Sorry, this deal has expired! It’s no longer available to new sign ups. You can view other checking promotions by going to our page that lists them all.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: Up to $250
- Availability: Nationwide
- Direct deposit required: Optional, $500 or moreÂ
- Additional requirements: Direct deposit or ten debit card transactions
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- Credit card funding: Up to $500, becareful as there have been reports of cash advance fees being charged.Â
- Monthly fees: Up to $30, waiveable
- Early account termination fee: $25 if closed within six months
- Expiration date: November 21st, 2014
Contents
The Offer
Direct link to offer (note: only available to those who received the marketing material)
Early this month we posted about a Secret Wells Fargo checking bonus that was up to $200.
- Open a Wells Fargo bank and complete one of the following to earn up to $250 (the amount you earn is dependent on the type of account you open):
- Make debit ten card purchases with your Wells Fargo issued debit card
- Receive an eligible direct deposit of $500 or more. Eligible direct deposits are government benefits or employer payroll
- How much you’ll earn:
- Everyday checking: $100
- Preferred checking: $150
- PMA Premier checking: $250
The Fine Print
- You must have received the direct mail out or e-mail from Wells Fargo to be eligible for this offer (in the past this wasn’t enforced, but I wouldn’t take the risk)
- Must have a certified W-9 on file that is signed and dated (people who didn’t have this on file last time DID NOT receive the bonus and had to make a compliant with the CFPB to get it to post. Make sure you send this form in. You should receive it three days after opening your account)
- Only available to new checking account customers
- Minimum account opening is $25 in branch or $50 online/via phone
- Bonus will be deposited within 45 days after the bonus qualifications have been met
- Limit of one bonus per customer
- Not available to those who have received any cash or cash equivalent bonuses from Wells Fargo in the past 12 months. We don’t believe this applies to the Wells Fargo propel cards, but check before opening this account.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Everyday Checking $10 Monthly ($100 Bonus)
The monthly fee is waived if you met any of the following:
- 10 debit card purchases and/or payments each statement cycle from this checking account, OR
- Qualifying direct deposits4 totaling $500 or more each statement cycle, OR
- Maintain a $1,500 minimum daily balance, OR
- Linked to a Wells Fargo Campus ATM or Campus Debit Card
Preferred Checking $13-$15 Monthly ($150 Bonus)
The monthly fee is waived if you met any of the following, a $13 fee is charged if you opt for paperless statements:
- Maintain $10,000 combined minimum deposit balances, OR
- Have a linked Wells Fargo Home Mortgage®
PMA Premier Checking $30 Monthly ($250 Bonus)
The monthly fee is waived if you met any of the following:
- $25,000 or more in qualifying linked bank deposit accounts (checking, savings, time accounts (CDs), FDIC-insured IRAs), OR
- $50,000 or more in any combination of qualifying linked banking, brokerage (available through Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC), and credit balances (including 10% of mortgage balances, certain mortgages not eligible)
Early Account Termination Fee
There is an early account termination fee of $25 if you close your account within six months of opening.
Our Verdict
This offer is only available to those who received the marketing material. I personally don’t think this is such a good offer, considering you should be able to get a $200 bonus from Wells Fargo and only need to open the the everyday checking account if you use the promo code ATMPLS. Because this is targeted promotion it’s not listed on our best bank bonus page and we haven’t added it to our master list of bank bonuses.
[Read:Â Secret $200 Wells Fargo Checking Bonus]
Direct link to offer (note: only available to those who received the marketing material)
i was able to open two pma checking accounts – husbands and mine – and we received the $250 with just 10 debit card purchases on the account. no $25k deposit and i closed it within 60 days so no bank account fee nor early termination fee. maybe its cause we have a mortgage account with them?
Yeah I imagine that’s the case.