The main fees Wells Fargo charges and how to stop them
Wells Fargo charges a monthly maintenance fee on most checking accounts unless you meet one of their conditions. The most common fee is $10 per month, though some account types charge $5 or nothing. You avoid the fee by keeping a minimum daily balance, setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account with a certain balance — the exact requirement depends on which account you hold.
The three Wells Fargo checking accounts with different fee structures are Everyday Checking, Premier Checking, and Attune Checking. Everyday Checking charges $10 monthly unless you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or receive a direct deposit of at least $500 in a calendar month. Premier Checking charges $15 monthly and requires either a $2,500 minimum daily balance or a $1,000 minimum balance in a linked savings account. Attune Checking has no monthly fee but is available only to customers who meet specific income or employment criteria through Wells Fargo's partner programs.
Key Takeaways
- Everyday Checking avoids its $10 monthly fee if you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or receive one direct deposit of $500 or more per month.
- Direct deposit counts toward the fee waiver even if it is a paycheck, pension, or government benefit — it does not have to be employment income.
- The $500 minimum balance is measured daily, meaning you must keep that amount in the account every single day, not just on the statement date.
- If you do not meet the balance or direct deposit requirement, you will be charged the monthly fee on the last business day of each month.
- Wells Fargo also charges separate fees for overdrafts, returned checks, and wire transfers, which are not waived by the checking account conditions.
How the minimum daily balance requirement works
The $500 minimum for Everyday Checking means your account balance cannot drop below $500 on any single day of the month. Wells Fargo measures this daily, not as an average. If your balance is $500 on the 1st, $400 on the 2nd, and $600 on the 3rd, you have failed the requirement because of the single day at $400. The fee will be charged even though your average balance for the month was above $500.
This matters because paychecks, bill payments, and transfers all happen on specific days. If you are paid on the 15th and the 30th, you might dip below $500 between those dates. To use the balance method reliably, you need to know your spending pattern well enough to keep a cushion. Many people find the direct deposit route simpler because it does not require constant monitoring.
Using direct deposit to waive the fee
Direct deposit is any recurring electronic transfer into your Wells Fargo checking account from an employer, government agency, or pension provider. The deposit must be at least $500 in a single month to waive the fee for that month. It does not have to be your primary income — a Social Security payment, disability benefit, or part-time paycheck all count.
The deposit must actually land in your account during the calendar month. If you are paid on the 30th and the deposit posts on the 1st of the next month, it counts toward next month's fee waiver, not the current one. Set up direct deposit through your employer's payroll system or your benefits provider's website. Once it is active, Wells Fargo will recognize it automatically and waive the fee each month it occurs.
Linked savings account option for Premier Checking
Premier Checking charges $15 monthly but waives the fee if you maintain a $1,000 minimum balance in a linked Wells Fargo savings account. This is different from the checking account balance — the money sits in savings and does not need to be spent. You can link an existing savings account or open a new one specifically for this purpose.
The savings account balance is also measured daily, so it must stay at $1,000 or above every day of the month. Unlike the checking account, you do not earn meaningful interest on a Wells Fargo savings account, so this method essentially costs you the opportunity to move that $1,000 to a higher-yield account elsewhere. For most people, the $500 direct deposit method on Everyday Checking is cheaper than paying $15 monthly on Premier Checking.
Other Wells Fargo checking fees you should know about
The monthly maintenance fee is only one charge. Wells Fargo also charges $35 per overdraft if your account goes negative, even by a small amount. Multiple overdrafts in one day can each trigger a separate $35 fee. Returned checks (checks that bounce) cost $15 each. Outgoing wire transfers cost $15 domestic and $45 international.
These fees are separate from the monthly maintenance fee and are not waived by meeting the balance or direct deposit requirement. You avoid them by not overdrawing, not writing bad checks, and using free transfer methods like ACH transfers instead of wires when possible. Some banks offer overdraft protection, which links your checking to savings and transfers money automatically — Wells Fargo offers this, but it may carry its own fee depending on your account type.
What happens if you are charged the monthly fee by mistake
If you met the balance or direct deposit requirement but were still charged the $10 or $15 monthly fee, contact Wells Fargo to dispute it. Call the number on the back of your debit card or visit a branch with your account statement. Wells Fargo will review whether the requirement was actually met — sometimes direct deposits post late or a balance dip goes unnoticed.
If the fee was charged in error, Wells Fargo will usually refund it without argument. If you were charged correctly but believe the requirement is unfair, you can switch to a different account type or move to another bank. Some online banks and credit unions offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement, though they may have other limitations like fewer branch locations.
Comparing Wells Fargo checking to other banks
The $500 direct deposit requirement on Everyday Checking is moderate compared to some banks but higher than others. Many online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab, and Discover offer checking accounts with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Credit unions often have similar no-fee options if you are a member. The trade-off is that online banks have no physical branches, so deposits and withdrawals happen by mail, ATM, or mobile deposit.
If you need in-person banking, Wells Fargo's branch network is extensive, and the $10 monthly fee is reasonable if you can meet the direct deposit requirement. If you do not receive regular direct deposits and cannot maintain a $500 balance, switching to an online bank or credit union will save you $120 per year. The decision depends on whether you value branch access more than the fee savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a one-time transfer count as direct deposit?
No. Direct deposit must be a recurring, automated transfer from an employer or benefit provider. A one-time transfer you initiate yourself, even if it is $500 or more, does not count. Wells Fargo recognizes direct deposit by the routing and account information of the sending institution, not by the amount or frequency you happen to receive.
What if my direct deposit is less than $500 some months?
If the deposit is below $500 in a given month, you do not get the fee waiver for that month. You will be charged the $10 fee unless your daily balance stays at $500 or above. Some people with variable income use the balance method in low-income months and rely on direct deposit in high-income months.
Can I move money between my checking and savings to meet the minimum balance?
Yes. The balance requirement does not care where the money comes from — you can transfer from savings, another bank, or anywhere else. The only requirement is that the checking account balance (or linked savings balance for Premier Checking) stays at the minimum on every single day of the month.
Do I lose the fee waiver if I close my direct deposit?
Yes. Once direct deposit stops, you must meet the daily balance requirement to avoid the fee. If you leave a job or your benefits end, contact Wells Fargo to confirm whether you still meet the conditions. If you do not, the fee will resume the following month.
Is there a Wells Fargo checking account with no fee and no requirements?
Attune Checking has no monthly fee, but it is available only through specific employer or organization partnerships. If you do not may have access to for Attune, your options are Everyday Checking (with the $500 balance or direct deposit requirement) or Premier Checking (with the higher $15 fee). If neither works for you, consider switching to another bank.