Wells Fargo Cash Wise review

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The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card is a great card if you’re interested in earning straightforward cash back rewards with no-annual-fee!

The information for the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.  

You’ll earn a $150 cash rewards bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements. And the card’s ongoing benefits make this one of the best no annual fee credit cards available. You’ll get automatic cell phone insurance when you pay your phone bill with your card each mont (up to $600 protection on your cell phone; subject to $25 deductible). It earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases — and 1.8% cash back for the first 12 months of card membership on eligible digital wallet purchases (including Google Play™ or Apple Pay®).

Take a look at our full review of the card.

If you’ve got a fancy phone, you’ve got even more reason to hold this no annual fee card. (Photo by AquaSketches/Shutterstock)

Who is this card for?

Before you apply for any credit card, you’ll want to make sure you’re in a situation where you can pay off your account in full each month. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay interest and fees that will likely negate the rewards you earn.

You’ll also want to make sure your credit score is healthy enough to be approved for the card. Having a score of 700+ is best. If you’re not sure what your credit score is, you can get it for free with the myBankrate tool.

If you’ve got these two aspects of being a responsible credit card holder, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise is a great no-annual-fee option.

Current bonus

With the Wells Fargo Cash Wise card, you can earn a $150 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. 

Including the 1.5% cash back you’ll earn on your minimum spending requirement purchases, you’ll have at least $157.50 in cash rewards ($150 bonus + $500 minimum spending x 1.5%).

Card benefits and perks

Earn cash back on every purchase

One of the best aspects of the Wells Fargo Cash Wise card’s rewards is that you don’t have to worry about category bonuses. You’ll earn a healthy 1.5% cash back no matter what you’re buying.

And for the first 12 months of card membership, you’ll earn 1.8% cash back on eligible mobile wallet purchases! This includes popular services like Apple Pay® or Google Pay™.

With more and more merchants accepting mobile wallet payments, your cash back can really add up!

Cell phone insurance benefit

Wells Fargo cards have some of the best cell phone protection we’ve ever seen among no annual fee credit cards — and the Wells Fargo Cash Wise is no exception. To qualify for the coverage, just pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card.

The insurance will reimburse you up to $600 per claim. There is a $25 deductible, but the benefit covers repair or replacement of your original cell phone due to damage or theft. Cell phones that are rented, borrowed, or included as part of a prepaid plan are not protected. Also, lost cell phones, electronic issues, and software problems aren’t covered by this benefit.

How to redeem points

You can redeem the cash back you earn with your Wells Fargo Cash Wise card for merchandise, gift cards, travel, cash, digital rewards, and charitable donations. You can redeem online or over the phone in $25 increments.

If you have an eligible Wells Fargo bank account and debit card, then you can make cash redemptions in $20 increments from a Wells Fargo ATM.

Is the Wells Fargo Cash Wise worth it?

The card has no annual fee, so you’ve got nothing to lose by keeping it in your wallet. In fact, keeping no annual fee cards can actually improve your credit history, and therefore your credit score.

Bottom line

If you’re looking for straightforward 1.5% cash back on every purchase without the expense of an annual fee, then the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa is for you.  The card earns a $150 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

If you intend to pay for cell phone protection, this card will save you a bundle.

Joseph Hostetler is a full-time writer for Million Mile Secrets, covering miles and points tips and tricks, as well as helpful travel-related news and deals. He has also authored and edited for The Points Guy.

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

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