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One of the most underrated options in Wells Fargo's credit card lineup is the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (Rates & Fees). This card delivers a solid set of benefits, carries no annual fee, and earns up to 3X transferable points in a wide variety of useful bonus categories.
But is the Wells Fargo Autograph the right card for you? Let's take a closer look to find out.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- 3x on travel – including airfare, hotels, car rentals, timeshares, cruises, and more
- 3x on transit – including parking, tolls, subways, ride shares, railways, ferries, and more
- 3x on dining – including dining in, take-out, catering, delivery and more
- 3x on gas – including gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations
- 3x on phone plans – including landline providers and cell phones
- 3x on streaming services
- 1x on other purchases
Page Contents
Wells Fargo Autograph Pros
- Several uncapped 3X bonus categories
- Provides access to Wells Fargo's seven transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cell phone protection against theft or damage
- $0 annual fee
Wells Fargo Autograph Cons
- Earn 1X points on non-bonused spending
- A small list of transfer partners compared to the competition
Wells Fargo Autograph Welcome Bonus
The Wells Fargo Autograph currently offers a welcome bonus of 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
You can redeem your Wells Fargo Rewards points at a rate of 1 cent each. Minimum redemption amounts vary by type, but your welcome bonus is essentially worth $200. That's a return of 20% on the spending required to earn the bonus, which is solid. But if you leverage Wells Fargo's transfer partners, you can extract even more value from your points.
Wells Fargo Autograph Benefits
The Wells Fargo Autograph is a no-annual-fee card, which can mean limited benefits for the cardholder. Despite this, it comes fully loaded with features and benefits you would normally expect from a card that carries an annual fee.
Related: Our Favorite Benefits on Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
0% intro APR
For those in need of a little bit of financial flexibility, the Wells Fargo Autograph comes with a 0% intro APR offer.
Here are the full terms: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. A 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR will apply thereafter.
Related: The Best Credit Cards With No Annual Fee and 0% Introductory APR
Cell phone coverage
If you pay your monthly phone bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph, you will receive up to $600 in cell phone protection. The coverage protects your phone against theft or damage, provided it is on a plan you paid for with the card in the previous month. Claims are subject to a $25 deductible, which is lower than many cards offering similar benefits.
This is supplementary coverage, meaning it kicks in after other policies, such as renters' or homeowners' insurance. There is a limit of two claims in a 12-month period.
Auto rental collision damage waiver (CDW)
Use your Wells Fargo Autograph to pay for your next car rental and decline the rental company's coverage to get auto rental collision damage waiver coverage. This secondary coverage includes theft, damage, valid loss of use charges, and reasonable towing charges.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance
Travel and emergency services assistance
As a Wells Fargo Autograph cardholder, you can receive emergency assistance and referral services while traveling. These services can help you find legal, medical, or other necessary services while traveling away from home.
Just note that this benefit is for referrals only, so you will pay for any services rendered. Still, it's a nice feature to have in an emergency if you don't already have an AAA membership or something similar.
Zero liability protection
You are not responsible for any unauthorized transactions on your account. As long as you promptly report any fraudulent activity, you will not have to pay for purchases you did not make.
No foreign transaction fees
Avoid foreign transaction fees when you use your Wells Fargo Autograph abroad.
Wells Fargo Autograph Earning Rates
The earnings from the Wells Fargo Autograph are excellent across various bonus categories:
- 3x on travel – including airfare, hotels, car rentals, timeshares, cruises, and more
- 3x on transit – including parking, tolls, subways, ride shares, railways, ferries, and more
- 3x on dining – including dining in, take-out, catering, delivery and more
- 3x on gas – including gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations
- 3x on phone plans – including landline providers and cell phones
- 3x on streaming services
- 1x on other purchases
Redeeming Points With the Wells Fargo Autograph
Compared to industry giants like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, the number of ways you can redeem your Wells Fargo points might seem limited. However, you still have plenty of options for putting rewards to good use, including travel, account credits, and merchandise.
Transfer points to partners
The best way to maximize your Wells Fargo Rewards points is by transferring them to one or more of the bank's travel partners. This can allow you to redeem your points for more than 1¢ per point, which is a better value than most other redemption options.
Here's the list of Wells Fargo's current transfer partners:
Related: Best Way to Use Wells Fargo Rewards for Maximum Value
Convert points to cash
You can redeem your earnings as cash for 1¢ per point. You can cash in through any of the following ways:
- Cash withdrawal from a Wells Fargo ATM (in $20 increments)
- Credit or deposit into a qualifying account
- Paper check
- Donations to eligible charities
Cover previous purchases
Redeem your points online against recent purchases at 1¢ apiece with a minimum redemption of 100 points, or $1.
Redeem for travel purchases online.
You can also redeem your points for travel through Wells Fargo's portal at a rate of 1¢ per point.
Buy merchandise or gift cards.
You can redeem your points for merchandise via Wells Fargo's Pay with Rewards feature at participating retailers or for gift card purchases.
Application Restrictions
Like every other U.S. financial institution, Wells Fargo has its own set of credit card application rules and restrictions. When you apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph, Wells Fargo will consider the number of cards you have, your application frequency, and whether you qualify for the sign-up bonus. Your overall banking relationship with Wells Fargo will also be taken into consideration.
The Wells Fargo Autograph application states that the bank may limit the number of cards you can have, but it does not specify a number. Data points also suggest Wells Fargo will limit the total line of credit each customer can carry.
You also cannot open more than one Wells Fargo credit card every six months. The rules are stricter for welcome bonuses. If you want to build up a stable of Wells Fargo credit cards, you must spread out your applications over time.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Cards That Compete With the Wells Fargo Autograph
While the Wells Fargo Autograph could be a great addition to many wallets, it might not be the right fit for yours. Here are some other options to consider:
- If you want a Wells Fargo credit card that earns flat cash rewards instead of points, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates & Fees). This $0 annual fee product earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. There are no bonus categories to keep track of! To learn more, check out our full review of the Active Cash Card.
- If you want a card with quarterly rotating bonus categories that offer up to 5% cash back, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great option. You earn 5% on rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 per quarter), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases and 1% on other eligible purchases — for no annual fee. View our full review of the Freedom Flex for more details.
- If you want value 3X earning categories but want to leverage a longer list of transfer partners, consider the $95 annual fee Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. You'll earn 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com; 3X points per $1 spent on airfare and other hotels; and 3X points at gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants, and supermarkets and 1X on all other purchases. Citi ThankYou® Points transfer to 21 partners. You can learn more in our Citi Strata Premier review.
Rates & Fees
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1% on all other purchases
- 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, and other hotel purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent at gas and EV charging stations
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining at restaurants, including cafes, bars and lounges
- 3X points per $1 spent at supermarkets
- 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Best Rewards Credit Card Offers This Month
Our Take
The Wells Fargo Autograph is a great option for a $0 annual fee rewards card. It offers excellent earning rates on a wide range of spending categories and various redemption options, including transfer partners like Virgin Atlantic. All of this makes the card an attractive option for your wallet. It's ideal for those who want to earn Wells Fargo Rewards points without paying an annual fee.
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