Wells Fargo $400/$825 Business Checking Bonus

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $825
  • Availability: Nationwide
  • Direct deposit required: None
  • Additional requirements: None
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft
  • ChexSystems: Mixed reports, likely doesn’t pull
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: $10, avoidable
  • Early account termination fee: None
  • Household limit: None
  • Expiration date: June 30, 2025

The Offer

Direct link to offers: $825 | $400

  • Wells Fargo is offering two business checking bonuses. Both bonuses require opening a Initiate Business Checking account.
    • $400 bonus when you deposit $2,500 or more to your new business checking account by day 30 and maintain a minimum daily collected balance of $2,500 through day 60 after account opening
    • $825 bonus when you deposit $25,000 or more to your new business checking account by day 30 and maintain a minimum daily collected balance of $25,000 through day 60 after account opening

The Fine Print

  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

The Initiate Business Checking account has $10 monthly fee which is waived if you have one of the following each fee period:

  • $500 minimum daily balance, OR
  • $1,000 average ledger balance

Early Account Termination Fee

There is no early account termination fee mentioned.

Our Verdict

Not as good as the previous $1,500 in branch offer, but that was back in 2022 so I’m not sure we will see that again. With this new bonus you’re basically needing to hold the funds in there for 30 days (realistically a little longer to deal with transfers). Both bonuses are worth doing given the returns, the one you prefer will depend on how much cash you have on hand. Will add this to our best business checking bonus page.

Hat tip to reader Matt F

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On April 8, 2025, 08:00
Tags: nationwide bank bonusesno credit card fundingsoft pull

View Comments (643)

  • 4/15: opened with $25
    5/14: deposited 2500
    6/17: withdrew 2500
    6/20: 400 bonus posted

  • DP from Pennsylvania:

    2025/04/09: Applied online for the "Initiate Business Checking" account.
    2025/04/17: Application was approved after a phone call (~45 minutes).
    2025/04/18: Opening deposit posts ($30).
    2025/05/07: Transfer from BMO Checking to Wells Fargo posts ($2600).
    2025/06/20: "Promotion Bonus" posts ($400).

    Thanks as always, Doc.

  • 4/16: Opened online with $100.
    5/13: Transferred $25K
    6/20: Bonus posted.

    Feels good especially since WF has been egregious in their frauds perpetrated on the public. Two examples in the last decade: phony accounts opened by WF employees with the knowledge of supervisors, and unscrupulous fees charged to mortgages. Both resulted in multibillion dollar fines.

    The very definition of banksters.
    Of course my favorite all time in this game was the unlimited WF 5% cards that were available a decade ago. Those were the days, but this bonus was much less leg work.

    • Almost exact same dates, but was forced to open up in branch, as usual a very annoying 45 minutes but obviously worth it.

  • 04/13: Applied online for $825 bonus, pending
    04/15: Spoke with WF rep who asked questions already answered online, pending
    04/18: Acct approved email and appears on WF online: funded $300 WF checking
    05/15: ACH $25k from external acct
    06/19: $825 bonus pending with 06/20 date

  • What are people inputting when applying online under the employer and position title section? I input myself as SP and used SS and listed my side business I have but later in the application it also asks for your employer and your position at the employer. Are people inputting self-employed there and their SP name again? Or are people actually listing their employer and position title information?

    • It's up to you. It's meant for your main employer. You could be employed and be opening the account for a side hustle, or you could be opening the account for a business that is your main source of income. Neither option is inherently a red flag.

      Just make sure it makes sense to you in case your application goes into review, so you can explain it when the rep asks.

      • Ok, thanks for the info. I did input my main employer in that section. I got the 1-2 day automated response where someone is supposed to call me to discuss. Will see how it goes....

  • 4/14/25 - opened with $300
    4/23 - $15K deposited
    4/25 - $10K deposited
    6/13 - Promo Bonus $825

  • Still have not received my bonus. Did I make a mistake that I withdrew my money too earlier. Here is my timeline:

    4/9/25 – Applied online using SS number as Sole Prop.
    4/10/25 – Banker called, 1 hour spent repeating all the info. on application.
    4/16/25 – Opened, transferred $120 from personal checking.
    5/2/25 – $25000 funded.
    6/10/25 – $25000 withdrawal.
    No bonus as for today.

    Do I have to keep $25k in the bank at least for 60 days? I thought it was fine to keep $25k in the bank for at least 30 days. Oh, wish I did not make the horrible mistake. Thank you all.

    • I agree with Pickle Rick based on the written terms but check out the payout DP below comment #2081177

    • Yeah, man. It's not looking good. You needed to hold for 5-6 more days, like pickle said. That's a rough one.

    • You needed to maintain the $25k until "day 60 after account opening". That was 6/15 for you, so unfortunately you withdrew the funds too soon.

      • well, well well. this is not first time I made such mistake. Last time for US bank, I transferred the money from P1's US Bank account to mine. I thought I messed up as this is not considered as new money. But I got paid the bonus. Anyway, I need to be extremely careful next time. Thank you.

  • I really thought I messed up this bonus by pulling money out too soon, but it seems to have worked!

    4/15 Opening deposit $25
    4/23 Cap One 360 push $2500
    5/28 Cap One 360 pull $1525
    6/2/25 Cap One 360 push $2000
    6/18 Bonus posted $400

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