DOC Compass — Offers, decoded

Update 9/10/26: Extended to November 10, 2026

Update 7/10/26: Extended until September 8, 2026. Reposting as there is now a $550 tier as well. Also requires 5 qualifying transactions now. Hat tip to reader David

Update 5/7/26: Extended until July 7, 2026. Terms now have ‘Limit one business checking bonus offer per business entity or business owner within last 24 months’

Extended to May 5, 2026

Extended to March 3rd, 2026

Update 12/5/25: ~~$825 bonus currently not available.~~ Still working, just copy and paste link or try incognito mode

Offer extended through January 6, 2026

Extended to November 4, 2025

Offer at a glance

Maximum bonus amount: $825
Availability: Nationwide
Direct deposit required: None
Additional requirements: None
Hard/soft pull: Soft
ChexSystems: Mixed reports, likely doesn’t pull
Credit card funding: Up to $300
Monthly fees: $10, avoidable
Early account termination fee: None
Household limit: None
Expiration date: June 30, 2025

The Offer

Direct link to offers (copy and paste links if they don’t work): $825 | $400

Wells Fargo is offering two business checking bonuses. Both bonuses require opening a Initiate Business Checking account. Each bonus now requires 5 qualifying transactions as well (debit card, bill pay etc)
- $400 bonus when you deposit $2,500 or more to your new business checking account by day 30 and maintain a minimum daily collected balance of $2,500 through day 60 after account opening
- $550 bonus when you deposit $10,000 or more to your new business checking account by day 30 and maintain a minimum daily collected balance of $10,000 through day 60 after account opening
- $825 bonus when you deposit $25,000 or more to your new business checking account by day 30 and maintain a minimum daily collected balance of $25,000 through day 60 after account opening

The Fine Print

All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

The monthly service fee for the Initiate Business Checking account is $10. The monthly service fee will increase to $15 for fee periods that begin on or after March 1, 2026. The minimum opening deposit is $25.
Avoid the monthly service fee with one of the following each fee period:

$500 minimum daily balance. The minimum daily balance will increase to $2,000 for fee periods that begin on or after March 1, 2026.
$1,000 average ledger balance. This will no longer be a way to waive your monthly service fee effective March 1, 2026.
Own a Premier Checking, Private Bank Checking, or Private Bank Interest Checking account.
Effective for fee periods that begin on or after March 1, 2026, the monthly service fee can also be avoided by the following account activity:
$5,000 combined account balance.

The Initiate Business Checking account has $10 monthly fee which is waived if you have one of the following each fee period:

$500 minimum daily balance, OR
$1,000 average ledger balance

Early Account Termination Fee

There is no early account termination fee mentioned.

Our Verdict

Not as good as the previous $1,500 in branch offer, but that was back in 2022 so I’m not sure we will see that again. With this new bonus you’re basically needing to hold the funds in there for 30 days (realistically a little longer to deal with transfers). Both bonuses are worth doing given the returns, the one you prefer will depend on how much cash you have on hand. Will add this to our best business checking bonus page.

Hat tip to reader Matt F

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