[Expired] Wells Fargo $250 Nationwide Checking Bonus

Deal has expired, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.

Offer at a glance

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Wells Fargo is offering a bonus of up to $250 when you open a new Everyday checking account online. Bonus is broken down as follows:
    • Receive $150 when within 60 days of account opening you receive qualifying direct deposits with a cumulative total of $500 or more
    • If you met the above requirement you can get an additional $100 when you continue to receive qualifying direct deposits or more every 30 days for an additional 150 days after the initial 60-day qualification period

The Fine Print

  • Everyday Checking is the account eligible for up to $250 bonus when opened online. If you do not qualify for Everyday Checking but do qualify for Opportunity Checking®, this offer can still be applied to the Opportunity Checking account.
  • You cannot be:
    • A current owner on a Wells Fargo consumer checking account
    • A Wells Fargo team member
    • A recipient of a consumer checking bonus in the past 12 months (limit one bonus per customer)
  • Open a new Everyday Checking account online with a minimum opening deposit of $25 by January 25, 2019.
  • To receive a $150 bonus, within 60 calendar days of account opening, receive qualifying direct deposits with a cumulative total of $500 or more into the new checking account. During this time, your new account balance must be $1 or more.
  • If you meet the requirements for the $150 bonus, you are eligible to receive an additional $100 bonus, when you continue to receive qualifying direct deposits with a cumulative total of $500 or more every 30 days for an additional 150 days after the initial 60-day qualification period. During this time, your new account balance must be $1 or more.
    • A qualifying direct deposit is the customer’s salary, pension, Social Security, or other regular monthly income of an accumulated $500 or more, electronically deposited through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to this checking account by your employer or an outside agency.
    • A non-qualifying direct deposit is transfers from one account to another, or deposits made at a branch, ATM, or from mobile deposit.
  • Offer subject to change and may be discontinued at any time.
  • Offer cannot be:
    • Paid without a valid U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number (W-9)
    • Combined with any other consumer deposit offer
    • Reproduced, purchased, sold, transferred, or traded
  • We will deposit the $150 bonus into your new Everyday Checking account within 45 days after meeting eligibility and applicable requirements.
  • We will deposit the additional $100 bonus into the same checking account within 45 days after meeting eligibility and applicable requirements. The Everyday Checking account must remain open in order to receive the bonus payment.
  • You are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes due on your bonus, and we will report as income to the tax authorities if required by applicable law. Consult your tax advisor.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

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 OR
  • The primary account owner is 17 – 24 years old.

If you have a Wells mortgage, you might be able to get a higher-level account with no fees.

Early Account Termination Fee

There is no early account termination fee.

Our Verdict

$250 is as good as when it comes to nationwide online offers. The downside is the direct deposit requirement. There is an in branch offer for $200 and that doesn’t require direct deposits but it does require visiting a branch (that offer has now expired). Some people will prefer this bonus as it’s online and they might not have a branch near them. As always you can see what has/hasn’t worked as a direct deposit previously here (always linked under ‘direct deposit required’ in offer at a glance). This will definitely be added to the best checking bonuses. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is pulled very early, so I’d recommend signing up sooner rather than later if you’re interested.

 

Big thanks to reader, Matt who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.

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View Comments (172)

  • I used Webull to cash out into Wells Fargo. That triggered the bonus.
    Originally I transferred from my BofA to Webull, and then tried to cash out into WF, but Webull have me a hard time (fraud protection). So then I just deposited money from WF into Webull, and then cashed it out. That worked.

  • Received both of my bonuses. Set up an automatic monthly 500 DD and the first bonus posted 1 week after first DD. The second bonus portion posted after the 7th 500DD. I setup the DD to enter on Monday, and withdraw on Tuesday. Always kept bank balance at ~20 dollars. Satisfied, will leave the account for the now as I have the fee waiver via age limit.

  • I received my second bonus a few weeks ago, but I have never closed a bank account before, what is the best way to do this, and when should I do it?
    How do I do it to avoid getting charged the monthly fee?

    • Interesting DP for me. Just logged on today to check on my WF account. I received the second part of this bonus on 6/13. I transferred everything out but left the account open on 6/17. As of 7/8 WF closed my account for me? No notification at all, hoping this doesn't screw up churning this in the future.

  • I also just received my second bonus. I set up $500 bi-weekly DD from employer for the first month and then reduced it to $250 bi-weekly after receiving the first bonus.

    1/25 - opened account
    2/7 - DD $500
    2/14 - $150 bonus
    6/27 - $100 bonus

    • Pretty much the same timing. I missed all these DPs and just happened to be logged into my account today. Nice surprise. I'm *not* going to close right away, but how long are folks keeping there accounts open?

      ETA - I've automated pulling out my real employer DD every two weeks so, leaving it open for awhile is ok, but I could be using that DD for some other deal!

    • Exact same opening and final bonus dates as you; I've been making a bi-weekly real $250 DD.

  • Just got my second bonus. I used the square cash app to fulfill the DD requirements every 30 days.

    1/17: Opened account
    1/22: Cash App $500 DD
    1/24: Received $150 bonus
    6/20: Received $100 bonus (147 days after initial $150 bonus)

    To keep track of the recurring DDs I made a note of my last DD and waited ~20 days to do the next one, just to be on the safe side.

    Also, I didn't see this on the CC funding post but I was able to fund the account using a Capital One Quicksilver @will.

  • Got my second bonus. I fulfilled all requirements using employer DD.

    1/7/19: Opened account
    2/6/19: Received $150 bonus
    6/13/19: Received $100 bonus

  • 1/2/19 - Account opened
    1/16/19 - $150 bonus received
    6/6/19 - $100 bonus received

    All were real employer DD. Will close account at end of this month.

    • The terms say "continue to receive qualifying direct deposits with a cumulative total of $500 or more every 30 days for an additional 150 days " so think the earliest anyone could receive the extra $100 bonus would be June or July.

  • Can confirm PayPal "direct deposits" triggered $150 initial bonus. This was through adding funds to PayPal through Chase, then depositing the funds from PayPal into WF.