Wells Fargo is offering a $325 cash bonus to customers who open an Everyday Checking Account, plus incentives for new Clear Access Banking and Business Checking customers.
One of the oldest banks in the U.S., Wells Fargo was founded in 1852 to provide banking and express shipping services to the burgeoning West. (Co-founders Henry Wells and William G. Fargo were also key figures in the creation of American Express.)
Find out about Wells Fargo’s latest rewards — and learn how cash bonuses work — below. Read more on our methodology here.
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking: Earn $325
How do you get the bonus?Open a Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account and receive $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening.
When do you receive the bonus? Once you have met all requirements,Wells Fargo will deposit the bonus into your new accountwithin 30 calendar days.
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking
Wells Fargo Bank is a Member FDIC.
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Monthly maintenancefee
$15, with options to waive
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Minimum deposit to open
$25,if opening in branch.
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Minimum balance
$1,500 minimum daily balance to avoid monthly maintenance fee
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Free ATM network
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ATM fee reimbursement
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Overdraft fee
$35 (max of 3 overdraft fees per day)
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Mobile check deposit
How to avoid the monthly fee:
- Maintain $500 in combined minimum deposit balances,
- or make qualifying direct deposits totaling $500 or more,
- or be between 17 – 24 years old
- or have a linked Wells Fargo Campus ATM Card or Campus Debit Card (for college students)
What to know about this offer: Transfers between Wells Fargo accounts, mobile deposits, Zelle®, or deposits made at a branch or ATM are not considered qualifying electronic deposits. Your new account must be open with a positive balance when the bonus is deposited.
When does the offer expire? Oct. 13, 2026
Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking: Earn $125
How do you get the bonus?Open a new Clear Access Banking account with a minimum opening deposit of $25 and make 10 or morequalifying transactions within 60 calendar days of account opening.
When do you receive the bonus?Your bonus will be deposited within 30 days of meeting the offer requirements.
Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking
Wells Fargo Bank is a Member FDIC.
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Monthly maintenancefee
$5, with options to waive
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Minimum deposit to open
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Minimum balance
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Free ATM network
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Overdraft fee
What to know about this offer: Clear Access Banking is a second-chance banking option targeting customers who may not qualify for standard checking due to a negative banking history. Qualifying transactions include Zelle transactions, payments posted through Wells Fargo Bill Pay and debit card payments.
When does the offer expire? Oct. 13, 2026
Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking: Earn up to $825
How do you get the bonus?Open a new Initiate Business Checking account and bring $2,500 in deposits by Day 30 from account opening:
- Earn $400 with a deposit of $2,500
- Earn $550 with a deposit of $10,000
- Earn $825 with a deposit of $25,000
Maintain the account balance through day 60 and complete five or more qualifying posted transactions within the 60-day qualification period.
When do you receive the bonus?After the 60-day qualification period, your bonus will be deposited in your new checking account within 30 days after you have met all offer requirements.
Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking
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Special offer
Earn up to $825 when you open a new Initiate Business Checking account by Sept. 8, 2026, and complete qualifying activities
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Monthly maintenancefee
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Minimum opening deposit
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Minimum balance
None (monthly fee waived with $2,000 daily balance.)
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Free ATM network
More than 11,000 Wells Fargo ATMs nationwide
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ATM fee reimbursement
None. Wells Fargo charges a $3 fee for transactions at out-of-network ATMs
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Small business perks
Free incoming wire transfers and up to 100 transactions and $5,000 cash deposits per month with no fee
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Overdraft fee
Pros
- Cash bonus of up to $825
- Up to $5,000 cash deposits per month with no fee
- 4,200 branch locations and 11,000 Wells Fargo ATMs
Cons
- $2,000 minimum daily balance needed to get the monthly fee waived
- Each transaction over the first 100 is $0.50
- Account lacks integrated invoicing or business management software tools
What to know about this offer: Qualifying transactions include deposits posted online, in person or via mobile app; Wells Fargo business debit card purchases and payments through Wells Fargo Bill Pay. Withdrawals, Zelle transactions, and transfers to or from other Wells Fargo accounts do not qualify.
When does the offer expire? Sep. 8, 2026
What to know about bank bonuses
Before you take advantage of a Wells Fargo sign-up bonus, consider these requirements.
You must be a new customer: Cash bonuses are intended to attract new business, so if you already have an account, you’re likely ineligible. Wells Fargo also excludes customers who have closed an account within the past 12 months. You may still qualify if you have another product with the bank (for example, a credit card).
You must meet the enrollment requirements: To receive a bonus, you must make a minimum opening deposit or a qualifying total of direct deposits and keep the funds in place for a number of weeks. Residents of certain states may not be eligible for every promotion.
You must use new money: The funds used to open your account typically need to come from an outside source, such as a paycheck, government benefits, a transfer from an account at a different bank or an external wire or ACH transfer.
It might not be the best option: A promotional bonus doesn’t necessarily mean the account is the best fit for you. Wells Fargo’s Everyday Checking, for example, doesn’t earn an APY and has a monthly fee unless you meet certain requirements.
Pros and cons of bank bonuses
Consider the benefits and drawbacks before taking advantage of a new sign-up bonus.
Pros
- Free cash.Even if you have to meet account requirements, a few hundred dollars can help pay down debt or fatten your emergency fund.
- Other perks.Some banks include additional incentives, such as a higher APY on a checking account or cash back on a linked credit card.
Cons
- Eligibility requirements. You’ll need to deposit a minimum amount and leave it in your new account for weeks or even months.
- The account offerings may not be great.A hefty bonus may be used to attract customers to an account with little or no interest, high fees, a limited ATM network or other red flags.
- Bonuses are taxable.Bank account bonuses are usually considered taxable income, so a slice of the bonus you earn will have to be given to the IRS.
FAQs
What states does Wells Fargo operate in?
Residents of all 50 U.S. states can open an account with Wells Fargo online, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Wells Fargo has physical ocations across 36 states and Washington, D.C. The states with the highest concentration of branches include California, Florida and Texas.
Does Wells Fargo Everyday Checking have a monthly maintenance fee?
There is a $15 monthly service fee that can be waived with a $1,500minimum daily balance, $5,000+ in qualifying balance or $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits. The fee is also waived for account holders aged 17 to 24 and for those with qualifying monthly direct deposits through the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking program.
What qualifies as direct deposit?
Each institution defines direct deposit differently, but a qualifying direct deposit is usually an electronic transfer of regular income — such as a paycheck, pension or Social Security benefit check— made by your employer or another payer using the account and routing numbers you provide. Cash deposits, personal checks, internal transfers, transfers from your account at another bank or from peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like Venmo are typically excluded.
Is it OK to have more than one bank account?
If you are good at staying on top of your finances, having multiple deposit accounts can allow you to take advantage of various benefits. You can use one checking account for bills and another for daily spending, or use separate accounts for business and personal expenses. Some couples have joint accounts for household expenses, as well as their own private accounts.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every bank bonus list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Our methodology
CNBC Select routinely monitors promotions from a range of banks, credit unions and online financial institutions. We focus on banks with large national footprints and consider how difficult it is to qualify for the incentive.
We regularly refresh our lists of the best checking account, savings account, brokerage account and business bank account bonuses.
We review each promotion on a range of features, including:
- Bonus amount
- Eligibility requirements
- Other account perks
- Maintenance fees and other charges
- Branch locations and nationwide availability
- ATM network
- Availability of other financial products
Most brick-and-mortar banks require you to enter your ZIP code online for the correct account offerings. Product and feature availability vary by market, so these accounts may not be offered in your area.
All of the accounts included on this list are FDIC- or NCUA-insured up to $250,000.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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