Banking Bank Reviews

Wells Fargo Banking Review [2025]: Great for In-Person Service

While some customers may find the bank's fees and account minimums to be disqualifying, there's a lot to be said for Wells Fargo's in-branch services and account options.

Updated July 22, 2025
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Wells Fargo

OUR VIEW

Wells Fargo shines in access to branches but leaves something to be desired in other areas.

The bank charges high fees that can sometimes be hard to waive, but its abundance of brick-and-mortar locations makes it a solid choice for those who value a more traditional banking arrangement.

That may be of particular value for wealthier individuals looking for a bank that can provide hands-on service — that’s why Wells Fargo’s Premier Checking was named Best for High Net Worth in our 2025 Banking Awards.

For 16 years, I've had my business bank account with Wells Fargo. While there are certainly things the bank could be doing better, branch accessibility and the services that come with it — including access to a free notary — have kept me on as a customer.

Pros

One of the largest branch networks of any U.S. bank
Top-rated and full-featured app
Free notary service in local branches

Cons

All accounts come with fees that can be hard to waive
Wells Fargo has a spotty reputation for customer service
Savings account rates are well below what most high-yield savings accounts have to offer
How we evaluate products

Who is Wells Fargo Bank right for?

Wells Fargo Bank is right for you if you need a bank branch you can easily visit in person. Their notary service has come in handy for me, and because the bank has one of the largest branch networks in the country with over 5,600 locations, I appreciate feeling like I can always find a bank to help if I need it.

Wells Fargo also provides personalized service for high-net-worth clients, and its top-rated app makes performing account functions easy for customers with any checking or savings accounts.

However, if you're looking for a fee-free option that doesn't make you jump through hoops to avoid being charged each month, if you want a reasonable savings account interest rate, or if you want a bank that hasn't had problems with violating consumer protection laws, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Wells Fargo Checking

Unlike many competitors, including Ally and SoFi® that have no minimum deposit requirements and promise not to have excessive fees, Wells Fargo accounts come with a lot of costs.1 There's a minimum deposit needed to open any of their checking accounts, and a monthly account maintenance fee applies as well.

Checking account Minimum to open Monthly account fee
Clear Access Banking $25.00 $5.00
Everyday Checking $25.00 $102
Prime Checking $25.00 $25.00
Premier Checking $25.00 $35.003

While these fees can sometimes be waived, doing so usually requires things like large monthly direct deposits or large minimum balances in order to avoid the added charge.

Clear Access Banking

Monthly account fee: $5.00
APY: N/A

Clear Access Banking is primarily designed for young people. There are no overdraft fees, and the account is open to individuals 13 years of age and older. However, you must be at least 18 years old to open an account online or 13-16 to apply with an adult co-owner. You also must make a $25 minimum deposit to get started.

While the Clear Access Banking fee is $5, this fee can be waived if the primary account holder is under 24 or if a qualifying monthly non-civilian military direct deposit is made through the Wells Fargo Military Banking Program. The fee is also waivable for those with a Campus ATM or Debit Card, but no new Campus cards are being issued after May 1, 2025.

Unfortunately, you cannot write checks out of this account, although you can deposit them. You'll also owe a $3 fee for withdrawals from a non-Wells Fargo ATM in the U.S. or $5 from a foreign ATM while abroad.

Everyday Checking

Monthly account fee: $10.002
APY: N/A

Wells Fargo describes Everyday Checking as its "most flexible" option because it provides access to digital payments and the ability to write checks. It comes with the standard bank account features you'd expect with $0 fees for Wells Fargo ATMs and the ability to manage your account on the full-feature mobile app.

However, Everyday Checking has a $10 monthly fee2 you can waive only if you have one of the following each fee period.

  • A $500 minimum daily balance
  • $500 per month in direct deposits
  • A qualifying non-civilian military direct deposit
  • A Campus ATM or Debit Card (neither of which are being issued after May 1, 2025).

This fee is also waived when the primary account holder is aged 17 to 24. Unfortunately, like all Wells Fargo checking accounts, you'll also need to put in at least $25 to get started. You're also at risk of overdraft fees of $35 per item, and you aren't reimbursed anything for foreign ATM fees.

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  • Open an account today & learn how to qualify for a $325 bonus with Wells Fargo.
  • Account protections like 24/7 Fraud Monitoring
  • Multiple ways to avoid the $10 monthly fee
  • Open online in minutes with just a $25 minimum opening deposit
  • Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Learn More

Prime Checking

Monthly account fee: $25
APY: 0.01% (as of 05/03/25)

The Wells Fargo Prime Checking account comes with a $25 monthly fee that can be avoided only if you have $20,000 or more in statement qualifying balances on linked accounts. In exchange for paying a high fee or tying up money in qualifying accounts, you get to earn 0.01% (as of 05/03/25) APY on your checking account balance.

There's a $25 minimum deposit required, overdraft fees may be charged (although you can opt into overdraft protection), and you qualify for a reimbursement of one domestic and one international foreign ATM fee per fee period. On the upside, you also get free Wells Fargo personal wallet checks.

Premier Checking

Monthly account fee: $353
APY: 0.01% (as of 4/25/25)

Wells Fargo Premier Checking has a monthly fee of $35 that can be waived only with $250,000 in statement-ending qualified linked accounts.3

You will earn a 0.01% (as of 4/25/25) APY on money in your checking account, and you do qualify for some extra benefits, including preferred rates on CDs and savings accounts as well as special credit card reward bonuses due to the substantial amount of money you have with Wells Fargo.

Unfortunately, overdrafts are a risk here, too, unless you sign up for overdraft protection. As we've noted, this account is best for high net-worth individuals. It even gives you unlimited reimbursement of foreign ATM fees worldwide as well as free cashier's checks and money orders.

Wells Fargo Savings

Wells Fargo offers several savings accounts, but they come with APYs that are lower than what you might find elsewhere and carry monthly account fees that you would need to work to waive. The table below provides more details.

Savings account Minimum to open Monthly account fee APY
Way2Save® Savings $25.00 $5.00 0.01% (as of 05/03/25)
Platinum Savings $25.00 $12.00 0.01%-2.51% (as of 05/03/25)
Certificates of Deposit $2,500 None 1.50%-4.26% (as of 07/07/25)

Way2Save® Savings

Monthly account fee: $5.00
APY: 0.01% (as of 05/03/25)

Way2Save® requires you to pay a $5 monthly service fee unless you have one of the following in each fee period.

  • Maintain a $300 minimum daily balance
  • Make one automatic transfer each fee period of $25 or more from a linked Wells Fargo account or one automatic transfer each business day within the fee period of $1 or more
  • Make one or more Save As You Go transfers from a linked Wells Fargo checking account

The fee is also waived if the primary account holder is 24 or under.

This account's best feature is the Save As You Go® automatic transfer option, which transfers $1 from your linked checking to your savings account each time you use your debit card or complete a bill pay transaction. This automated savings helps your account grow.

Platinum Savings

Monthly account fee: $12.00
APY: 0.01%-2.51% (as of 05/03/25)

Platinum Savings comes with a $12 monthly fee unless you maintain a $3,500 minimum daily balance. If you link your account with Premier Checking, you can bring that rate up to:

  • 0.05% if your balance is between $0 and $99,999
  • 1.01% if your balance is between $100,000 and $499,999
  • 1.99% if your balance is between $500,000 and $999,999
  • 2.48% if your balance is above $1,000,000

If you link your account to Prime Checking, on the other hand, your APY will be 0.02%.

However, these APYs are still relatively low, even if you can earn the highest rate. You'll also need to make a $25 opening deposit, which is higher than many competitors require.

Certificates of Deposit

Monthly account fee: None
APY: 1.50%-4.26% (as of 07/07/25)

Wells Fargo offers a variety of CDs that provide more competitive rates than the bank's savings accounts. However, the minimum investment requirements are much higher, and you also must agree to lock up your funds.

For example, you could get a 4-month CD at a 4.00% APY, but there is a $5,000 minimum balance required. The 11-month CD at 3.50% APY also requires the same deposit minimum.

Those with larger Wells Fargo account balances are also able to qualify for the most competitive CD rates in CDs of all term lengths, so these investments are best for those who keep the bulk of their money with the bank.

Additional Wells Fargo products

Wells Fargo offers a wide variety of other financial products beyond checking accounts, savings accounts, and CDs. For individuals, for example, home loans, personal loans, and auto loans are all on offer.

Some of Wells Fargo's rewards cards and cash back cards are worth looking into, including the Active Cash card, which provides unlimited 2% back on all purchases and charges no annual fee.4

I've also found the lender's home loan rates to be competitive, and you can qualify for some loans with as little as 3% down, which is ideal for those who don't have a lot of money saved but who are otherwise financially ready to get on the property ladder.

There are investing and wealth management services, small business financing options including credit lines and loans as well as payroll services and merchant services. Additionally, corporate and investment banking options are available.

What we like about Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is a bank meant for people who need in-person support. Its biggest selling feature is its large number of local branches, which provide services like a notary and enable you to make an appointment online to get personalized help.

Wells Fargo also has an excellent app that makes online account management easy.

Lastly, the bank does provide some options for teens who are ready to start learning about money, and it provides specialized account services to high-end clients, so it can appeal to specific audiences who need these services.

What Wells Fargo could improve

Wells Fargo charges fees on every account, and they can sometimes be waived only if you are willing to tie up what might be large amounts of money for some customers.

You need $25 to open the account and are at risk of overdrafting your account while many other banks have eliminated overdraft fees, including Ally. There's no reimbursement for foreign ATM fees on the entry-level accounts either.

All of this makes Wells Fargo costly in comparison to some competitors. Alternatives like SoFi offer better APYs for both checking and savings accounts and provide excellent member benefits at lower price points, just without access to in-person services.

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Alternatives to Wells Fargo

Bank of America Advantage Banking

Like Wells Fargo, Bank of America offers in-person branches, although Wells Fargo does have more at 5,600 branches versus Bank of America's 3,700. Bank of America does beat out Wells Fargo in its ATM network, though, boasting 15,000 ATMS in the U.S. compared to Wells Fargo's 11,000.

Bank of America's account fees are lower than Wells Fargo's as well, coming in at $4.95 for most accounts. However, Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking® will cost you $12, and Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking® will cost you $25.

Both Bank of America and Wells Fargo also have highly-rated mobile apps, making managing money easier on the go. Unfortunately, though, both have also been fined by the CFPB for regulatory violations that damaged consumer trust, so neither really shines when it comes to a solid reputation for customer service.

With lower cost options and a larger ATM network, Bank of America will likely have a slight edge between these two options for those looking for a brick-and-mortar bank, unless you really need that larger network because you require branch access in more remote places.

Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC

Visit Bank of America Advantage Banking account | Read our Bank of America Advantage Banking review

Discover

Discover offers many great features that Wells Fargo doesn't, including the ability to earn cash back for debit card spending.5 You can earn 1.00% back on up to $3,000 in spending, which is rare within the banking industry, as most debit cards do not offer rewards like credit cards do.9

Discover not only offers this great feature, but it also does not charge monthly fees, unlike Bank of America. And, you have access to 60,000 fee-free ATMS, which far exceeds the number available with Wells Fargo.

The big downside to Discover is the lack of local branches and the fact you'll have to use a contactless debit card at Walmart to add cash to your account instead of visiting a local branch to do it. Still, with no fees for this option, Discover remains a better choice for consumers looking for a digital banking experience.

Visit the Discover® Cashback Debit account | Read our Discover review

SoFi

SoFi charges no monthly fees and has no monthly minimum balance requirement, unlike Wells Fargo.1 You also get access to no-fee overdraft coverage10 as well as opening up the door to many member benefits extended to SoFi customers, including financial planning advice from credentialed advisors and home loan discounts.11

You can also earn up to 3.80% APY on savings accounts and 0.50% (as of 01/24/25) APY on checking accounts with eligible direct deposits on your SoFi Checking and Savings accounts.12 This is a better rate than Wells Fargo offers, especially given that you earn interest even on balances in your checking account.

Unfortunately, SoFi has no in-person branches, and depositing cash could end up costing you a $4.95 fee as SoFi's partners may charge for cash deposits.

Member FDIC8

Visit SoFi's Checking and Savings account | Read our SoFi review

FAQs

Is Wells Fargo a good bank?

Some people like Wells Fargo because it has a large branch network. However, it receives mixed marks for customer service and has been the subject of disciplinary action by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It also charges fees for all its checking accounts, which can sometimes be hard to waive, and it offers a relatively low APY on savings accounts.

Is my money safe at Wells Fargo?

Wells Fargo is FDIC-insured. This means your money is safe as the government protects against losses up to the eligible limits of $250,000 per person per account.

Bottom line

Wells Fargo offers a nationwide network of brick-and-mortar branches that those looking for a traditional banking experience in an increasingly digital world will appreciate. While many of its accounts come with fees and minimum balance requirements, its Premier Checking account could be a great option for wealthier customers, and its Everyday Checking account is widely popular for its flexibility.

Even so, consider researching what the best banks offer and comparing them to Wells Fargo if you're looking for lower fees or don't need in-person service. For example, in addition to the others on this list, you can also compare Capital One vs. Wells Fargo.

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Author Details

Christy Rakoczy

FinanceBuzz writer Christy Rakoczy has a Juris Doctorate from UCLA Law School with a focus in Business Law, and a Certificate in Business Marketing with an English Degree from The University of Rochester. As a full-time personal finance writer, she writes about all things money-related, but her special areas of focus are credit cards, personal loans, student loans, mortgages, smart debt payoff strategies, and retirement and Social Security. Her work has been featured by USA Today, MSN Money, CNN Money, and more, and you can learn more at her LinkedIn profile.