemable at more than 500,000 hotel and vacation properties.
Fees
According to the Wells Fargo fee schedule, the Hotels.com card has no annual fee or foreign conversion fee.
Type of Fee
Cost
Annual Fee
$0
APR – Purchases
14.99% to 22.99% variable
APR – Balance Transfers
14.99% to 22.99% variable
APR – Cash Advances
24.74% variable
Cash Advance Fee
$10 or 5% of transaction, whichever is greater
Foreign Currency Conversion Fee
$0
Pros & cons
Pros
Cons
Rewards issued via stamps
$125 maximum hotel redemption rate
Rewards expire after one year
At a glance
The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card makes an attractive offer by embracing welcome rewards for its new customers. There is a 0% introductory APR that lasts for 15 months, plus an additional $200 cash bonus when you spend $1,000 in purchases during your first three months of having the card. If you have credit to consolidate, the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card offers an introductory rate on balance transfers for the first 120 days.
After the introductory period, you receive unlimited 2% cash rewards on your purchases with no category or quarterly requirements. You can use your Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card to shop at popular stores like Costco and Walmart. For its purchase APR, Wells Fargo offers a tiered system for variable APRs: you will receive a 14.99%, 19.99%, or 24.99% rate.
Plus, you get access to extra perks like travel bonuses. The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card also includes extra Visa Signature® services, a complimentary concierge service to simplify your life.
Fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card skips the annual fees and offers introductory rates in its fee schedule.
Type of Fee
Cost
Annual Fee
$0
APR – Purchases
0% introductory
14.99%, 19.99%, or 24.99% variable
APR – Balance Transfers
0% introductory
14.99%, 19.99%, or 24.99% variable
APR – Cash Advances
25.99%
Cash Advance Fee
$10 or 5% of advance, whichever is greater
Foreign Currency Conversion Fee
3%
Pros & cons
Pros
Cons
At a glance
The Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card is not available to just any business. To qualify, your business must have a minimum of $1 million in annual sales. After that, the rewards are generous.
The introductory offer is almost as good as the regular rewards. New customers receive their choice of either a one-time $500 cashback reward or 50,000 rewards points after spending $15,000 within the first three months of having the card.
The choices do not end there. With the Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card, you again have your choice of reward structure. You can either earn 1.5% cash back for every dollar spent, or you can choose to receive 1 point for every dollar spent, plus 5,000 bonus points for every billing period with $10,000 or more in purchases. Either way, the card comes with up to a $100 annual credit toward your travel incidental fee reimbursement.
Fees
The Wells Fargo Business Elite Signature Card’s fee schedule includes no annual fee for your first year with a $125 annual charge thereafter.
Type of Fee
Cost
Annual Fee
$0 first year
$125 thereafter
APR – Purchases
Prime + 3.99%
APR – Balance Transfers
Varies
APR – Cash Advances
Prime + 20.74%
Cash Advance Fee
4% or $10, whichever is greater
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros & cons
Pros
Cons
Introductory bonus rewards
Introductory cashback offer
First-year annual fee waived
$1 million in required sales
Annual fee after first year
High rate for cash advances
At a glance
Similar to the Business Elite Signature Card, the Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card puts you in the driver’s seat for your rewards. When you first open your account, the rewards begin immediately with your choice of a one-time $300 cashback bonus or 30,000 bonus points. To qualify, you must choose a Business Card Rewards program and spend $3,000 or more within the first three months of having the card.
Otherwise, the Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card receives a regular 1.5% cash back rate. For every dollar you spend, you also receive 1,000 bonus points for a minimum of $1,000 in eligible purchases.
The Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card offers a 0% introductory APR for the first nine months. To qualify, your business must have annual sales of $2 million or lower.
Fees
The Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card fee schedule allows for no annual or foreign transaction fees with a fluctuating APR.
Type of Fee
Cost
Annual Fee
$0
APR – Purchases
Prime + 7.99% to Prime + 17.99%
APR – Cash Advances
Prime + 20.74%
Cash Advance Fee
4%, minimum $10, maximum $175
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Late Charge
$25, $39, or $50
Overlimit Fee
$39
Pros & cons
Pros
Cons
At a glance
The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is also one of our picks for 2021’s best secured credit cards.
Because it is a secured card, you first need to pay a deposit for the total line of credit. Wells Fargo allows you to load your card with anywhere from $500 to $25,000 credit line. Cashback rewards include 1.5% cash back on qualifying purchases. Plus, there are no annual or transaction fees to cut into your rewards. If you are looking for introductory rewards, however, you may want to look elsewhere. This card focuses on a recurring rewards structure.
Overall, the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a great pick when you want a business credit card for bad credit. To apply, you will need to call or go online, as paper applications are not accepted in Wells Fargo branches.
Fees
The Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card has an attractive fee schedule with no annual fee.
Type of Fee
Cost
Annual Fee
$0
APR – Purchases
Prime + 11.90%
APR – Balance Transfers
Not specified
APR – Cash Advances
Prime + 20.74%
Cash Advance Fee
4%, minimum $10, maximum $175
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Pros & cons
Pros
Cons
At a glance
With a 0% intro APR for 18 months, the Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card made a splash with its release. The 18-month introductory period is among the longest today, but it doesn’t end there.
Wells Fargo offers additional rewards when you first open your account. It will extend the introductory period for an additional three months when you make on-time payments throughout.
After the introductory period, the APR reverts to a 12.99% to 24.99% variable APR.
Fees
The Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card has a fee schedule similar to several other Wells Fargo credit cards.
Type of Fee
Cost
Annual Fee
$0
APR – Purchases
0% intro APR
12.99% to 24.99% variable
APR – Balance Transfers
0% intro APR
12.99% to 24.99% variable
APR – Cash Advances
25.99%
Cash Advance Fee
$10 or 5% of the amount of advance, whichever is greater
Foreign Currency Conversion Fee
3%
Pros & cons
Pros
Cons
Does not earn rewards
No welcome bonus
Foreign transaction fee
How did we choose these products?
To help you choose a business credit card or a personal credit card, we consider several critical factors:
APR, both introductory and regular
Fees, such as an annual and transaction fee
Rewards and benefits, like points, travel, and concierge services
Accessibility, service areas and customer service
Welcome rewards, like intro APRs and cashback bonuses
Extra protections, like credit tools, lost luggage, travel, and car rental protections
FAQ
What is the difference between a debit card and a credit card?
The main difference between a debit card and a credit card comes down to your funds. Your debit card instantly deducts money from your bank account. Payment for your credit card purchases, however, uses a line of credit, so funds are not due until you receive the bill.
What benefits come with a Wells Fargo credit card?
Wells Fargo credit cards come with several benefits like roadside assistance, cell phone protection, and rental car and travel fee reimbursement.
Are there alternatives worth considering?
Wells Fargo only offers six credit cards. But if you would like to compare credit cards, check out these guides to the best credit cards in 2021:
