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Wells Fargo Platinum Card review
A simple, no-annual-fee credit card with a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.
finder.com’s rating: 4.5 / 5
★★★★★
- Get this card if you want an extended intro APR offer and no annual fees.
- Pick something else if you want cashback rewards.
- Apply with good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
$0
Annual fee
0%
Intro purchase APR
for the first 18 months (then 15.49% to 24.99% variable)
0%
Intro balance transfer
for the first 18 months (then 15.49% to 24.99% variable)
15.49% to 24.99%
Balance transfer APR (variable)
Review by
Adrienne Fuller
adrienne.fuller@finder.comAdrienne Fuller is the head of publishing at Finder US. With a decade of experience creating guides in finance and education, she aims to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wishes she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. For the past 3 years she has been the publisher of money transfers, helping readers save when they send money all over the globe. She has a BA from Colorado College and loves to hike with her two Catahoula dogs around her home in San Diego.
Expert review
I first got the Wells Fargo Platinum Card in college, and it felt like a bit of a surprise. I had no idea that signing up for overdraft protection meant opening a new credit card. Overdraft protection charges the linked card for the amount of the overdraft, plus the overdraft fee.
The Wells Fargo Platinum Card offers a long intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases but reverts to a higher-than-average APR once the intro period is up. It can also be used to pay cell phone bills as you get a phone protection plan of up to $600 if your cell phone is lost or broken.
Though the card has no annual fee and can be nice to have for paying off big purchases over 18 months, I found the Wells Fargo Platinum to be overall unimpressive. I’m glad I had it for overdraft at a time when I really needed it, but it has not served me otherwise — the card has no notable perks or rewards. If I could go back in time and talk to my younger self, I’d instead look for a checking account with built-in overdraft protection, then shop for a card with perks and rewards.
How to apply for the Wells Fargo Platinum Card
- Go to the Wells Fargo website and find the Platinum Visa® Credit Card in the list of balance transfer cards, then click Apply now.
- Existing Wells Fargo customers may sign in for a quicker, prefilled application. Others need to click Continue.
- Fill out the application form with all the required details.
- Review and submit your application.
How long will it take to get my Wells Fargo Platinum Card?
Wells Fargo processes its applications online, and you’ll typically get a decision within minutes. If the bank needs additional information, it may take a few business days up to few weeks to receive an answer.
Upon approval, you’ll get your card in the mail within seven to 10 business days.
Wells Fargo Platinum Card benefits
- Intro APR period. Enjoy a 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months following your account opening. After that, a variable APR of 15.49% to 24.99% will apply. When compared to similar cards, this is one of the longest intro APR periods you can get.
- No annual fee. This card comes with no annual fee.
- No penalty APR. If you make late or returned payments, you’ll only pay a fee. Other cards have a penalty APR of up to 30%, which can apply as soon as you make a single late or returned payment, and can last indefinitely.
- Access to FICO® score. You can access your FICO® credit score for free using the Wells Fargo Mobile platform.
- Safety and security. This chip-enabled card offers increased account security against counterfeit fraud. You also get alerts whenever you make a purchase.
- Cell phone protection. When you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card, you get up to $600 per claim protection against damage or theft. Maximum claims up to $1,200 in 12 months.
- Money management tools. My Money Map can help you track your spending and give you a chart to see what you spend the most money on. You can also create a savings plan, keep track of your progress and more.
Wells Fargo Platinum Card drawbacks
- No signup bonus. Most cards offer a signup bonus, which you can claim in the first months of card membership once you spend a certain amount.
- Foreign transaction fees. You’ll pay 3% fee for each transaction you make outside of the US. It may not seem like much, but it can add up if you often travel abroad.
- Potentially high APR. Depending on your creditworthiness, you may get an APR of variable after the intro period passes. This is relatively high, considering the average APR is around 16%.
- Balance transfer fees and limits. During the 18 months intro period following your account opening, each transfer comes with a fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater. Any transfers you make after the intro period will have a fee of $5 minimum or up to 5%. To qualify for the intro APR, you’ll need to request your transfers within the first 120 days.
- Credit limit. If you don’t have strong credit, you could get stuck with a low limit of $1,000. With other similar cards you could get as high as $5,000.
Compare 0% intro APR credit cards
Case study: Adrian’s experience
Adrian Tomkins
Senior Product Manager
When I first arrived in the US, I was able to set up a checking account with Wells Fargo. I decided to also apply for the Wells Fargo Platinum Card — I thought it was the best chance for me to get a credit card in my name to start building my credit. Plus, the 18 months 0% APR balance transfer offer and the ability to have one app for managing both my checking and credit accounts was pretty enticing.
While I utilized the card early on, as soon as my credit score improved, I moved to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card — it better suited my desire to build up international travel miles and achieve status with an airline.
Overall, the Wells Fargo Platinum Card was great for my balance transfer needs and helping me build my credit. However, it’s probably not the best choice for people looking to optimize travel points.
How does a balance transfer work with this card?
When you apply for a balance transfer, be sure to have the account number and amount you want transferred. Tell Wells Fargo the amount you’d like to transfer. Simply stating you want to transfer the full amount of a credit card balance isn’t enough — you need a specific dollar amount.
For each transfer you make during the intro period, you’ll pay a fee of $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater. After that, the fee for each balance transfer will increase to $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater. That means a balance transfer of $3,000 would cost $90 in fees during the intro period and $150 after.
You can’t transfer more than your credit limit and Wells Fargo won’t accept balance transfers from other Wells Fargo accounts. Call Wells Fargo at 800-642-4720 about any questions about transfers.
What should I know before I apply?
You may apply for the card if you’re at least 18 years old and a resident of the US.
You’ll also need to provide the following information:
- Your full name and contact information.
- Your date of birth and Social Security number.
- Your financial information including your employment and housing status.
At this point, you can add an authorized user or request a balance transfer.
You might not get the intro APR period on balance transfers if you’ve opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the last 15 months and received an intro APR period, intro fee rate or bonus rewards offers, even if you closed your account with a $0 balance. Also, if you opened another Wells Fargo credit card in the last six months, you may not qualify for another Wells Fargo card.
What credit score do I need?
You have a better chance of application approval with a credit score of 670 or higher. The better your credit, you’re more likely to get a lower APR and higher credit limit.
Wells Fargo Platinum Card reviews and complaints
Most customers complain about the low credit line they received and line-increase denials by Wells Fargo even after years of timely payments. Some customers complained about the bank increasing their APR, despite making payments on time and having a good credit score.
The Better Business Bureau has yet to rate or accredit Wells Fargo.
I got the card. Now what?
- Download the Wells Fargo Mobile app. And use it to monitor your account, pay your bills, access your free FICO score and more.
- Avoid interest. Once the intro period passes, pay your balance before the grace period of 25 days is up after each billing cycle to avoid paying interest on purchases.
- Customer service. Call 1-800-869-3557 for customer support. Or you can chat with a customer service representative online on the Wells Fargo website.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a simple balance transfer card with a year and a half of interest-free period to pay off your balance, then this could be a good card for you.
Otherwise, you can check out other low APR or balance transfer credit cards to find the right one for your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Does the card have a signup bonus?
No, the card has no signup bonus.
Is overdraft protection available to all cardholders?
Overdraft protection comes as an optional extra. You may qualify only if you have an existing Wells Fargo savings or checking account.
How does cell phone protection work?
You may qualify for cell phone protection, $600 per occurrence and $1,200 per 12 month period, provided you use this card to pay your monthly cellular phone bills.
Does the card have an annual fee?
No, the card has no annual fee.
Credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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