Finding the best credit card is a process of understanding the tradeoffs. If you want top-tier benefits, you'll need to pay a hefty annual fee. And if you prefer to keep things simple with a 2% cash-back credit card, you could be missing out on the additional value you can receive from the top transferable travel rewards programs.
One way to solve this problem is to consider credit card combinations rather than only comparing one credit card to another. If you're interested in an affordable solution to earning a high flat-rate return on every purchase while having access to amazing bonus categories, take a look at what this trio of Wells Fargo credit cards offers.
Wells Fargo Rewards trifecta
- What cards are part of the Wells Fargo trifecta?
- Why is the Wells Fargo trifecta so valuable?
- Choosing between the no-annual-fee and $95 trifecta
What cards are part of the Wells Fargo trifecta?
Wells Fargo issues some of the best cash-back cards and an excellent no-annual-fee travel credit card. With two or three cards, you can affordably maximize your return on just about every category of purchase.
While there is overlap with certain card benefits (they all have cell phone protection, for example), the rewards structures of these cards complement each other well.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a top-rated cash-rewards credit card. Anyone who wants to maximize their return while minimizing complexity will appreciate what this card offers.
It's a great fit in combination with other Wells Fargo cards because most purchases that fall outside of a bonus spending category only earn 1% back or 1X points. With the Active Cash Card, you can double your return on that spending with 2% cash rewards everywhere. Plus, it also offers an intro APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
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- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
If you have a small business or side hustle and qualify for business credit cards, the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo can fill the same niche as the Active Cash. It also earns 2% cash rewards on all purchases, an intro APR offer on purchases and a sizable welcome bonus.
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is a key part of any Wells Fargo credit card combination. It not only features an exceptional array of bonus categories, but it also unlocks point transfers for your cash-back cards. And it does all that for no annual fee.
The Wells Fargo Autograph earns 3X points on restaurants (including takeout and delivery), gas stations (including EV charging), transit, phone plans, travel and popular streaming services. That's a 50% higher return on those purchases compared to paying with the Active Cash.
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.
- Excellent bonus rewards across travel and everyday categories
- Get access to all Wells Fargo transfer partners, including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- Features an intro APR on purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Doesn't include travel credits or other valuable travel perks
- Lacks key travel protections, such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is the only card in this combo that has an annual fee, but it's a reasonable $95. With that extra cost, you get enhanced benefits like more valuable cell phone protection and other coverages like trip cancellation and interruption protection, lost baggage reimbursement and travel accident insurance.
It also earns 5X points with hotels and 4X points with airlines and comes with a $50 annual airline purchase statement credit (with $50 minimum purchase). So if you're making at least one airline purchase a year, it's effectively a $45-per-year travel credit card.
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card offers generous rewards on travel and dining purchases, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.
- Excellent tiered rewards rates on purchases with hotels, airlines and general travel
- Access to all of the Wells Fargo transfer partners, including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- Offers an easy-to-use $50 airline credit each year
- Up to $1,000 in cell phone protection against damage, theft, or unintended separation (subject to $25 deductible)
- Wells Fargo offers fewer transfer partners than comparable programs
- No intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Select Learn More to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that's $600 toward your next trip.
- Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
When does the Wells Fargo trifecta make sense?
You can redeem Wells Fargo Rewards points for cash back or statement credits at a rate of 1 cent per point. That's a standard redemption value for credit card rewards programs. If you only want to use your Wells Fargo credit cards to earn cash back, that could make a lot of sense given the return you could earn on every purchase.
However, you can also unlock lucrative travel opportunities with these same cards. The Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey cards both unlock the ability to transfer points to all of Wells Fargo's partner travel programs. The partners include airlines from all three major airline alliances and two hotel programs that transfer at a 1:2 ratio:
Wells Fargo travel partners
| Wells Fargo transfer partner | Transfer ratio |
|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1:1 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 |
| British Airways Club | 1:1 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:1 |
| Iberia Club | 1:1 |
| Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic | 1:1 |
| Choice Privileges | 1:2 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:2 |
If you have any interest in Choice points or Wyndham points, the Wells Fargo trifecta may be the best way to earn these rewards. With the 1:2 transfer ratio, you could indirectly earn 4X Choice points on every purchase with the Active Cash Card or 10X Wyndham points at hotels with the Autograph Journey Card.
On the other hand, Wells Fargo Rewards has a much smaller list of transfer partners compared to other top credit card rewards programs. Wells Fargo cards have more niche uses compared to cards associated with more robust programs such as Bilt Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards® and Capital One miles.
Choosing between the no-annual-fee and $95 trifecta
When deciding how to maximize your Wells Fargo credit card combo, the biggest decision you have to make is whether you want to add the $95-annual-fee Autograph Journey into the mix.
When compared to other Wells Fargo cards, it offers the best return at hotels and airlines, has a bigger welcome bonus and features the strongest travel insurance protections. But when compared to other top travel credit cards in general, its insurance benefits are lacking, and its welcome bonus is mid-tier. It doesn't have primary rental car insurance for domestic rentals or trip delay coverage. Plus, the no-annual fee Autograph Card matches its 3X rate at restaurants and on other travel (outside of hotels and airfare).
Since the Autograph Card allows you to combine and transfer all of your Wells Fargo rewards to travel programs, it may not make sense to apply for the Autograph Journey. Unless you spend heavily on hotels and airfare, the additional benefits of the Autograph Journey may not outweigh the cost.
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