The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an industry leader because it's so easy to use (rates and fees).
This card earns a flat rate of 2% cash rewards on purchases, with no annual fee or limits on how much you can earn. New cardholders can also earn a solid welcome bonus and 0% intro APR offer (0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR).
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable
Earn $200 cash rewards bonus
Good to Excellent
- Good welcome bonus for a $0 annual fee card
- Straightforward 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track
- Strong benefits including cell phone protection, Visa Signature perks, and an intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- If you've opened a Wells Fargo card in the past six months, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card
- Foreign transaction fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is definitely worth considering if you want to earn a strong rate of cash rewards on purchases without rotating categories or earning caps and with no annual fee. It's got a solid welcome bonus and intro APR offer, which puts it high on our list of the best zero-interest credit cards.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- Apply Now to take advantage of this 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 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% 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 Overview
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the best 2% cash rewards credit cards available, with unlimited earnings and no annual fee. The welcome bonus is easy to earn: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. And rewards can be redeemed as cash or used for travel through Wells Fargo Autograph transfer partners, newly announced in 2024.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Rewards
Welcome Bonus
New cardholders can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is a competitive offer for a no-annual-fee credit card, and the minimum spending requirement is easily attainable for most people.
Earning Rewards
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases. It doesn't get any simpler than that, which is one of the biggest upsides of this card.
Redeeming Rewards
Rewards earned on the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card are part of the Wells Fargo Rewards program, which offers several redemption options.
- Redeem to cover purchases charged to your card in amounts starting at $1
- Redeem for statement credits to a Wells Fargo mortgage, loan, or credit product account
- Redeem at a Wells Fargo ATM in increments of $20, although you'll need a Wells Fargo debit card to do so
- Cash in your rewards for gift cards
- Use your rewards to book travel, including airline tickets
- Transfer points to airlines and hotels in the Wells Fargo Autograph transfer partners program
Maximizing Rewards with the Wells Fargo Active Cash
As of 2024, cardholders can convert cash rewards to travel miles and points through Wells Fargo transfer partners. Transferable credit card points are some of the best rewards to earn because they allow you to book luxury hotels or premium-class airfare for far less than their cash value. For example, travelers regularly book $5,000 or $10,000 flights for less than 100,000 points, or thousand-dollar hotel rooms for less than half that cost in points.
Expiration
Your cash rewards won't expire if your card is open and in good standing, where you pay your outstanding balance on time. If you're late with a payment, you won't be able to redeem rewards until your account is out of delinquency.
And, if you close your account, be sure to redeem your rewards before doing so. You'll forfeit any rewards in your account if you close it, unless you have another Wells Fargo Rewards card.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Key Benefits and Features
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a no-annual-fee card, so it comes with fewer benefits than most premium credit cards. But the card does offer a handful of beneficial features, including Visa Signature credit card benefits and perks.
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers
New cardholders are eligible for a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening, followed by a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR.
This isn't the longest intro APR Wells Fargo offers available, since the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers an even longer zero-interest period of 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days, then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable. But if you're looking to save on interest in the short term, it's a very good deal.
Cell Phone Insurance
If you pay your cellphone bill with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you're eligible for cell phone protection. This benefit is worth up to $600 per eligible claim of damage or theft, although a $25 deductible applies. You can make up to two claims per 12-month period.
Pro Tip: Most Wells Fargo credit cards offer complimentary cell phone protection with low deductibles.
24/7 Concierge Service
The Visa Signature® Concierge can help you make travel or dining plans or provide other types of personal assistance. This benefit is offered for free 24 hours a day.
Emergency Card Replacement
If your credit card is lost or stolen, this benefit can help you get a new card in hand within 24 hours.
Roadside Assistance and Dispatch
You can take advantage of complimentary roadside assistance when you hold the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. This perk is free for you to use, but you'll need to pay out of pocket for whatever assistance comes your way.
This benefit includes a phone number you can call for pay-per-use assistance when you're on the road. For example, you can call roadside dispatch for help with a flat tire, tire changes, or lockout service. The service call is free, but you'll need to pay the locksmith or vehicle repair company when they arrive.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
This benefit is offered 24 hours a day in the form of an assistance hotline. You can use this hotline to get help with medical or legal referrals, emergency transportation assistance, emergency translation services, and more. As with roadside assistance, the phone service itself is complimentary, but you're responsible for any third-party costs.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
If you pay for a car rental with the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, this coverage will reimburse the cost of replacement or repairs if your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen for an eligible reason. This benefit can be very valuable, covering up to $50,000, but there are many exclusions and conditions for eligibility so be sure you carefully read the fine print in your Active Cash guide to collision benefits.
Rental Car Coverage Exclusions
In order for a claim to be eligible, your rental must meet all of the following requirements:
- You must pay for the full cost of the rental card with your Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and/or rewards program associated with the card account
- You must decline the rental company's collision loss/damage insurance.
- Your rental agreement cannot be longer than fifteen (15) consecutive days in the U.S., or thirty-one (31) consecutive days outside the U.S.
- Coverage is excluded on rentals in Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland
- Some countries or car rental agencies require a letter of coverage beforehand (call 1-800-316-8051 to get one, or visit the My Card Benefits page)
- Maximum coverage amount is $50,000
Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
Cardholders can book through the Visa Signature Hotel Collection, a credit card hotel booking program, and receive additional perks, including:
When you make a reservation through Visa Signature Hotels, you're automatically entitled to the following:
- Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
- Free in-room Wi-Fi
- Late check-out upon request, when available
- Complimentary breakfast for two
- A $25 food or beverage credit
Fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card doesn't charge an annual fee. While no-annual-fee cards are common, it's rare to earn such a generous flat rate of return on purchases on a card that doesn't cost anything to keep in your wallet, especially since this card offers robust perks that can benefit any household.
Here are some other common costs and expenses to keep in mind:
No Annual Fee
This card has a $0 annual fee.
APR
0% intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening
Regular APR: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fee
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great credit card for domestic use, but it does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases, so this is not the card to bring with you on when traveling abroad. This fee may even apply if you are within the U.S., but purchase something online from a company that's based in another country.
Additional Fees
As with many credit cards, you may incur charges for balance transfers, cash advances, and late payments.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Cardholder Reviews
To add additional context to our Wells Fargo Active Cash card review, we scoured popular forums like FlyerTalk and Reddit to see what cardholders have to say about it. Here are some of the most common opinions we found.
Easy Sign-Up Bonus (Welcome Offer)
Many cardholders said they chose the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card for its intro bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. The relatively slow spending requirement to earn the intro bonus makes it especially appealing.
Some Redemptions are Capped or Limited
Unlike some cash back credit cards, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card only has automatic or paper cash rewards redemptions in increments of $25. For those who don't plan on using the card very frequently, it could take a while to redeem cash rewards. However, there is a workaround: You can use rewards to erase purchases from your statement.
Good for Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
Many cardholders said they like this card's ease of use, and turn to it when they make purchases that don't fall under another card's bonus categories. No matter what you buy, you know you're getting 2% back on your purchase.
Apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable
Earn $200 cash rewards bonus
Good to Excellent
- Good welcome bonus for a $0 annual fee card
- Straightforward 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track
- Strong benefits including cell phone protection, Visa Signature perks, and an intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- If you've opened a Wells Fargo card in the past six months, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card
- Foreign transaction fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is definitely worth considering if you want to earn a strong rate of cash rewards on purchases without rotating categories or earning caps and with no annual fee. It's got a solid welcome bonus and intro APR offer, which puts it high on our list of the best zero-interest credit cards.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- Apply Now to take advantage of this 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 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% 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 Alternatives
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card's closest cash back competitor is the Citi® Double Cash Card. This popular card is very similar, yet also has some major differences.
The Citi® Double Cash Card also earns 2% cash back, but in a two-step process: you get 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) when you make a purchase and another 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) when you pay it off. This earning structure already puts the Citi® Double Cash Card at a slight disadvantage.
Where the Citi® Double Cash Card shines is in its long intro APR on balance transfers. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR, making it one of the best balance transfer credit cards. However, this zero-interest period only applies to balance transfers.
The Citi® Double Cash Card doesn't offer cell phone protection and Visa Signature Concierge, which you'll get with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
For a deeper dive into the differences between these cards, check out our Citi Double Cash card review.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you don't mind juggling a few bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be a good alternative to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of Business Insider's top picks for the best credit cards available right now. Amongst many other benefits, new cardholders can earn additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
Plus, you'll earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining, 3% cash back at drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on everything else, with no limits. So if you spend a lot on travel, restaurants, and drugstores, you could earn more rewards with this card. It also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR.
Read more in our Chase Freedom Unlimited card review.
Best Cards to Pair with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card's top strength is its 2% cash rewards rate across the board, which makes it great to use for purchases that don't earn a bonus with other cards. The best strategy is to pair it with another that earns a high rate of rewards in categories where you spend the most.
For example, if you spend a lot on groceries, gas, and online shopping, you could pair the card with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, which earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per 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).
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Frequently Asked Questions
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a good credit card if you want to earn 2% cash rewards on purchases without paying an annual fee. While the card isn't jam-packed with benefits, it comes with a few handy perks that can save you money, such as cell phone insurance. You can read our guide to the best cash-back credit cards for all the top options.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card isn't hard to get if you have a good credit score, which means a FICO score of at least 670. If your score isn't quite where it needs to be, have a look at the best credit cards for average credit and our list of the best credit cards for bad credit. Some of these cards earn rewards, too.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a Visa Signature card. This means it comes with extra perks, including access to the Visa Signature Hotel Collection and Visa Signature Concierge.
No, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card isn't a metal card. It's made of plastic, like most other cards.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Business Insider's credit cards team evaluated the card by comparing it against similar no-annual-fee cards that earn cash rewards. We looked at several factors, including:
- Ease of use — Are the rewards from the card easy to earn and redeem, and are there various options for using rewards? Are there any spending caps or other limitations?
- Earning potential — How do the card's earning rates compare to similar cards in the same category? If there are bonus categories, do any of them have a spending cap, and do they apply to typical everyday spending?
- Perks — While most cards of this type are fairly no-frills, does the card come with benefits that similar cards lack? For example, cell phone protection, travel insurance, or a strong intro APR offer?
You can find out more about Business Insider's methodology in our guide to how we rate credit cards.
