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Wells Fargo to Help Millions of Consumer Customers Avoid Overdraft Fees and Meet Short-Term Cash Needs
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Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) announced new initiatives to enhance customer financial management by limiting overdraft-related fees. These include early access to direct deposits, a 24-hour grace period before fees apply, and the elimination of various fees. The company’s Clear Access Banking account, launched in September 2020, has already attracted 1.1 million customers. New offerings aim to improve flexibility for consumers, reflecting Wells Fargo's commitment to customer-centric banking.
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Introduction of new flexible options for managing finances.
Clear Access Banking account has attracted over 1.1 million customers since launch.
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Expanded set of product features will give customers new options to better manage their financial well-being
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Wells Fargo today announced new efforts to limit overdraft-related fees and give customers more flexible options to meet their personal financial needs. These offerings, which include earlier access to direct deposits, a 24-hour grace period before incurring any overdraft fees, the elimination of several fees, and a new, short-term loan, build on actions the company has taken over the past several years to improve customer experience.
Wells Fargo employee shaking hands with customer in front of the teller line. (Photo: Wells Fargo)
“Core to Wells Fargo’s evolution is making sure we stay focused on our customers, first and foremost,” said Mary Mack, CEO of Wells Fargo Consumer and Small Business Banking. “The enhancements we’re announcing today add to changes we’ve made previously and give our customers more choice and flexibility in meeting their needs.”
The actions Wells Fargo is announcing today build on services the company has introduced over the past several years. Clear Access BankingSM, which Wells Fargo introduced in September 2020, is a consumer bank account that charges no overdraft fees. It now has over 1.1 million customers. In 2017, Wells Fargo introduced its Overdraft Rewind® service, which automatically “rewinds” overdraft fees when a covering direct deposit is received by the next morning. Wells Fargo also sends more than 1.3 million balance alerts every day to help customers avoid overdrafts.
New actions announced today for consumer deposit customers1
Elimination of transfer fees for customers enrolled in Overdraft Protection – By the end of the first quarter, customers enrolled in Wells Fargo’s Overdraft Protection service will no longer pay a fee when funds from a linked account are used to cover transactions on the customer’s checking account.2
Elimination of non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees – By the end of the first quarter, customers will no longer pay a returned item fee if Wells Fargo returns a check or electronic transaction unpaid because the customer does not have enough available funds in the deposit account to cover the payment.3
Early access to direct deposits – Customers who receive eligible direct deposits will be able to access funds up to two days earlier than scheduled, minimizing the potential to incur overdrafts. The new service is expected to be available in the third quarter.
24-hour grace period – Customers who overdraw their deposit account will have 24 hours to cover the overdraft before incurring an overdraft fee. The 24-hour grace period is expected to be offered in the third quarter. Together with early access to direct deposit, the 24-hour grace period expands and replaces Wells Fargo’s existing Overdraft Rewind® service.
New easy-access, short-term credit product – To give consumers another option to meet personal financial needs, such as paying a bill or making a small purchase, Wells Fargo will offer qualifying customers a new, short-term loan of up to $500. The loan and an upfront flat fee will be repaid through monthly installments. This new product is expected to be offered by the end of 2022.
“The changes Wells Fargo is announcing are important steps in helping consumers manage their finances. The changes increase choices and flexibility, and as a result will bring more people into the mainstream banking system and away from higher-cost options outside of it,” said Marc H. Morial, President of the National Urban League and member of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative Task Force.
“Today’s changes are meant to improve our customers’ experience with Wells Fargo and make it easier for them to manage their bank accounts,” Mary Mack said. “Embedding the customer perspective directly into our decision-making has been a consistent focus for Wells Fargo over the past several years. As a company, we’ve made changes to products and services, we launched the Office of Consumer Practices one year ago, and we will continue to maintain this focus as our company’s transformation continues.”
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is the leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment, and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 37 on Fortune’s 2021 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Launched in 2021, Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative is a long-term commitment to help more people who are unbanked and underbanked access affordable bank services.
Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements about our future financial performance and business. Because forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes or events that occur after that date. For information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov.
Deposit products offered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
What new features has Wells Fargo (WFC) announced for overdraft fees?
Wells Fargo announced new features including earlier access to direct deposits, a 24-hour grace period before overdraft fees, and elimination of certain fees.
When will the new overdraft features from Wells Fargo (WFC) be available?
The new features, including early access to direct deposits and a 24-hour grace period, are expected to be available in the third quarter.
How many customers use Wells Fargo's Clear Access Banking account?
Wells Fargo's Clear Access Banking account has over 1.1 million customers.
What is the purpose of Wells Fargo's newly announced short-term loan?
The new short-term loan of up to $500 aims to provide customers with flexible options to meet personal financial needs.
