When it comes to earning credit card rewards, flexibility matters. Wells Fargo Rewards is a great program if you want simplicity and value because it offers a little bit of everything.
Earning cash back is a great way to keep things simple with flat-rate redemptions, especially if you're earning a strong flat-rate return everywhere. Travel rewards can unlock extreme luxury and value, but can add extra layers of complication.
With the right Wells Fargo credit cards, you don't have to pick one or the other; you can earn 2% in cash rewards on all purchases and have the ability to convert those rewards into travel. Here's what you need to know about your options for earning and redeeming Wells Fargo points.
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How to earn and use Wells Fargo Rewards
What is Wells Fargo Rewards?
Wells Fargo Rewards is the issuer's rewards program for eligible credit cards, allowing you to earn cash rewards or travel points for your spending. Wells Fargo expanded its rewards program in 2024 by introducing transfer partners, making it one of the newer travel rewards programs.
Wells Fargo doesn't offer a premium credit card, so it's not a great option if you prefer luxury perks like airport lounge access, and it also doesn't issue a business travel credit card. While Wells Fargo may not offer a card for everyone, the credit cards it does offer are unusually valuable and affordable.
Wells Fargo travel credit cards
There are currently two Wells Fargo credit cards that earn transferable rewards:
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: No annual fee; 3X points on restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, phone plans and popular streaming services; intro APR offer
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card: $95 annual fee; annual $50 airline statement credit (with minimum $50 purchase); 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines and 3X points on restaurants and other travel
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.
- Excellent bonus rewards across travel and everyday categories
- Get access to all Wells Fargo transfer partners, including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- Features an intro APR on purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Doesn't include travel credits or other valuable travel perks
- Lacks key travel protections, such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card offers generous rewards on travel and dining purchases, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.
- Excellent tiered rewards rates on purchases with hotels, airlines and general travel
- Access to all of the Wells Fargo transfer partners, including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- Offers an easy-to-use $50 airline credit each year
- Up to $1,000 in cell phone protection against damage, theft, or unintended separation (subject to $25 deductible)
- Wells Fargo offers fewer transfer partners than comparable programs
- No intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Select Learn More to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that's $600 toward your next trip.
- Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Wells Fargo cash-back credit cards
Wells Fargo offers two cash-back credit cards that earn 2% cash rewards on every purchase. That alone places them among the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards, but you can also combine your rewards if you have more than one Wells Fargo card.
That allows you to convert cash rewards into transferable points, which means these cards can effectively earn 2X travel points everywhere:
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: No annual fee; 2% cash rewards on all purchases; intro APR offer
- Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo: No annual fee; 2% cash rewards on all purchases; intro APR offer
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
- High flat-rate rewards
- Intro APR for a year on purchases
- No annual fee
- Airport lounge access has a per-visit fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
How to redeem Wells Fargo rewards
Wells Fargo points are worth 1 cent each for cash back redemptions, such as a statement credit or a deposit into an eligible Wells Fargo account.
While you can get the same value per point with other redemptions such as gift cards, travel or paying with points at checkout, redeeming for cash back is typically a better option. This is because you can earn credit card or loyalty rewards on the purchase and then pay it off with your cash back. If you use points directly for gift cards or other redemptions, you won't earn additional rewards.
If you have a Wells Fargo Autograph or Autograph Journey, you can transfer Wells Fargo points to airline and hotel loyalty programs. This can be an excellent way to increase the value you receive for your rewards.
Have a lower credit score? Consider these credit cards
Wells Fargo transfer partners
Eligible cardholders can transfer Wells Fargo points to the following programs at a 1:1 ratio unless noted:
Wells Fargo travel partners
| Wells Fargo transfer partner | Transfer ratio |
|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1:1 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 |
| British Airways Club | 1:1 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:1 |
| Iberia Club | 1:1 |
| Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic | 1:1 |
| Choice Privileges | 1:2 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:2 |
One useful feature of the Wells Fargo program is that there isn't a minimum transfer amount, meaning you can transfer the exact number of points you need. Other flexible travel programs have a minimum transfer amount or only allow transfers in 1,000-point increments. That means if you need to transfer 100 points to book your award travel, you'll have 900 points sitting in a program that you may have an immediate use for.
Wells Fargo has a smaller (but growing) list of partners compared to more established programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards and Bilt. And many of its airline partners, like Flying Blue, British Airways Club and Virgin Atlantic, are easily accessible with other rewards programs. For award flights, Wells Fargo points can supplement other rewards but won't unlock new deals you don't have access to with other credit cards.
Where Wells Fargo separates itself from the crowd is with its hotel partners. You can transfer points at a 1:2 ratio to both Wyndham Rewards and Choice Privileges. The Autograph Journey earns 5X points on hotels, and with a 1:2 transfer ratio, it effectively earns 10X Choice points or 10X Wyndham points for any hotel booking, regardless of the brand.
Wyndham currently has four tiers for award nights (5,000, 15,000, 30,000 and 45,000), and with the Autograph Journey's 60,000-point intro bonus — earned after spending $4,000 in the first three months — you could book two to 24 nights at Wyndham properties.
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