Wells Fargo is currently offering a compelling incentive for new customers: a $325 cash bonus. This offer is designed to attract individuals looking for a new banking relationship and is tied to opening an Everyday Checking account. However, there are specific steps and deadlines to be aware of in order to qualify for this bonus.

The key to unlocking this $325 bonus is to open a new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account through the designated offer page on their website. This step must be completed before the October 15th deadline. This offer is specifically for *new* customers, so existing Wells Fargo customers will not be eligible.

When opening the account in person, a minimum initial deposit of $25 is required. This is a fairly standard practice for opening checking accounts and ensures that the account is active from the start. Keep in mind that opening the account online might have different deposit requirements, so it's essential to check the specific terms and conditions on the offer page.

The next crucial step involves setting up direct deposits into your new Everyday Checking account. To qualify for the $325 bonus, you must accumulate a total of $1,000 in direct deposits within the first 90 days of opening your account. This means setting up your paycheck, government benefits, or other regular income sources to be deposited directly into your Wells Fargo account.

After you've met the direct deposit requirements within the 90-day qualification period, the $325 bonus will be credited to your account. Wells Fargo states that the payment will be received within 30 days after the qualification period ends. So, it's important to track your progress and ensure you've met the $1,000 direct deposit threshold before the 90-day window closes.

It's vital to be aware of the potential monthly service fee associated with the Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account. Currently, this fee is $10 per month. However, there are several ways to waive this fee, which we'll discuss shortly.

Looking ahead, Wells Fargo has announced an increase in the monthly service fee. Starting with fee periods that begin on or after November 29, 2025, the monthly service fee will increase to $15. This is a significant change, representing a 50% increase in the fee.

While the fee increase is on the horizon, Wells Fargo is also introducing new and revised ways to waive the monthly service fee. These changes will take effect starting with fee periods that begin on or after October 25, 2025, giving customers time to adjust their banking habits to avoid the fee.

Currently, there are four primary methods to avoid the $10 monthly account maintenance fee. Understanding these methods is crucial for maximizing the value of your Everyday Checking account.

One common way to waive the fee is to have $500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits each month. This could include direct deposits from your employer, government benefits, or other eligible sources. Be sure to verify which types of electronic deposits qualify.

Another option is to maintain a minimum daily balance of $500 in your Everyday Checking account. This means that at no point during the month should your account balance fall below $500. This method requires careful monitoring of your account balance to ensure you meet the requirement.

A third way to waive the fee is specifically for account holders who receive non-civilian military direct deposits as part of the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking Program. This is a benefit offered to military personnel and their families.

Now, let's look at the upcoming changes to the fee waiver requirements. Starting on or after November 29, 2025, there will be five ways to waive the increased $15 monthly fee.

The first method remains the same: receiving $500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits each month. This provides continuity and ensures that customers already utilizing this method can continue to do so.

Another unchanged requirement is for primary account holders between the ages of 17 and 24. These younger account holders will continue to have the monthly fee waived automatically.

The non-civilian military direct deposit option as part of the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking Program also remains in place. This reinforces Wells Fargo's commitment to serving military personnel.

However, there are significant changes to the minimum daily balance requirement. The required minimum daily balance is being increased from $500 to $1,500. This means customers who rely on this method will need to significantly increase the amount of money they keep in their checking account.

Finally, a new way to waive the $15 fee is being introduced: maintaining $5,000 or more in total deposit balances across eligible accounts. This provides an alternative for customers who may not want to keep a large amount of money in their checking account but have significant savings or other deposits with Wells Fargo.

Wells Fargo determines whether an account holder meets the $5,000 balance requirement by assessing the total balances in eligible accounts on the last day of each fee period. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure that your combined balances meet or exceed this threshold on that specific day.

For those relying on the $1,500 daily balance requirement, it's imperative to ensure that your Everyday Checking account maintains at least that amount every single day of the fee period. Even a single day below the threshold will result in the monthly fee being charged.

To understand the specific dates of your fee period, you can refer to the Monthly Service Fee Summary section of your account statement. This will provide clarity on the timeframe Wells Fargo uses to assess your eligibility for fee waivers.