[Expired] Wells Fargo $400 Checking Bonus – Available Online

There is now a new $400 bonus that can be viewed here.

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

Update 6/2/19: The original signup link isn’t working properly anymore (it redirects to a generic page). Use this link only going forward. Updated the link below as well.

Update 4/16/19:  Below in branch link is now valid until December 31st, 2019.

Update 3/1/19: This new signup link offers the option to do this $400 bonus in branch if that interests you for some reason. (Previous link was online only.) Hat tip reader SMan

Offer at a glance

The Offer

Direct link to offer | Current Link

  • Wells Fargo is offering a bonus of $400 when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
    • Set up a direct deposit and receive a cumulative monthly total of $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits into your new account for 3 consecutive months

The Fine Print

  • Eligibility Requirements:
    • Everyday Checking is the only eligible account for the $400 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.
    • This offer is intended for new checking customers only. You are not eligible for this offer if:
      • You are a current owner of a Wells Fargo consumer checking account
      • You are a Wells Fargo team member
      • You have received a bonus for opening a Wells Fargo consumer checking account within the past 12 months
  • Bonus requirements:
    • Open a new Everyday Checking account online with a minimum opening deposit of $25 by July 26, 2019. All account applications are subject to approval.
    • Within 150 days of your account open date, receive a cumulative monthly total of $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits to the checking account opened for this bonus offer for three consecutive months. 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 electronically deposited through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to this checking account by your employer or an outside agency.
    • Non-qualifying direct deposits for purposes of this offer include transfers from one account to another (for example, transfers between your own accounts, or person-to-person transfers using a transfer service such as Zelle®), or deposits made at a branch or ATM, or through mobile deposit.
  • Bonus Payment:
    • We will deposit the bonus into your new checking account within 45 days after meeting all offer requirements.
    • The new checking account must remain open in order to receive any earned bonus payments.
    • You are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes due on the 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 Fees

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

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

This is the biggest public bonus they have offered, it does require higher direct deposits but I think still it’s better than other offers they have had (they did have a $500 checking/savings bonus in some states in branch). I don’t expect this to last long, so I think if you’re interested I’d sign up sooner rather than later. I’ll be adding this to our best bank bonus page.

Hat tip to reader Robert D

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On June 2, 2019, 10:30

View Comments (1795)

  • Stumbled in based on researching what all qualifies as direct deposit now that WF took away debit card usage to avoid monthly fee. Just thought I’d share that my Venmo cash outs are being counted as direct deposits EXCEPT when I did the “instant” transfer. That one did not count.

  • DP
    P1+P2
    - Signed up on 5/28
    - Push $3000 per month from USAA (for suntrust checking bonus push from WF)
    - Bonus posted 8/26

  • How likely is it that a push from Regions bank (my local bank) will meet the DD requirement? Do I just push thru bill pay? And do I just click on deposit to see if it says "DD"?

  • New to bank bonuses. Already have online banking with WF with Cash Wise card. Opened yesterday and $25 deposit still not showing on online banking. Is this normal?

  • Update after escalating this:

    They denied me the bonus based on the DD's not being direct deposits. I find this hilarious as I've never paid a monthly fee on the account, which you need DD's to avoid and those were my only deposits those months. The deposits came from my employers business checking account.

    Escalated three times and told the same thing. Now off to the CFPB.

    • If you didn’t use real dd it’s not a good idea to complain to CFPB or calling the bank. That just brings attention to WF that people are using fake dd to get the bonus. If you used real dd then go ahead.
      Whether they counted the transactions as dd to waive the monthly is irrelevant.

      • "Whether they counted the transactions as dd to waive the monthly is irrelevant."

        I'm not sure how that's irrelevant? They called the transactions direct deposits by not making me pay the fee. So it follows from simple logic that they are direct deposits.

        • What I meant was if the dds are real you should win the CFPB complaint case. But if the dds are fake complaining to CFPB won’t help regardless if they counted them as dd to waive the monthly fee. When they do manual review of dd they will only grant the bonus if it’s real dd. They wouldn’t care if the computer counted them as dd for fee waiver or not.

      • I didn't use fake DD's but either way, they already denied me the bonus. What difference does it make?

        The CFPB is an under-used way to get these banks to pay up. I've gotten the bonus every time I've reported someone and I would bet a lot I'm going to get it here.

  • Does anyone know when the bonus switched from 3,000 to 4,000 requirement? I could swear I signed up with the 3,000 requirement, but I'm super nervous that I have it wrong and it looks like the bonus takes some time to kick in. Obviously, the easy answer is just to push over the extra 1,000, but I'd rather not if I don't have to.

    • There are 2 posts regarding Wells Fargo checking bonus, old $3000 one expired at the end of last year, new $4000 one showed up in January and still valid as of today.

  • DP: they have denied me based on my DD's not qualifying. They were from a Chase Business Checking account which is my actual, legal employer. The business name happens to be my name but still, wow...

  • This offer is not strict on the three "consecutive" months.
    February Statement: $3000 Employer DD
    March Statement: $3000 Employer DD
    April Statement: $0
    May Statement: $3000 Wealthfront Cash Account Push
    $400 Bonus recieved 7 days later

  • Just so everyone knows, they fucked up my code to get the bonus. I told them, they went through a whole ordeal to figure out if i can still get the bonus and then denied me because i wouldn't keep $3k in the account. I was following the rules of this site in which you deposit the amount and take it back out.
    I guess the moral of the story is you should be fine unless some bullshit like my situation happens where they screwed up your bonus code

    • Ok so I'm confused cause I just checked and i got the promotion...but i had a whole account person tell me they declined it...hmmmmmm yeah idk guys i guess ignore for now

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