Wells Fargo Rewards: How to Earn and Use Them

Wells Fargo Rewards is, as you may have guessed, the name of the rewards program for Wells Fargo-branded credit cards. Often overlooked relative to cards from major issuers like Chase and American Express, Wells Fargo cards offer solid rewards rates and new cardholder benefits like sign-up bonuses and introductory 0% APR periods.

Cards that earn Wells Fargo Rewards include the following:

• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.

• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card.

• Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card.

Here’s what you need to know about the Wells Fargo Rewards program.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best Wells Fargo credit cards

Wells Fargo Rewards: The basics

You can earn Wells Fargo Rewards by paying for purchases with an eligible Wells Fargo credit card. Depending on which card you have, rewards are issued as points or cash back. For example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card earn cash back, while the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card earn points.

You can access your Wells Fargo Rewards through your card account page on the Wells Fargo website or app.

Points and cash back can be redeemed in similar ways and at a similar value (generally 1 cent each). If you have multiple cards and earn both types of rewards, you can transfer and combine those rewards into one account (this applies to Wells Fargo Rewards earned from both business and consumer credit cards). That last point is important, since holding either the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card gives cardholders access to the following travel transfer partners:

» MORE: Cash back vs. travel: How to choose credit card rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers cardholders an unlimited 2% cash back on eligible purchases. With an excellent everyday rewards rate and a competitive 0% APR period for new cardholders, it’s no wonder the card has been chosen repeatedly in NerdWallet's annual Best-Of Awards as the best credit card for simple cash back.

» MORE: Should you get the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card?

Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card

The Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on qualifying purchases with a $0 annual fee. With no bonus categories to track, business owners can focus on what’s important and less on managing their card. New cardholders can also grab a competitive 0% introductory APR offer and a big sign-up bonus.

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card lets cardholders grab a healthy sign-up bonus in addition to 3 points per $1 spent in everyday categories, including restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, streaming services and phone plans. You’ll earn 1 point per $1 on other purchases. There aren’t many other $0-annual-fee cards that offer those kinds of ongoing rewards with no rotating categories to manage.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card

The $95-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card offers high rewards for frequent travelers, including 5 points per $1 spent on hotel stays booked through the hotel; 4 points per $1 on airfare booked through the airline; 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining; and 1 point per $1 on other qualifying purchases. New cardholders can also earn an outstanding sign-up bonus, and there's an annual $50 airfare statement credit (minimum purchase $50).

» MORE: Benefits of the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

How to redeem Wells Fargo Rewards

Wells Fargo Rewards can easily be redeemed in a variety of ways, either online, through the Wells Fargo app or by calling the 800 number on the back of your card. Redemption options include:

• Statement credit: You can redeem rewards against transactions made with your card of $1 or more, but you must have enough rewards to redeem for the entire transaction amount. 

• Transfer partners: Holding the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey® Card gives cardholders access to a limited list of hotel and airline transfer partners. This can provide outsized value for cardholders who don't mind putting in the work to learn how to use the individual partner loyalty programs.

• Travel: You can use the online portal to book travel with rewards, including flights, hotels, car rentals and more. There is no minimum revdemption amount and rewards are worth 1 cent each — unless you have the legacy Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Credit Card, which can offer increased value on plane tickets. (See the box below for more on that). 

• Pay with Rewards: You can use your rewards directly for merchandise when you shop online with a Wells Fargo partner merchant. You’ll receive 1 cent per point in value but won’t earn rewards on the transaction. You’d be better off paying with your card to earn rewards and requesting cash back or a statement credit to cover the expense.

• Gift cards: Rewards are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for gift cards. That’s the same value as a cash redemption, although cash will be more flexible than gift cards.

Wells Fargo Rewards can be transferred or gifted to another Wells Fargo customer who also has a card that earns Wells Fargo Rewards.

» NEXT: How to redeem credit card rewards

Should you earn Wells Fargo Rewards?

Simplicity and value are sometimes hard to find together, but with the Wells Fargo Rewards program, rewards are as easy to redeem as they are to earn. Cards that earn Wells Fargo Rewards offer low-cost, low-maintenance options that let you stack rewards fast.