Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (2024)

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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a standout rewards card that's great for a one-card wallet, or to round out your maximization strategy. This no annual fee credit card offers a great flat rewards rate, plus it also comes with a competitive welcome bonus and intro APR offer. Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card review for an in-depth look at all the pros and cons.

Ratings Methodology

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OnWells Fargo'sSecure Website.

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Great for: One-card wallet

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

OnWells Fargo'sSecure Website.

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5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (30) = Poor

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5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (55) = Poor

Credit Score:Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

OnWells Fargo'sSecure Website.

Rates & Fees Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (56)

Credit ScoreFalling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

RewardsEarn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

2% cash rewards

Welcome OfferEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

$200 cash rewards

  • A standout cash back card that has no annual fee and comes with a competitive cash rewards welcome offer and 0% intro APR offer.

    • Unlimited 2% cash rewards
    • Long 0% intro APR offer
    • Generous cash rewards welcome bonus
    • No annual fee
    • Cellphone protections
    • Card perks
    • Free FICO® Score updates
    • No bonus categories
    • Foreign transaction fees
    • Balance transfer fee
    • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
    • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
    • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
    • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% 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.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review

This credit card is a good fit for: Cardholders who want one card for everything, all with no annual fee.

Top perks

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card ticks all the typical rewards card boxes with everything from purchase rewards to a long 0% intro APR offer.

Unlimited 2% cash rewards

Cardholders earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, with no categories to activate or earnings limits to track. Cash rewards can be redeemed for a statement credit to use toward your purchases.

While there are a few cash back cards out there with the same rewards rate, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card stands out with its simplicity. When you're comparing credit cards with similar cash back, you'll see that most have some sort of catch. You either have to redeem your rewards in a specific way, or there are multiple steps to earn the full amount. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card doesn't do any of that. You'll earn the same cash rewards on purchases when you make it, no hoop jumping required.

$200 cash rewards welcome bonus

New Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card holders can earn a $200 cash rewards welcome bonus for spending just $500 on their card in the first three months. This is a fairly competitive welcome bonus for a no annual fee card, and the low spending requirement should be easy to meet for most cardholders.

Learn more: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Long 0% APR intro offer

Another nice perk of this card is the 0% intro APR card offers. New cardholders can enjoy 0% intro APR on both new purchases and eligible balance transfers for a full 15 months from account opening. After the intro period, a go-to rate of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR applies.

Keep in mind that only balance transfers made within the first 120 days will qualify for the reduced interest rate. There's also a balance transfer fee that will apply to all transfers: 3% during those first 120 days, then up to 5%, min: $5.

No annual fee

In many cases, high rewards rates mean high annual fees. Not with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. The card has no annual fee, which means you won't need to pay just to keep your account open.

While having no annual fee is great for any cardholder, it's really ideal for people interested in maximizing credit card rewards. You'll be able to hang on to the card with no annual fee, even if you're not using it every day.

Read more: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Cellphone protection

With the price of a typical cellphone topping $1,000, having some sort of insurance is a good idea. With this Wells Fargo card, you can get built-in cellphone protection just by paying your cellphone bill with your card. The protection covers your phone in the event of theft, damage, or "involuntary and accidental parting." You can get up to $600 per claim, minus a $25 deductible.

What could be improved

While the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has a lot of perks, it does have a handful of drawbacks, too.

No bonus rewards categories

Although the flat rewards rate is very competitive, that's it. You won't earn higher rates for certain purchases. This isn't a surprise, of course, as the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a flat-rate unlimited cash rewards card by design. However, it's definitely a drawback to anyone who wants to maximize their credit card rewards with a credit card that offers bonus cash back for certain purchases.

If you want to explore a wider range of rewards possibilities, check out our picks for the best rewards credit cards.

Foreign transaction fee

If you're thinking of taking this credit card on your next trip abroad, think again. The card includes a 3% foreign transaction fee for any purchases made in a foreign currency. And you don't need to travel to wind up paying this fee; some online purchases could be in a foreign currency, especially on marketplace or crowdfunding sites.

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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Suggested Wells Fargo Active Cash Card credit score

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is best for applicants with good credit, which typically means a credit score of 670 or higher. However, remember that issuers look at more than your credit score when evaluating your card application, including your income and full credit history.

Take a look at our guide to the Wells Fargo credit card application rules to learn more about how the process works.

This card is right for you if:

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a stand-out flat-rate rewards card ideal for folks who want a one-card wallet or a card for non-category purchases.

To top it off, the card comes with a big welcome bonus and a competitive 0% intro APR offer. While the card doesn't have a lot of secondary cardholder benefits, it doesn't charge an annual fee, either.

Alternatives to consider

  • If you want unlimited cash back plus bonus categories: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a solid unlimited cash back rewards card with 1.5% back outside of bonus categories. The bonus rewards categories can be particularly lucrative, much like its welcome bonus.
  • If you want big rewards on everyday purchases: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express packs a ton of cash back rewards into its $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. annual fee (see rates and fees). Users earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets ($6,000 annual purchase cap), plus 6% back on U.S. streaming services and 3% back on transit and U.S. gas stations. Terms apply.

Our picks for the best Wells Fargo credit cards might also have some options you like.

As of Nov. 27, 2023

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

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5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (84) = Poor

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5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

OnChase'sSecure Website.

Apply Now for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

OnAmerican Express'Secure Website.

Terms apply

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Read Full Review

Read Full Review

Credit Rating Requirement:Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement:Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer:SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned at the end of your first year! There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

Matched Cash Back

Welcome Offer:Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

Rewards Program:Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning. Enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

1.5% - 5% cash back

Rewards Program:6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.

1% - 6% cash back

Intro APR:0% Intro APR on Purchases

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Regular APR:

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Regular APR:

19.24%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:N/A

$0

Annual Fee:

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Highlights:

  • SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You'll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
  • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

OnChase'sSecure Website.

Apply Now for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

OnAmerican Express'Secure Website.

Terms apply

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FAQs

  • The credit limit for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card typically ranges from $1,000 to $20,000 or more, based on user reports we reviewed. Credit limits vary by cardholder and depend on several factors, including annual income and credit history.

  • This card usually isn't hard to get for consumers with good credit. Aim for a FICO® Score of 670 or higher.

  • Yes, you can use this card internationally -- but you may not want to. It charges a 3% foreign currency conversion fee for each transaction converted to U.S. dollars.

Our Credit Cards Experts

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (114)

By:Brittney Myers

Writer

Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (115)

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (116)Fact CheckedEric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review | The Ascent (2024)
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