The main ways Wells Fargo charges checking account fees

Wells Fargo charges fees on checking accounts when you fall below a minimum balance, overdraw your account, or use services outside their network. The specific fees and thresholds depend on which checking account you have — Wells Fargo offers several different accounts, each with different rules. The most common fees are a monthly maintenance fee (charged if your balance drops below a set amount), an overdraft fee (charged when you spend more than you have), and an out-of-network ATM fee (charged when you use another bank's ATM).

You cannot avoid all fees on every account type, but you can avoid most of them by understanding which account matches your situation and then following the specific steps that account requires. The key is knowing your account type and what triggers each fee.

Key Takeaways

  • Wells Fargo's checking accounts have different fee structures — some charge a monthly maintenance fee if your balance falls below a minimum, while others do not charge a maintenance fee at all.
  • Overdraft fees are charged when you spend more money than you have in your account, and you can prevent most of them by turning off overdraft protection or by monitoring your balance before you spend.
  • Out-of-network ATM fees explore when you use an ATM that is not owned by Wells Fargo, so using their ATMs or getting cash back at stores can save you money.
  • Wells Fargo waives some fees if you set up direct deposit of your paycheck or maintain a linked savings account with a minimum balance.
  • Checking your account online or through the Wells Fargo app before you spend helps you avoid overdraft fees by showing you exactly how much money is available.

Which Wells Fargo checking account you have determines your fee structure

Wells Fargo offers four main checking accounts: Everyday Checking, Preferred Checking, Platinum Checking, and Attune Checking. Everyday Checking has no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement, which makes it the account least likely to charge you a monthly fee. Preferred Checking, Platinum Checking, and Attune Checking each have a monthly maintenance fee unless you meet certain conditions — usually a minimum balance or direct deposit of your paycheck.

To find out which account you have, log into your Wells Fargo online account or call 1-800-869-3557. Your account type appears on your monthly statement and in the account details section of the Wells Fargo website. If you have Preferred, Platinum, or Attune Checking, you need to know the exact monthly maintenance fee amount and the minimum balance or direct deposit requirement that waives it. This information is in your account agreement, which Wells Fargo mails to you when you open the account and which you can also request by phone or read from the website.

How to avoid monthly maintenance fees

If you have Everyday Checking, you have no monthly maintenance fee to worry about. If you have any other account type, you can avoid the monthly fee by meeting one of the conditions Wells Fargo sets for that account. For Preferred Checking, you can waive the fee by maintaining a minimum balance (the amount varies and you should confirm it with your account agreement), by setting up direct deposit of your paycheck, or by maintaining a linked Wells Fargo savings account with a minimum balance. Platinum Checking and Attune Checking have similar options but with different minimum amounts.

The easiest way to waive a monthly fee is usually direct deposit, because once you set it up, it happens automatically every payday and requires no action from you. To set up direct deposit, you give your employer your Wells Fargo account and routing number (both appear on the bottom left of your checks, or you can find them by logging into your account online). Your employer's payroll department enters this information into their system, and your paycheck deposits automatically on payday. If direct deposit is not an option for you, maintaining a minimum balance in your checking account or in a linked savings account is the next easiest route.

Preventing overdraft fees by managing your balance

An overdraft fee is charged when you spend more money than you have in your account. Wells Fargo charges this fee each time you overdraw, and multiple overdrafts in one day can result in multiple fees. The most direct way to prevent overdraft fees is to check your available balance before you spend money — either by logging into your Wells Fargo account online, using the Wells Fargo mobile app, or calling 1-800-869-3557 to speak with a representative.

Your available balance is the amount you can actually spend right now. It is different from your account balance because it accounts for deposits that have not yet cleared and checks you have written that have not yet been cashed. The Wells Fargo app and website show your available balance clearly, and checking it takes less than a minute. If you are close to zero, do not make large purchases until your next deposit arrives.

You can also prevent overdraft fees by turning off overdraft protection. Overdraft protection is a Wells Fargo service that automatically covers overdrafts by transferring money from a linked savings account or by allowing the transaction to go through and charging you a fee. If you turn off overdraft protection, transactions that would overdraw your account are straightforward declined instead — you will not be able to spend the money, but you also will not be charged a fee. To turn off overdraft protection, log into your Wells Fargo account online, go to the account settings or preferences section, and look for overdraft protection or overdraft options. You can also call 1-800-869-3557 to ask a representative to turn it off for you.

Avoiding out-of-network ATM fees

Wells Fargo charges a fee when you use an ATM that is not owned by Wells Fargo. The easiest way to avoid this fee is to use a Wells Fargo ATM instead. Wells Fargo has thousands of ATMs across the United States, and you can find the nearest one by using the ATM locator on the Wells Fargo website or app — just enter your location and it shows you all nearby Wells Fargo ATMs.

If no Wells Fargo ATM is nearby, you can get cash without paying a fee by asking for cash back at a grocery store, pharmacy, or other retailer where you are making a purchase. The cashier will give you cash from the register, and most retailers do not charge a fee for this service. This works at stores like Target, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens, as well as most grocery stores.

Other fees and how to avoid them

Wells Fargo charges additional fees for services like wire transfers, stop payments on checks, and returned checks. A wire transfer fee is charged when you send money to another bank account. A stop payment fee is charged when you ask Wells Fargo to prevent a check you wrote from being cashed. A returned check fee is charged when a check you deposit bounces — meaning the other person's account did not have enough money to cover it.

You can avoid wire transfer fees by using free alternatives like ACH transfers (which take one to three business days but are free) or by asking the other person to send you money instead using their bank's transfer service. You can avoid stop payment fees by being careful about which checks you write and by not writing checks you might need to cancel. You can avoid returned check fees by only depositing checks from people you trust to have sufficient funds in their account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch to Everyday Checking to avoid monthly fees?

Yes. You can call Wells Fargo at 1-800-869-3557 or visit a branch in person to request a conversion to Everyday Checking. There is no fee to switch accounts. Once you switch, you will have no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement, though you will still be subject to overdraft fees and out-of-network ATM fees if those situations occur.

What happens if I get charged a fee by mistake?

Call Wells Fargo at 1-800-869-3557 and explain the situation to a representative. If the fee was charged in error — for example, if you met the minimum balance requirement but were still charged a monthly fee — Wells Fargo will often reverse it. Even if the fee was not technically an error, representatives sometimes reverse one or two fees as a courtesy, especially if you have been a customer for a long time.

Does Wells Fargo charge fees for transfers between my own accounts?

No. Transferring money between your own Wells Fargo checking and savings accounts is free and can be done online, through the app, or by calling 1-800-869-3557. These transfers are when ready or take one business day depending on the time of day you make them.

What is the overdraft fee amount at Wells Fargo?

Wells Fargo charges an overdraft fee each time your account goes negative, but the exact amount depends on your account type and can change. Check your account agreement or call 1-800-869-3557 to confirm the current overdraft fee for your specific account.

Can I get overdraft protection without paying fees?

Overdraft protection that transfers money from a linked savings account is free — you only pay a fee if the transfer itself fails or if you overdraw the savings account. However, overdraft protection that allows transactions to go through and charges you a fee is not free. You can choose which type of overdraft protection you want, or turn it off entirely, by contacting Wells Fargo.