How to Close a Wells Fargo account: Tips, Options & More! (2024)

If you want to close your Wells Fargo account, in this article, we’ll show you what options are available and who to contact.

Plus, we'll also give you some tips about what to consider if you do: for example, it's important to settle your negative balance and consider the subscriptions linked to your account.

If you changed your mind, don't worry, we also got you covered, and we'll tell you what options are available if you want to re-open a Wells Fargo account.

📝 Table of contents
  • Before closing your account
  • How to close your Wells Fargo account?
  • How to re-open your Wells Fargo account?
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Before closing your account

Closing a Wells Fargo account is a simple and straightforward process, but there are some things to take care of beforehand.

1. You can’t have a negative balance

Before you close your account, the balance must be positive or at zero. Wells Fargo will not allow you to close an account with a negative balance—overdrawn account.

You can close it at a positive balance, but there may be a charge for a cashier’s check based on the type of account. The best option is to transfer any remaining funds to another account and then close it.

⚠️ On that note, when you bring your balance to zero, be sure to close the account before any applicable fees hit—like monthly service fees or overdraft fees. The bank continues to charge fees until they receive a closure request.

2. There must be nothing pending on the account

Wells Fargo will not start the closing process if you have pending deposits or other outstanding items on your account like legal claims or disputes.

3. The account must be active

If your account is inactive, you’ll need to log in online or ask a banker to reactivate the account before you can close it.

4. Move auto drafts, subscriptions, and salary deposits

You don’t want unpaid bills or missed paychecks because you closed your accounts.

Be sure to thoroughly review your statement for all payments that deduct from the account—water, gas, and electric bills; car payments, etc.—and move those to another account. Don’t forget quarterly and/or annual payments!

Also remember to move one-touch payment services and subscriptions to another account. Do you use Google Pay, Apple Pay, Amazon, Netflix, HBOMax, Hulu, etc.?

And on the other side, you don’t want your employer or clients to deposit salary funds into a closed account, so notify everyone of a new location to deposit funds.

How to Close a Wells Fargo account: Tips, Options & More! (1)

How to close your Wells Fargo account?

To close a Wells Fargo account, you can use one of the following options.

  1. Call the bank’s customer service line at 1-800-869-3557 and enter your account information for verification. From there, you can speak to a banker to close the account.

  2. Visit a Wells Fargo Branch and speak to a banker. If you need to find a location, visit their site and click ‘ATMs/locations’ located at the top-right section of the page.

  3. If you’re outside of the U.S. you can complete an Account Closure or Partial Withdrawal Request form and mail it in. However, you will need to have the form notarized by an agency recognized by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

  4. Login to your account online or on the mobile app and find the ‘Contact Us’ section. From there, you can send an email to request an account closure.

How much does it cost to close a Wells Fargo account?

There is no charge to close a Wells Fargo account. Again, be sure that your account is not overdrawn—zero or positive balance—and there are no pending deposits or outstanding legal claims or disputes.

If you want to send money overseas, Wise can be a great option. With a free multi-currency account, you can hold your funds in 40+ currencies and save on compared to your current provide.

How to re-open your Wells Fargo account?

While closed bank accounts cannot be re-opened, if you changed your mind, these are your options to open a new Wells Fargo account:

  1. Apply through Wells Fargo Online in just a couple of minutes.

  2. Call Wells Fargo's Customer Support at 1-800-869-3557.

  3. Visit a local Wells Fargo branch. To find your local branch, visit Wells Fargo's website and click 'ATMs/locations' in the top right corner of the webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you close your bank account online?

Wells Fargo currently doesn’t mention this on their website. But you can log into your account at the Wells Fargo site or on their mobile application and complete the cancellation process.

On both platforms, go to the section titled ‘Contact Us’, and it will allow you to select an option to send an email request for closing an account. This option will take a couple of business days, but if you’ve zeroed out your account, there should be no issues.

Does closing your Wells Fargo account affect your credit score?

In short, no. Closing a bank account won’t affect your credit score, however, if your account’s balance is negative, and you didn’t recover from being overdrawn for a long time—that can get reported, affecting your credit score. For this reason, always make sure to settle your account before closing your Wells Fargo savings or checking account.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

How to Close a Wells Fargo account: Tips, Options & More! (2024)

FAQs

How to Close a Wells Fargo account: Tips, Options & More!? ›

You can't cancel Wells Fargo accounts online. Instead, you'll have to call customer service at 800-869-3557 or visit a local branch.

Can I close my Wells Fargo account online? ›

You can't cancel Wells Fargo accounts online. Instead, you'll have to call customer service at 800-869-3557 or visit a local branch.

Does Wells Fargo charge a fee for closing an account? ›

There is no charge to close a Wells Fargo account. Again, be sure that your account is not overdrawn—zero or positive balance—and there are no pending deposits or outstanding legal claims or disputes. If you want to send money overseas, Wise can be a great option.

Does closing a bank account hurt your credit? ›

The act of closing a bank account, such as a checking or savings account, does not directly affect your credit score. Your credit score is not directly affected by your checking and savings account activity. That includes account closures.

Will my bank account close if there is no money in it? ›

Yes. Generally, banks may close accounts, for any reason and without notice. Some reasons could include inactivity or low usage. Review your deposit account agreement for policies specific to your bank and your account.

Can I close an account through online banking? ›

Some banks and credit unions allow you to close an account online. But many financial institutions require you to close an account in person, over the phone or by mail.

Is there a fee for closing a bank account? ›

An early account closure fee is a predetermined amount of money — usually between $5 and $50 — that the bank will charge you for closing your account soon after opening it. Of the banks that charge this fee, many will impose it upon customers who close their accounts within 90 days of opening.

What happens when Wells Fargo closes your account? ›

What happens to the money? If you have money in the account at the time it's closed, the bank is required to return it to you minus any outstanding fees. If an automatic deposit is made into that account after it's closed, those funds must also be returned. Typically, the bank will send a check.

What happens to the money when you close a bank account? ›

When you close a bank account, your bank will likely require you to withdraw all funds before the account is considered fully closed. If your account was closed by the bank, you'll need to get in touch to ask how to access your funds.

Do you get penalized for closing a bank account? ›

Closing a bank account that's in good standing won't hurt your credit score. If you have a negative bank balance, however, it's important to resolve the balance before closing the account.

Do I need a reason to close my bank account? ›

You don't need a reason to close a bank account. However, there are numerous reasons you might want to. Here are some of the more common reasons to move on from your current account: You're moving to a new city or state.

Is it worth closing a bank account? ›

Closing an account may save you money in annual fees, or reduce the risk of fraud on those accounts, but closing the wrong accounts could actually harm your credit score. Check your credit reports online to see your account status before you close accounts to help your credit score.

How much does your credit score go down if you close an account? ›

While there's truth to the idea that closing a credit account can lower your score, the magnitude of the effect depends on various factors, such as how many other credit accounts you have and how old those accounts are. Sometimes the impact is minimal and your score drops just a few points.

What to do before closing a bank account? ›

How to close a bank account
  1. Open a new bank account. Opening a new account is necessary before closing the old one. ...
  2. Move your recurring payments. ...
  3. Withdraw your remaining balance. ...
  4. Contact your old bank to close your account. ...
  5. Check and keep your final statement.
Oct 14, 2023

How do I close a Wells Fargo account? ›

We're sorry to see you go. Here's how you can close your account: Call us at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557) Visit a Wells Fargo branch near you.

What documents do I need to close a bank account? ›

Closing a bank account checklist:

You'll need to have some documentation prepared for the application, including a government-issued ID, Social Security number and information from another bank account to transfer funds over. Transfer or deposit money into the new account.

Can Wells Fargo close your account for inactivity? ›

Not enough activity with your account

According to the deposit agreement accounts of major banks such as Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, a bank may close your account if you maintain little to no activity and keep it at a zero balance.

Can a bank refuse to close my account? ›

Generally, the bank will not close a checking account that is in an overdraft status. Such an account will be kept open until it is brought current. Then, the account can be closed. Review your deposit account agreement for policies specific to your bank and account.

How long does it take to close a bank account? ›

Closing a bank account can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the bank and whether there are any outstanding transactions or issues to resolve. In many cases, if your account is in good standing and all transactions have cleared, the process will only take a day or two.

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