Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the United States, and they offer a variety of products and services for small businesses. Here is an overview of how Wells Fargo supports small business banking:
Table of Contents:
Navigate the Maze of Fees:
Demystifying Wells Fargo Business Account Fees (Info graphic)
Breaking Down Monthly Service Charges
Unmasking Transaction Fees and Other Gotchas
Tips for Minimizing the Fee Drain
Unlocking the Minimum Balance Mysteries:
Unveiling Minimum Balance Requirements for Popular Accounts (Table)
Consequences of Falling Short: The Fee Monster Awakens
Alternative Paths to Fee Freedom
Tools and Strategies for Balance Tracking
Banking Products and Services:
Checking accounts:
Wells Fargo offers a variety of checking accounts for small businesses, with
features such as free debit cards, online banking, and mobile banking.
Savings accounts:
Wells Fargo offers savings accounts for small businesses, which can help you
earn interest on your money. Why Wells Fargo Terrible?
Loans: Wells
Fargo offers a variety of loans for small businesses, including business loans,
lines of credit, and equipment financing.
Credit Cards: Wells Fargo offers a variety of credit cards for small businesses, with features such as cash back rewards and travel points.
Merchant Services: Wells Fargo offers merchant services for small businesses, which allow you to accept credit and debit card payments.
Additional Resources:
Small Business Resources:
Wells Fargo offers a variety of resources for small businesses, such as online
articles, webinars, and workshops.
Business Relationship Managers: Wells Fargo assigns business relationship managers to work with small businesses. These managers can help you choose the right banking products and services for your business, and they can provide you with financial advice.
Online banking:
Wells Fargo's online banking platform allows you to manage your business
finances from anywhere. You can view your account balances, transfer money,
make payments, and more.
Mobile Banking: Wells Fargo's mobile banking app allows you to manage your business finances on your smartphone or tablet. You can view your account balances, transfer money, make payments, and deposit checks.
How Much Money is Needed to Open a Business Account at Wells Fargo?
The minimum amount of money needed to open a business account at Wells Fargo depends on the specific account you choose.
Most Business Checking Accounts:
Minimum opening deposit: $25
Monthly service fee: $10, waived if you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or $1,000 average ledger balance.
Initiate Business Checking Account:
Minimum Opening Deposit: No minimum required, though business documents might be needed later.
Monthly service fee: $10, waived if you maintain a $500
minimum daily balance or $1,000 average ledger balance.
Wells Fargo for Small Business Banking Requirements:
Wells Fargo is a major financial institution that offers
a variety of products and services for small businesses. Whether you're just
starting out or have an established business, Wells Fargo can provide the tools
and resources you need to succeed.
Banking Products and Services:
Checking Accounts:
Wells Fargo offers a variety of checking accounts for small businesses, with
features such as free debit cards, online banking, and mobile banking. Some
popular options include:
Initiate Business Checking: Designed for businesses with lower balances and fewer financial transactions.
No minimum opening deposit required, but a $10 monthly service
fee applies unless you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or $1,000 average
ledger balance.
Navigate Business
Checking: Built for established businesses with higher balances and more
financial activity.
Minimum opening deposit of $25, with a $10 monthly service fee unless you maintain a $10,000 minimum daily balance or $15,000 average combined business deposit balances.
Savings Accounts:
Wells Fargo offers savings accounts for small businesses, which can help you
earn interest on your money.
Loans: Wells
Fargo offers a variety of loans for small businesses, including business loans,
lines of credit, and equipment financing.
Credit Cards: Wells Fargo offers a variety of credit cards for small businesses, with features such as cash back rewards and travel points.
Merchant Services:
Wells Fargo offers merchant services for small businesses, which allow you to
accept credit and debit card payments.
Wells Fargo Business Account Online:
Wells Fargo Business Online is a secure and convenient
platform that allows you to manage your business finances from anywhere,
anytime. With Wells Fargo Business Online, you can:
View account balances and transactions
Transfer money between accounts
Make payments to bills and vendors
Deposit checks
Download account statements
Access a variety of business tools and resources
Key Features of Wells Fargo Business Online:
Dashboard: The dashboard provides a quick overview of your account activity, including balances, recent transactions, and upcoming payments.
Transfers: You can easily transfer money between your Wells Fargo business accounts, as well as to other banks.
Payments: You can make payments to bills, vendors, and employees electronically.
Deposits: You
can deposit checks using the Wells Fargo mobile app or by scanning them with
your computer's webcam.
Statements: You can download and print account statements for your records.
Tools and Resources:
Wells Fargo Business Online offers a variety of tools and resources to help you
manage your business finances, such as budgeting tools, financial calculators,
and business news articles.
Benefits of Using Wells Fargo Business Online:
Convenience: You can manage your business finances from anywhere, anytime.
Security: Wells Fargo Business Online uses advanced security features to protect your financial information.
Efficiency: You can save time by managing your finances online.
Organization:
You can keep track of your business finances in one place.
Wells Fargo Business Account Fees:
Wells Fargo offers several business accounts with varying fee structures, so it's crucial to understand the charges associated with each option before making a decision.
Breakdown of some popular Wells Fargo business account
fees:
Monthly Service Fees:
Initiate Business Checking: $10 monthly fee, waived if you maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or $1,000 average ledger balance.
Navigate Business
Checking: $10 monthly fee, waived if you maintain a $10,000 minimum daily
balance or $15,000 average combined business deposit balances.
Basic Business
Checking: $15 monthly fee, waived if you maintain a $1,500 minimum daily
balance or $2,500 average ledger balance.
Platinum Business Checking: $25 monthly fee, waived if you maintain a $25,000 minimum daily balance or $35,000 average combined business deposit balances.
Transaction Fees:
Excess
Transactions: Some accounts charge fees for exceeding a certain number of
monthly transactions.
For example, Navigate Business Checking has 250 free transactions per billing relationship, with an additional $0.50 charge for each transaction exceeding that limit.
ATM Fees:
Wells Fargo doesn't charge fees for using their ATM, but you may be charged
fees by the ATM owner if you use a non-Wells Fargo ATM.
Wire Transfer
Fees: Wire transfers often incur fees, which vary depending on the type of
transfer and destination.
Wells Fargo Business Account Minimum Balance:
Wells Fargo offers various business accounts, each with
specific minimum balance requirements that can waive monthly service fees.
Popular Accounts:
Initiate Business
Checking: Requires a $500 minimum daily balance or $1,000 average ledger
balance to avoid the $10 monthly fee.
Navigate Business Checking: Demands a $10,000 minimum daily balance or $15,000 average combined business deposit balances to waive the $10 monthly fee.
Basic Business Checking: Needs a $1,500 minimum daily balance or $2,500 average ledger balance to escape the $15 monthly fee.
Platinum Business Checking: Expects a $25,000 minimum daily balance or $35,000 average combined business deposit balances to dodge the $25 monthly fee. Wells Fargo Mortgage Contact
Frequently Asked Questions:
What happens if I don't maintain the minimum balance in my Wells Fargo business account?
If you fall below the minimum balance required for your
chosen account, you'll be charged the monthly service fee unless you qualify
for another waiver option.
For example, with the Initiate Business Checking, not
maintaining the $500 minimum daily balance or $1,000 average ledger balance
would result in a $10 monthly charge.
Can I Avoid The Minimum Balance Requirement Altogether?
There are ways to bypass the minimum balance requirement
and avoid the monthly service fee. Some alternatives include:
Meeting
Alternative Fee Waiver Criteria: Certain accounts offer fee waivers based
on factors like maintaining a minimum combined balance across multiple Wells
Fargo accounts or receiving a specified monthly number of direct deposits.
How Can I Track My Account Balance and Ensure I Meet The Minimum Requirement?
Wells Fargo offers various tools to monitor your account
balance and avoid falling below the minimum threshold. You can:
Set up Account Alerts:
Receive notifications via email or text when your balance dips below a certain
level.
Utilize Online and Mobile Banking: Regularly check your account balance and transaction history through Wells Fargo's online or mobile banking platforms.
Schedule Automatic
Transfers: Set up automatic transfers from another account to ensure your
business checking maintains the minimum balance before the fee is assessed.