Wells Fargo Checking Accounts: Why I'll Always Stay with Wells Fargo
The account I have is called a Custom Management Checking account. This is not the type of checking account I have always had, but it has been what I have used for the past couple of years and do not remember what type I had prior. I know that I have never paid a checking account fee, and I would advise anyone to steer clear of accounts that charge monthly fees. There are so many that don't, it's not necessary to go with one that costs money.
A Custom Management account does not require a minimum balance, and I have gotten it as low as a few dollars with no troubles. It can easily be linked to a Wells Fargo credit card or savings account for overdraft protection, both accounts of which I have had in the past but do not have now.
The WF online banking site is my lifeline. It is how I balance my checkbook, so I need it to be very user friendly, which it definitely is. It clearly and concisely lists transactions so they are easy to read and find. When checks post, they are able to be viewed, front and back for easy research if I do not remember what the check was written for.
One of my favorite features of Wells Fargo's online banking, and the main reason I have kept the account even though I now live in a state that doesn't have Wells Fargo banks, is that I can borrow up to $500 against my direct deposit. I am a student with tuition payments and live paycheck to paycheck. Having the option of borrowing my own money is much more practical than payday loans or regular bank loans. There is a fee of $2 per $20 borrowed, but the fee is nothing compared to what I would pay for a payday loan, something I try very hard to stay away from.
Wells Fargo also has a great customer service department open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I have had times when I have needed to call in the middle of the night, and someone has always been there to help me.
I have run in to a couple of problems over the years with my Wells Fargo account. The few times I have overdrawn my account, the fee was $33, which is more expensive than any other bank I have seen, or at least it was the last time it happened to me. For the most part, I have been able to get WF to refund the charges, as the errors were not mine, but there have been a couple of times where I have been the one to make the mistake and the cost was excessive.
Another negative, and something that makes me extremely apprehensive about calling Wells Fargo at times is their aggressive sales pitches about trying other services. I am pretty good at telling sales people when I'm not interested, but it's frustrating to have to deal with hard core sales people when I am trying to get a bank error taken care of.
I recently moved from the West coast to the East Coast, and there are not nearly as many Wells Fargo banks on this side of the country. However, with the overall excellent service and quality I have received as a WF customer, as long as I can keep my direct deposit, I will always be a faithful to them.
Published by Debbie
Debbie, recent North Carolina transplant from Seattle. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentPriscilla, I don't work for Wells Fargo. I just did a review on the bank. You might want to try calling them.
Why am I not able to access my checking account which I have had for many years! I have typed in my password and even had to type in my account number, both of which come up as invalid. With your new forms, I do not now know how to access my checking and savings accounts on line which means I have to phone the 800 number and wade through one check at a time over the phone. This is costing you money and me my patience. Please let me know how to access my checking account on line. Thank you. I am registered at Wells Fargo Ashby/College in Berkeley.
Its hard to change checking accounts once you've established one. Its almost as hard as changing insurance companies. WF has a good reputation and every banking institution has to realize the competition that is out there. We travel and sometimes we're close to our home branch and sometimes its a foreign name.
Customer service should only be part of your requirements for a bank. How well do they handle Identity Theft and unauthorized charges to your account because of it? Can you open an account that will block or not accept ACH and EFT transactions? This can be critical during an identiy theft situation.
I am currently in the process of evaluating banks for a book I am writing on identiy theft. I have not investigated Wells Fargo yet and would be interested in your comments!
R
Thanks much, I had thought about getting them at some point in the future. I will definitely think about them for sure. Oh, our National City bank charged us 34 dollars for an overdraft and then 8 dollar a day if not rectified on our part. We don't bank with them anymore.