How to get preapproved for a Wells Fargo credit card

If you’re already a Wells Fargo loyalist or considering applying for one of its more popular credit cards, you may be wondering what you need to do to get preapproved.

No matter which Wells Fargo credit card you are considering, obtaining preapproval can simplify the application process. Instead of applying for a card and facing potential denial, preapproval allows you to narrow down your options, preventing unnecessary hard inquiries without the benefit of a new credit card to show for it. 

Find out how to get preapproved for a Wells Fargo credit card and assess your approval odds before applying.

Which Wells Fargo cards can you get preapproved for?

In most cases, the details of each credit card issuer’s preapproval process are not publicly disclosed, and Wells Fargo is no exception. While it holds slightly less weight compared to a true preapproval, Wells Fargo does have a prequalification tool that you can use to check your eligibility for each of these cards:

• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
• Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
• Choice Privileges® Mastercard®*
• Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®*

It’s unclear whether the recently released Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card* will be added to the prequalification tool or preapproval process.

How to get preapproved for a Wells Fargo credit card

Right now, the only place you can check for preapproved or prequalified Wells Fargo card offers is on the issuer’s website. If you choose to use this option, you’ll need to provide basic information, including your:

• Name
• Address
• Last four digits of your Social Security Number

You’ll also have to authorize Wells Fargo to do a soft pull of your credit report, which won’t hurt your credit score. After submitting the prequalification, you’ll get a list of the cards you qualify for, along with the option to complete a full application.

Additional ways to prequalify for Wells Fargo credit cards

Wells Fargo also displays its cards in CardMatch™, Bankrate’s tool for finding card offers matched to your credit profile. While the Wells Fargo offers you’ll see in CardMatch aren’t technically prequalified or preapproved offers, the tool does use a soft pull to your credit to assess which products are best suited to your needs, so it can still give you an idea if you meet the card’s target audience.

In some cases, you might also receive a preapproved credit card offer from Wells Fargo in the mail. This means the issuer did a soft pull on your credit report and you meet its basic minimum requirements to be approved. If you have an existing account with Wells Fargo, you might receive these offers on your online banking portal or by email.

How to increase your chances of getting preapproved

Want to boost your chances of getting a preapproval for a Wells Fargo credit card? Most of Wells Fargo’s best credit cards have a credit score requirement of 670 to 850, so improving your credit is the best path to earning preapproval. Take these steps to improve your credit score and optimize your chances:

1. Make all bill payments on time.
2. Pay down existing credit card balances to improve your credit utilization.
3. Avoid overdrafting your account if you have a Wells Fargo banking relationship.
4. Increase the balances in your Wells Fargo checking or savings accounts if you have those accounts.
5. Update your employment and income information with Wells Fargo.
6. Avoid opening too many other credit lines at once.

Your payment history is the largest factor in determining your FICO score, so paying bills on time is the most important move you can make. Your credit utilization ratio also plays a large part in your credit score, so paying down credit card debt should be a priority. Doing so can decrease your credit utilization rate, which shows lenders you’re not at risk of overextending yourself.

Additional ways to increase your chances

An underrated method of increasing your chances for preapproval is having a healthy long-term banking relationship with Wells Fargo. When I worked in the banking industry, the credit card underwriting team paid attention to the balances you held in your accounts, your overdraft history and how long you had been banking with us, alongside your credit score.

On multiple occasions, I was able to appeal a limited credit history denial by referencing that the customer had minimal or zero overdrafts, high checking or savings balances and a banking relationship of at least two years. They’d often walk away with an approval and a small credit limit instead of an automated denial.

Another way to increase your chances of a preapproval is to update your income with Wells Fargo. Even if you don’t already have a credit card with them, you can update your employment and income information through a customer service representative, which could trigger a preapproval in their system if your credit score is already within the required range.

The bottom line

Pursuing a Wells Fargo credit card preapproval is a good idea since this issuer requires good to excellent credit scores for most of its credit cards. Getting preapproved gives you the chance to gauge your eligibility before you put in the effort (and hard inquiry) to apply.

In some cases, preapproved offers are an even better deal than what the general public sees. Either way, a Wells Fargo preapproval only requires a soft pull that won’t hurt your credit score. That’s good news if you’re considering a new credit card and are ready to explore your options but not quite ready to apply.

*The information about the Choice Privileges® Mastercard®, Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® and Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

Content regarding Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® and Choice Privileges® Mastercard® is accurate as of posting date, but offers mentioned may have expired.