Wells Fargo $100 Checking Bonus – Nationwide – Direct Deposit Optional

Reposting because bonus has been extended until October 14th, 2016.

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: June 30th, 2016 October 14th, 2016

The Offer

How To Get The Offer:

To receive this offer you need to do the following:

• Withdraw money from a Wells Fargo ATM using a non Wells Fargo debit card (they charge $2.99 so make sure you use a card that refunds these fees)
• A pop up should appear asking what you’d do with $100 dollars
• Select gas & groceries
• A coupon for the offer should print out

You can also try using this link: https://www.wellsfargo.com/jump/checking/100special-q2. But keep in mind the fine print states you must have received targeted communication to be eligible, so I wouldn’t risk it.

Offer Requirements:

• 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  by June 30th, 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
• 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

There is no early account termination fee anymore.

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:

• Wells Fargo Propel World: $400+ sign up bonus
• Wells Fargo Propel 365: $200 sign up bonus
• Wells Fargo Cashback Card: 5% cash back at select categories for six months

The downside to this bonus is that it’s kind of hard to actually enroll in the offer unless you have a Wells Fargo ATM near to you. Despite that we’ve added it to our list of the best bank bonuses as it’s relatively easy to meet the bonus requirements and also opens up the Wells Fargo credit cards to you.

Hat tip to philly555 on /r/churning