How To Close Wells Fargo Bank Account

Update Your Automatic Payments And Deposits

Once your new account is open, theres a little more work you have to do to make the switch complete. This is when youll need to move all of your automatic payments and deposits over.

Before you do that, first check the list you made earlier to see if there are any recurring deposits or payments you want to cancel outright. For example, if youve signed up for a recurring subscription to a streaming service you no longer use, switching banks may be a prime opportunity to go ahead and get rid of it altogether.

Once you know what you want to transition and what you want to cancel, you can update your account information.

• Start with direct deposits. If you have direct deposit set up at work, for child support or alimony payments or government benefits, youll need to update your bank account details with each one individually.
• Reschedule automatic bill payments. Set up automatic bill payments through your new bank account. Or, if you set up automatic payments through specific billers, be sure to update your information for each one.
• Set up recurring transfers. If you had any recurring transfers, such as deposits from checking to savings, youll need to set those up to occur between your new accounts.

Other small tasks you may need to do at this stage include ordering new checks if you use paper checks, setting up a new safety deposit box and updating your mobile wallet payment details.

How To Close Wells Fargo Bank Account

Wells Fargo is a very well known name in the American banking sector. This bank is one of the top 4 banks as well when we look into the total assets the bank has. I will be telling you more about the bank in the further part of this guide. This guide is to help those customers of Wells Fargo who want to close their bank account. Today I will explain a few methods by following which you can close your bank account.

If we start counting the reasons why someone would close their bank account. Then we will end up getting too many reasons to close the account. If you would like to show your reason why you are closing your account with Wells Fargo. Then you can do that by commenting down below. I will be explaining to you 2 offline methods to close the Wells Fargo Bank account.

Before you start the process to close your existing bank account, it is recommended to open an account in another bank. You should open a new one only if you dont have an alternative account. In case you have another account then dont open a new one. You can consider other American Banks like Bank of America, and TD Bank, etc. But make sure you dont have too many accounts.

How Do I Search For A Check

If you already have Wells Fargo Online access, sign on. Click Checks from the Account Activity page. Then:

• Use Search to view more transactions
• You must enter either a check number or the dollar amount of the check to complete the search for your check.
• View a check by selecting the check icon.

If you’re not enrolled for Wells Fargo Online access, enroll now.

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Wells Fargo Fake Accounts Scandal

In September 2016, Wells Fargo was issued a combined total of $185 million in fines for opening over 1.5 million checking and savings accounts and 500,000 credit cards on behalf of customers without their consent. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued $100 million in fines, the largest in the agency’s five-year history, along with $50 million in fines from the City and County of Los Angeles, and $35 million in fines from the Office of Comptroller of the Currency. The scandal was caused by an incentive-compensation program for employees to create new accounts. It led to the firing of nearly 5,300 employees and $5 million being set aside for customer refunds on fees for accounts the customers never wanted.Carrie Tolstedt, who headed the department, retired in July 2016 and received $124.6 million in stock, options, and restricted Wells Fargo shares as a retirement package.

On October 12, 2016, John Stumpf, the then chairman and CEO, announced that he would be retiring amidst the scandals. President and Chief Operating Officer Timothy J. Sloan succeeded Stumpf, effective immediately. Following the scandal, applications for credit cards and checking accounts at the bank plummeted. In response to the event, the Better Business Bureau dropped accreditation of the bank. Several states and cities ended business relations with the company.

Closing Your Wells Fargo Account Online

If you decide to close your account online, log into your account via their online banking portal. You may need to send an email to request an account closure, and then you might have to wait for a couple of business days for a reply. When you receive the follow-up email, there should be a step-by-step guide on how to finish off the closing process.

If you just donât want to wait a couple of days or suffer through an automated decision tree , you can always close your account immediately over the phone or in a branch.

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Check For Outstanding Overdrafts

If your account is closed because of a negative balance then you have to pay the due balance to avoid being shut out by other banks later on. If there are any outstanding overdrafts for a long period of time then the bank can eventually hand your account over to a collection agency. So in this type of situation, the negative account will show up on your credit report which can create a serious problem to your financial score. If you continuously avoid the overdraft then the collection agency will continue piling interest, fees, and penalties along with the main balance. So, in no time a 100 dollar bill can turn into a few thousand. On top of that, you might get sued by the debt collector.

Reasons For Closing A Bank Account

You dont 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:

• Moving to a new city or state
• To get better interest rates
• Switching to an online bank
• To qualify for a bank-offered bonus
• To escape poor customer service
• To avoid expensive fees
• To gain better features and services
• Opening a joint account
• Consolidating your banking
• Switching from a child account to an adult account

Whatever your reason for closing your bank account, consider the decision carefully to be sure youre making the right moves for your financial situation.

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Lower Your Account Balance To $0

If youre switching a checking or savings account, make sure to transfer all of your funds from your Wells Fargo account to your new bank. You will not be able to close your existing account until the balance is at zero and the account carries no pending transactions.

If youre closing a credit card account, make sure to pay off the statement balance completely and make no new charges on the card. That includes automatic payments from subscriptions and other services.

What Is The Fee For Using Overdraft Protection

Overdraft Protection allows Wells Fargo to transfer money from an eligible linked savings account or advance money from an eligible linked credit account if there is not enough money in the checking account to cover transactions.

There is no fee for Overdraft Protection transfers or advances from accounts linked for Overdraft Protection on Consumer accounts. For advances from a linked credit account, interest will accrue from the date of each advance. See your credit account agreement for details. If you are a business customer, please refer to your Business Account Fee and Information Schedule for details on applicable Overdraft Protection transfer/advance fees.

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Important Reminders For Closing A Bank Account In Wells Fargo

1. Accounts with a zero balance will continue to be charged applicable fees until you request to close your account.

2. Any recurring payments or withdrawals from your account need to be canceled before your request to close otherwise, they may be returned unpaid.

3. Certain conditions on your account may prevent closure:

a) Inactive accounts need to be reactivated before they can be closed. Ask your banker to reactivate your account. Or you can sign on to Online Banking to see if you have the option to reactivate your account online.

b) Portfolio by Wells Fargo® Checking accounts need to process a statement at month-end, the statement will be finalized no later than the third business day of the month.

c) Claims, disputes, legal or bank restrictions need to be resolved.

d) Funds pledged for collateral or other purposes need to be released.

4. Overdrawn accounts need to be brought back to zero or a positive balance. This information may help you avoid additional transactions and fees:

a) If your account is enrolled in the optional Debit Card Overdraft Service you can speak to a banker to not enroll.

b) Review your statements for automatic transactions and cancel them by contacting the merchant.

References:

Transferring A Wells Fargo Account

There will be a $95 fee if you want to transfer an account rather than close it. This fee is for both full and partial transfers. The majority of brokerage firms do not charge this much for transfers.

Many brokerage firms will offer you many incentives to transfer your brokerage account to them. They would move heaven and earth to market their services to you. What do you do next? Start by clicking on an offered promotion link. And as you go further into the process of opening an account, you will be able to specify that you want your new account funded by an account transfer, also known as ACAT, from Wells Fargo .

For a partial transfer, youll need your WellsTrade account number and a list of assets you want moving to another account. It would take some weeks for the whole transaction to be complete. If you have questions about the process, you can contact either the people at WellsTrade or the new institution.

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Visiting The Branch Of Wells Fargo

Can You Close Your Bank Account Online

Wells Fargo currently doesnt 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 youve zeroed out your account, there should be no issues.

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How Long Does It Take To Close A Bank Account

Closing an account can happen quickly, especially if you’ve done the work beforehand to make it a smooth process. The part that takes the longest is transferring funds to a new account. That can take up to a week or so. If your account has already been emptied, then having the conversation or filling out the form that closes your account should only take a few minutes.

Transfer Recurring Bills And Deposits

You probably have some recurring bills attached to your old Wells Fargo checking account or subscriptions that auto-deduct from it. Take a look at a recent Wells statement to see what subscriptions are auto-deducting and make a list.

Pro Tip: It might also be a good time to look at your credit card statement if you have one of those too! For many people, itâs great practice to review these statements regularly to ensure youâre not paying for services you arenât using anymore.

Once you have your list, start moving those recurring bills over to your new account. You donât need to do this all at once if itâs a drag, or better yet, pop on a Ted Lasso in the background. Chances are youâll be able to get through this step before the credits roll.

Remember to make sure you have enough in your new account to cover the expenses.

Pro tip: Using a feature like a digital debit card is a great way to manage those subscriptions in the future too! If you lose or misplace your physical debit card you can cancel it and have a new card sent without needing to worry about any of those recurring subscriptions. Digital debit cards have a different customized card number than a physical debit card so your information and ongoing payments are never at risk.

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Does Closing Your Wells Fargo Account Affect Your Credit Score

In short, no. Closing a bank account wont affect your credit score, however, if your accounts balance is negative, and you didnt recover from being overdrawn for a long timethat 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.

This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content in this publication. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from TransferWise Limited or its affiliates. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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 overdrawnzero or positive balanceand there are no pending deposits or outstanding legal claims or disputes.

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Settlement And Fines Regarding Mortgage Servicing Practices

On February 9, 2012, it was announced that the five largest mortgage servicers agreed to a settlement with the US Federal Government and 49 states. The settlement, known as the National Mortgage Settlement , required the servicers to provide about $26 billion in relief to distressed homeowners and in direct payments to the federal and state governments. This settlement amount makes the NMS the second largest civil settlement in U.S. history, only trailing the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The five banks were also required to comply with 305 new mortgage servicing standards. Oklahoma held out and agreed to settle with the banks separately.

On April 5, 2012, a federal judge ordered Wells Fargo to pay $3.1 million in punitive damages over a single loan, one of the largest fines for a bank ever for mortgaging service misconduct, after the bank improperly charged Michael Jones, a New Orleans homeowner, with $24,000 in mortgage fees, after the bank misallocated payments to interest instead of principal. Elizabeth Magner, a federal bankruptcy judge in the Eastern District of Louisiana, cited the bank’s behavior as “highly reprehensible”, stating that Wells Fargo has taken advantage of borrowers who rely on the bank’s accurate calculations. The award was affirmed on appeal in 2013.

Can I Use My Mobile Device To Make A Deposit

Yes. With Wells Fargo mobile deposit you can make a check deposit directly into your eligible checking or savings account using the Wells Fargo Mobile app on supported Apple® and AndroidTM devices. Mobile deposit lets you submit photos of the front and back of your endorsed check. You can save time with fewer trips to a Wells Fargo ATM or branch.

Learn more.

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Close Wells Fargo Account Online