7 Reasons to Get the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card

June Casagrande
By June Casagrande 
Published
Edited by Mary M. Flory

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The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card isn’t for everyone. This low-frills, low-cost AmEx card has little to offer travelers who are loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain and it has even less appeal for users seeking luxury perks like elite status or upgrades.

But a host of unique features make this highly flexible AmEx option stand out in the crowd. Here are seven reasons you may want to apply now.

1. A substantial welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. For a travel rewards credit card, that’s decent. For a $0-annual-fee travel rewards card, it’s exceptional. Terms apply.

2. $0 annual fee

Many travel rewards cards come with annual fees, often in the $100 to $450 range. That means any “free” travel you earn with the card isn’t really free. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is one of the exceptions. You can stick it in your wallet, use it at your own pace and not worry whether you’re earning enough rewards points to justify that next annual fee that will appear on your bill.

3. Bonus points in a wide range of categories

A lot of credit cards pay bonus miles on select categories. For example, an airline card like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® pays 1 mile per $1 on regular purchases and double that for purchases made on gas, dining or American Airlines.

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is a better fit for users who want to earn bonus points on a wider range of categories.

You’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining, transit, rideshares, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, streaming services and at gas stations. For everything else, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent on the card. Terms apply.

4. Flexible redemptions

The Wells Fargo Rewards points you earn with the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card are redeemable for a wide range of rewards. You can use them for flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation packages or cruises.

You can also redeem your points for cash, in $20 increments at a Wells Fargo ATM. You can redeem your points for statement credits applied directly to your Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card bill in $25 increments. You can use them to make mortgage or personal loan payments

Other redemption options include music, e-books, e-magazines or games. You can trade points for gift cards or donations to select charities. You can even swap points for experiences, like golfing or driving a race car.

5. Points pooling

Does your preferred travel companion have a Wells Fargo account? If so, the two of you can pool your points to earn a hotel stay or other travel reward faster than either of you could on your own. You can also transfer your points to another Wells Fargo accountholder as a gift.

6. Cell phone protection

If you pay your phone bill with your Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card, you’ll automatically get up to $600 in protection for theft or damage to the phone, minus a $25 deductible. Terms apply.

7. Travel protections

When you pay for a rental car with your Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card, you’ll get free rental car coverage. The card also comes with auto protections like roadside assistance.

If something goes wrong when you’re traveling, this card could prove pretty useful: It comes with worldwide travel accident insurance and even coverage for lost or damaged luggage. Terms apply.

Earn up to 120,000 bonus points with our favorite American Express cards
Check out our nerdy picks for the best American Express credit cards and find the right card for you.

The bottom line

If you like the idea of earning rewards now and deciding later whether you want to redeem them for travel, merchandise or cold, hard cash, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card was designed for you. The $0 annual fee makes the decision even easier. Terms apply.

The information related to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is no longer accepting new applications.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

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