Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card review: Effortless 2% cash rewards on purchases
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 12:20 p.m. UTC July 27, 2023
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The headlining feature of this no-annual-fee rewards card is the generous 2% cash rewards on purchases. But the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card comes with other exceptional benefits, too.
About the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
If you’re seeking a simple and generous cash-back rewards card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card fits the bill. There’s no annual fee and the card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Plus the card comes with valuable extras including cellphone protection when you pay your bill with the card and a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies thereafter. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3%. After that a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies. That drawn-out introductory APR can be a solid avenue for avoiding interest fees and reducing existing debt.
The card’s introductory bonus is also easy to earn. New applicants can receive a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening. All rewards accrued on the card can be redeemed to offset purchases, deposited as a statement credit, withdrawn at Wells Fargo ATMs in increments of $20 and more.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card basics
- Annual fee: $0.
- Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Rewards: Earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- APR: 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies thereafter. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3%. After that a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.
- Other perks and benefits: Cellphone protection against damage or theft; Access to the Visa Signature® Concierge and the Visa Signature Hotel Collection.
- Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
- Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card other details
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card rewards
Earning credit card rewards doesn’t have to be a nuisance. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, you earn 2% cash rewards on purchases. You can manage your rewards on your online Wells Fargo account, where you can redeem your rewards for purchases on your statement credit for as little as $1.
Other options for redeeming your cash back on the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card include gift cards (in $25 increments), at a Wells Fargo ATM, direct deposit in your qualifying Wells Fargo account, or through PayPal to shop at millions of online retailers.
The welcome bonus is a standard offering among no-annual-fee cash-back cards but a nice perk, which will be deposited into your rewards balance after meeting minimum spend requirements.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card rewards potential
Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.
Calculating the rewards potential for this card is simple. With 2% back on all purchases, this cardholder would earn $501.74 in cash-back rewards annually.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card APR
The card comes with a useful 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies thereafter. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3%. After that a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card pros
- Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases: There’s also no limit to the amount of rewards you can earn.
- Up to $600 of cellphone protection: By paying your monthly cellphone bill with the card, receive up to $600 of protection against theft or damage. A $25 deductible applies to eligible claims (up to two claims per 12-month period).
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card cons:
- There’s a 3% foreign currency conversion fee. This makes the card a poor choice for international use or making purchases in foreign currencies.
- No bonus categories: There’s no potential to earn greater rewards on your most common purchases, such as groceries or dining out.
How the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card compares to other rewards credit cards
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card is often regarded as the torchbearer when it comes to cash back cards. It earns rewards in a similar fashion: You earn 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. Since you’ll only earn the full cash back when you make card payments, the Citi Double Cash Card incentivizes you to maintain good credit habits.
Also with no annual fee, it’s a great option for cardholders who want to keep their costs at a minimum. However, there are a few downsides when comparing it to the Wells Fargo Active Cash—including the lack of cellphone protection.
It does not offer an intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% to 29.24%. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed in the first 4 months. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees) is another no-annual-fee option that offers elevated rewards on bonus categories. Namely, cardholders earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. (on up to $6,000 in each category per year, then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
With the Blue Cash Everyday’s introductory offer, new applicants can earn $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership. Finally, there’s a similar 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and on balance transfers requested in the first 60 days, then a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99%. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies. Terms apply.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is a simple travel credit card, earning 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per $1 on other purchases.
Although the card charges a $95 annual fee, there are plenty of opportunities to find outsized value. The welcome bonus offers a greater payout with 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, cardholders can get reimbursement for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years (worth up to $100).
Should you get the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a formidable rewards card offering great perks without an annual fee. Not only does it offer 2% cash rewards on purchases, the added bonuses of an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers and complimentary cellphone protection take the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card to the next level.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card summary
While Wells Fargo does not disclose a specific credit score to qualify, prospective applicants should hold good credit, which FICO typically defines as 670 or higher, for your best chances of approval.
Some applicants may receive approval from Wells Fargo within a few moments after applying, and they’ll receive their card in the mail. The bank, however, does not issue you a number to use immediately upon approval. If Wells Fargo does not give you a decision when applying online, the issuer may need several days to review your application further before approving or denying you.
Yes, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a credit card that earns cash rewards.
Purchases that won’t earn cash rewards include returns, ATM withdrawals, cash advances, balance transfers, convenience checks (known as Superchecks), money orders, prepaid gift cards, lottery tickets, credit card fees and more. You can see the full list of exclusions under “Other things you need to know.”
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please visit this page.
*The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
