[Expired] Wells Fargo $100 Checking Bonus – Available Publicly & Nationwide – Direct Deposit Optional

Reposting because the EATF is definitely not charged anymore.

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $100
  • Availability: Nationwide (some areas may be restricted, enter your zip code to find out)
  • Direct deposit required: Optional, must be $500+ if chosen (see what counts here)
  • Additional requirements: 10 debit card transactions or direct deposit
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft
  • Credit card funding: Up to $50 (used to be $500)
  • Monthly fees: $10, waivable
  • Early account termination fee: None
  • Expiration Date: February 22, 2016

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Receive a $100 sign up bonus when you open a Wells Fargo checking account and complete the following requirements:
    • Open a new, eligible consumer checking account with a minimum opening deposit of $50 (not including the bonus) in a store (can also be opened online, looks like it’ll pre-populate the promotional code ‘PROSQ1’) by February 22, 2016
    • Complete one of the following: 10 debit card purchases or payments or establish a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more

The Fine Print

  • Requirements must be completed within 60 days of account opening
  • We will deposit the bonus into your new checking account within 45 days after eligibility and qualifications have been met
  • Offer available in all Wells Fargo stores, online at wellsfargo.com/100offer, or by phone at 1-800-932-6736
  • All consumer checking accounts except Teen CheckingSM are eligible for the $100 bonus
  • You cannot be: An owner, or joint owner, on a Wells Fargo consumer checking account in the past 6 months, A Wells Fargo team member, A recipient of a consumer checking bonus in the past 12 months
  • A qualifying direct deposit is your salary, pension, Social Security, or other regular recurring monthly income of an accumulated $500 or more

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fee

The Everyday Checking account comes with a $10 monthly fee. Get the fee waived with one of the following:

  • 10 debit card purchases and/or payments each statement cycle from this checking account, OR
  • Direct deposits totaling $500 or more each statement cycle, OR
  • Maintain a $1,500 minimum daily balance, OR
  • Link checking account to a Wells Fargo Campus ATM or Campus Debit Card

Early Account Termination Fee

Update: This definitely isn’t charged anymore.

In the past, there was always an early account termination fee of $25 if you close your account within six months of opening. It’s being reported (1, 2) that they may have dropped this fee; if true, you can close right after the bonus posts.

Our Verdict

Wells Fargo has offered $100 in the past (and even offered $200 in the past) the main reason that people are interested in the Wells Fargo checking accounts is that they usually want you to have a deposit account relationship with them before approving you for one of their credit cards. They have three cards most people are interested in:

I really like this bonus because the direct deposit is optional and it’s available nationwide. Because of that we’ve added it to our list of the best bank bonuses currently available. We’ve also added it to our database of bonuses.

Hat tip to reader John
    William Charles
  • On January 13, 2016, 22:17

View Comments (83)

  • I was doing my taxes and just realized that Wells Fargo never sent my wife or myself the 1099 for this $100 bonus. Can someone please post a screenshot of their 1099 with all personal info blanked out?

  • I opened my checking on Feb 1, opened my Propel on Feb 29, and got my $100 checking bonus on March 10.

    I realize that there is no ET fee, but my understanding is that ETFs are different from a fee related to closing within a short period after receiving the bonus.

    In other words, a bank can have an ETF for opening an account and then closing it shortly afterward even if there was no promotional dollars associated with it.

    Many promotions appear to additionally have tiny fine print somewhere that implies that they can pull your promotional bonus back if you attempt to close early (e.g. before 6 months have elapsed). Again, that's a slightly different animal from an ETF, which could apply to bank accounts that have no promotion attached.

    My Chase savings promotion was like this, for example.

    QUESTION: Do we know for certain that someone can close can close his Wells Fargo checking three days after receiving the bonus -- and do so without penalty?

  • So after completing the requirements well over 45 days ago and emailing an inquiry as to why no bonus, they said they'll get back to me in up to "14 business days". After 14 business days and no word I inquire again and they tell me the offer was a local one in limited regions, nothing they can do and I need to go down to a local branch and let them figure it out. What a crock. Anyone else having this kind of trouble?

  • I opened the account online successfully, did the 10-use requirement with the debit card, waited a month and still no bonus. Emailed them asking about the bonus and they said they didn't have any W-9 TIN signature form attached to the account and they can't give a bonus without that IRS info. Downloaded the form (basically just your SS# and signature), took it down to a local branch where they scan it into my account and now I will email them again to see if I'm good to go for the bonus. So basically, it looks like they will get you into a local branch one way or another. Congrats to those who avoided that! (I think my new minimum for this bank bonus hobby hassle is what it should have been before now: $150)

  • I used the card to buy ten $.50 on Amazon and the payments posted 10 days ago, now. How did everyone else do this method and get the bonus so quickly?
    It looks like Amazon is treating my Wells Fargo debit card as a credit card and I can't find anyway to change that.

    • Scratch that, asked customer service and they said I met the requirements and the bonus will be deposited sometime with 40 days still. Weird that it's taking longer for me.

      10 $.50 Amazon digital gift card purchases did it for me.

      • Hey did you need to change anything when you insert your debit card? I know some people were having trouble because of pinless debit on amazon (not saying with WF).

        • Amazon actually didn't give me anything to change. I was only able to enter card details and that as it.

          • same here. also, I thought that this was the case why my bonus didn't post soon enough. didn't do any changes, also did not charge debit again. just waited and boom, account credited last friday 2/26. so easy, already closed today! can't wait for next one...

          • Sorry. I meant that some people have to manually use a link to change their card to pinless debit or non-pinless debit or whatever. I guess it doesn't really matter if they said you fulfilled requirement without doing anything. Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate the help!

  • Data point:
    account opened online 1/18; funded with BofA debit card; waited for WF debit card to setup online account; 10 debit card transactions (including several small AMZN reloads) completed by 2/8; bonus posted 2/11 (a Thursday); first statement posted 2/16.

    Reading the comments and looking back at that Consumer Account Application (which I thought was an ad for a credit card) - I now see it lists the new checking account as the "product" and it appears to also function as a signature card. Guess I should send it in.
    Looking back, when the online app was approved, one of the Next Steps says, "Please sign, date and return the Consumer Account Application ...". Guess I was more focused on "approved", "bonus offer code linked", and "account number".

  • Not sure what happened. I applied online on 2/14. Everything seemed to go fine. I was "conditionally approved subject to verification of the information youve provided."

    Today, 2/16, I got an email saying:

    Thank you for your recent online application for a new Wells Fargo deposit account. We appreciate your interest in banking with Wells Fargo.

    At this time, we are unable to complete your application and must refer you to your nearest Wells Fargo branch to open the account. To locate a branch near you, please visit wellsfargo.com/help/locations/locations.jhtml.

    I have a mortgage with WF and applied with the same credentials. Not too many inquiries with ChexSystems (<8). Anyone else have problems online?

    • Just called to figure out what's going on. It's a bit strange since they couldn't find my mortgage even with the account number (what???). With my SSN, they still couldn't find it, but they did see my application. All they could say was that I was declined, I would get a letter in the mail, and I should talk to a branch manager (before or after getting the letter).

      I'll probably miss the deadline. This looked like an easy one to get.

  • I went to a branch in north cal, and somehow the banker tried so hard (called the number listed here, called back office, and escalated) but still couldn't find the offer code to open this in branch.

    I left without opening account.

  • Got my bonus today. Opened on 1/12, finished 10 debit card transactions on 1/25 and got the bonus on 1/29.

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