Best Wells Fargo Credit Cards

It is fairly hard to get a Wells Fargo credit card, as most Wells Fargo cards require good credit or better for approval.

Minimum Credit Score for Notable Wells Fargo Credit Cards

• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Good credit
• Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Good credit
• Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card: Good credit

If you meet the credit score requirement, it becomes easier to get a Wells Fargo credit card. As with all credit cards, you’ll also need to have a steady income and you must be at least 18 years old. In addition, you’ll need to have an SSN or ITIN to get approved.

Wells Fargo credit card requirements include having a credit score of 700+ (for most cards) and providing standard personal information such as your name, address, and date of birth. A Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) is also required, and all applicants must be 18+ years old.

Wells Fargo Credit Card Requirements

• General requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and have a physical U.S. address to be eligible for a Wells Fargo credit card. You will also need to provide your SSN or your ITIN. No minimum income stipulated, but be sure to include any sources of income outside of wages and retirement benefits, if applicable. Documents such as birth certificates, drivers’ licenses, and Social Security cards are not required, but in some instances, you may be asked to provide copies in order to verify your personal information.
• Wells Fargo Platinum card: Requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means applicants need good credit or better.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means applicants need good credit or better.
• Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card: Requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means applicants need good credit.

Wells Fargo also issues a number of retail store cards that generally have more lenient approval requirements, as applicants with fair credit or better (a score of 640) can get approved.

Other factors such as your income, debts, housing payments, and your general ability to afford credit card payments will also be taken into consideration when evaluating an application.

It’s also worth noting that you may not be eligible for introductory APR’s, fees and/or bonus rewards offers if you opened another Wells Fargo credit card within 15 months of your application.

If you want the best Wells Fargo credit card approval odds, make sure to pay your bills on time and try to keep your credit utilization around 30%. And bear in mind that an application will trigger a hard inquiry which may temporarily cause a dip in your credit score. So make sure you know where you stand before applying. You can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.

The credit score needed for the Wells Fargo Platinum card was 700, at a minimum. That means at least good credit was required for approval. However, it is worth noting that this card is no longer available to new applicants.

Alternative Credit Card Option

If you’re looking for a similar credit card, you should consider getting the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. This card offers an introductory APR of 0% for up to 21 months from account opening on both new purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Keep in mind that balance transfers are subject to a fee of 3% intro for 120 days, then up to 5% (min $5). The card’s regular APR is 15.99% - 27.99% Variable, based on creditworthiness.

Wells Fargo Reflect requires good credit or better (a credit score of 700+) for approval. So, make sure you know where you stand before applying. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub. 

It will take a maximum of 10 business days to get a Wells Fargo credit card after approval. Unfortunately, there's no option to expedite it with this company, at least not at the moment.

Still, 2 weeks is pretty much standard with most lenders, so just be patient and the card will get to you.

Yes, Wells Fargo does home improvement loans. You can take out a personal loan from Wells Fargo and use it to pay for home improvement expenses, such as remodeling a kitchen, finishing a basement, putting on siding or many other projects. Wells Fargo does not specifically refer to their loans as “home improvement loans,” so you’ll need to take out a general-purpose personal loan.

Quick Facts About Wells Fargo Home Improvement Loans

• APR: 5.99% - 19.99%

• Origination fee: $0

• Loan amount: $3,000 to $100,000

• Payoff period: 12 to 84 months

• Credit score required: 660

Before you apply for a Wells Fargo home improvement loan, it’s a good idea to compare the offer to WalletHub’s editors’ picks for the best home improvement loans. That way, you’ll be able to see how the offer stacks up against loans from leading competitors.

You can only cancel your Wells Fargo credit card over the phone at (800) 642-4720. But if your card is lost or stolen, you should report it immediately, by calling the same phone number.

Before completely cancelling your card, though, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. It might make sense for a card with an annual fee that you don’t plan to use anymore, for instance. But if your Wells Fargo credit card isn’t costing you any money, you’re better off keeping it open. In general, the more available credit you have, the better it is for your credit score. An account with zero balance also helps your credit utilization. Plus, you’ll still get credit for paying on time every month.

To cancel a Wells Fargo credit card:

• Pay any pending balance and redeem your rewards first.
  You won’t be able to close your account with an unpaid balance, and you’ll lose any unredeemed rewards once your account is closed.
• Call Wells Fargo credit card customer service at (800) 642-4720.
  Enter your card number, press the pound key and tell the representative that you’d like to close your account.
• Wells Fargo will close your account immediately.
  They will mail a letter formally confirming the change within 10 business days of your call.
• Check your free credit report.
  At the very least, make sure to do so two months after receiving Wells Fargo’s letter, to confirm the account is closed.

Keep in mind that the credit score implications are at least worth considering before you cancel any credit card account, especially if you plan to take out a big loan in the next six months or so. In any case, it’s always good to have an escape plan, so all Wells Fargo cardholders should know how to cancel their accounts should the need arise.

Ultimately, after closing your Wells Fargo credit card, you may want to re-evaluate how much you spend on any other credit cards you may have. Closing a credit card means you have less available credit, and thus possibly higher credit utilization, which can be bad for your score. You can monitor your credit score with WalletHub’s free daily updates to ensure that your credit isn’t affected by closing your Wells Fargo account.

The best Wells Fargo cash back credit card is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives you $200 Cash Rewards. This card also offers 2% cash rewards on all purchases. Plus, cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account stays open. The card has a $0 annual fee, too.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card even comes with an intro APR of 0% for 15 months from account opening on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers. The card’s regular APR is 17.99% - 27.99% Variable. There is, though, a balance transfer fee: 3% intro for 120 days, then up to 5% (min $5). These features make Wells Fargo Active Cash an attractive card all-around.

Other Good Cash Back Credit Cards

Although the Wells Fargo Active Cash card is considered one of the best credit cards for cash back rewards, there are also several other good options available on the market. So, if you’re not loyal to Wells Fargo, you may want to try cards from other issuers:

Ultimately, you can check out our editors’ latest picks for the best cash back credit cards to weigh your options.