Update 11/3/22: The rule is now one Wells Fargo card each 6 months rather than the previous 15-month rule. This is one per 6 months across all personal Wells Fargo cards. (“You may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the last 6 months.”) The Hotels.com card still shows the 15 month rule from when you got your last Hotels.com card.
Update 10/5/19: Terms now say ‘may not’ rather than ‘will not’. Not sure if this is really a change or just a lawyer verbiage change for no real reason. Hat tip to reader JC
Update 01/30/18: It looks like the use 15 month language in both places now, so this is really a 15 month rule.
Some time ago Wells Fargo added exclusionary language to their credit card applications. Under the terms and conditions you can find the following:
If you opened a Wells Fargo credit card within the last 16 months, you will not qualify for the introductory rate(s), fees and bonus offers.
It goes into a bit more detail here:
Eligibility for introductory rate(s), fees, and bonus rewards offersIf you opened a Wells Fargo credit card account during the last 15 months from the date of this application you will not be eligible for the introductory APR(s) or bonus rewards offers until the 1st day of the calendar month after the 15 month anniversary.
Contents
Is This Actually Enforced?
I’m not 100% sure why but I was under the impression that this rule is not actually enforced. This is incorrect, as many readers have pointed out and it is enforced. If anybody knows the exact dates that this type of language was added, let us know in the comments.
Bypass The Rule?
One person was able to get around this by signing up for two cards on the same day. Another reader was unsuccesful in doing this and they were told that their second application was marked as a duplicate.
F.A.Q’s
Does this apply across all cards or is it card specific?
All Wells Fargo cards have this language in the fine print. In addition if you sign up for the Wells Fargo Visa Signature then you’d need to wait 15/16 months to get the Wells Fargo Propel world for example.
Final Thoughts
We will add this to our list of churnable credit cards.
I got Amex Gold on 11/09/23 Will I be at 0/6 on 05/09/24 or 06/01/24? Any suggestions? THANKS
DP: looks like WF follows 5/24 like Chase
So, if we’re understanding this new wording correctly, it says we can “qualify” for a new WF credit card after 6 months from the last one, but the real question is, do you still qualify for the sign up bonus?
They seemed to inconveniently remove that part from their original wording. Looks like a few people are wondering the same thing in the comments section below, but no replies yet. Hopefully someone here can help confirm.
I got Autograph last month, so does this mean that I can apply for Active in 6 months?
Can anyone please help me confirm? thanks
did you end up getting it plus bonus? be the DP you’d like to be 🙂
Good, GOOD! (Emperor voice)
It worked. I just was approved for WF Autograph, even though the latest WF card I got less than a year ago.
Did you still qualify for the sign up bonus?
Seems like they are gearing up to launch next round of reward cards and they want people who got Active Cash/Reflect last/this year still be eligible for new card/s
Actually this change happened right when the WF Autograph launched back in July. There were a lot of posts on r/creditcards about it.
Has anyone actually received a bonus from Wells Fargo for a personal card more than 15 months from opening their last personal card, but less than 15 months from closing it?
There are a couple old data points of Wells Fargo telling people they count from when you closed/had the last card, not when you opened it:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wells-fargo-cash-wise-visa-credit-card-full-review/#comment-429707
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wells-fargo-one-bonus-per-16-month-rule/#comment-396154
Anyone know if this applies to WF business cards as well. Was going to open a WF Business Platinum.
Thx
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-current-credit-card-sign-bonuses/#Wells_Fargo_Business_Platinum_8211_500
There should be plenty of DP’s in that thread. Please check for DPs before you ask questions that have been answered before.
EDIT: What makes it worse is that there are MULTIPLE DPs on this page.
Having opened a WF personal card in last 6 months has no bearing on Business card bonuses.
In addition, WF Business cards have their own set of bonus eligibility rules based on when last card was opened:
“Offer is not available if the business already has a Wells Fargo business credit card or had a Wells Fargo business credit card opened or closed in the immediately preceding 12 months.”