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
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
Curious how do you buy the 5 bananas is it from Amazon? If so how can I complete this?
Thanks. I’m wondering if it’s best to do them during different promo periods, or to try sooner in case they patch it…
Yes, I only added the middle initial when filling out that section. And I have not closed the first business account since it hasn’t been 6 months yet. …Which is just another reason I’m shocked I received the bonus.
CF Was the middle initial only added to the business name? When did you close the 1st account (if you’ve closed it)?
would you provide DPs?
Did you do initial $25 deposit?
Good news! The bonus just arrived this morning. Both accounts were sole prop. No DBA for either account. Only difference was one was EIN and one was SSN. Not going to lie, I’m actually shocked it worked.
7/10 – Applied, went pending 7/15 – Approved after a phone call …5 bill pays, $2500 for days 30-60 9/30 – $400 bonus posts
Is ACH a qualifying transaction?
Not a bad idea. Thanks!
I usually don’t either but for bonuses I just use to reload Amazon, buy a banana, etc.
They do. But I never use a debit card for purchases.
Don’t debit card transactions count?
Does pushing from Fidelity count as a qualifying transaction? Or can anyone give me an example apart from ACH transfers, as I am unsure how to do those.
James Yes, I bolded the parts that would affect churnability eligibility.
If you havent deposited the opening $25 balance on the same day of opening the account does that void the bonus?
It’s in the fine print of the offer. To be Eligible: Offer is for new business checking customers only. L imit one business checking bonus per business and one per business owner within a 24-month period. Only one business checking bonus may be paid per business, regardless of the number of owners. A business owner is not eligible to receive more than one business checking bonus during this period, including across multiple businesses. Only a Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking®, Navigate Business Checking®, or Optimize Business Checking® account is eligible for this offer. Y ou are not eligible for this offer if you currently own a Wells Fargo business checking account, closed one within the past 90 days, or are an employee of Wells Fargo. Non-resident aliens or foreign entities signing Form W-8 are not eligible for the offer. If Wells Fargo suspects misuse or abuse of this promotional offer, it may close the account and may rescind or not pay the bonus.
24 months from last close date (and not bonus date like some others), correct?
I’ve done them concurrently. The biz one now has a 24 month churn time so the sooner you get it done, the sooner you can do it again 🙂
I am currently doing the personal checking $500 bonus. Should I wait for that to complete before trying this one?
Sole prop is fine
Sole prop ok for this or should I use my LLC?
From Small business fee schedule for my Zip code in SoCal , “Initial monthly service fee waiver: We’ll waive the monthly service fee for each fee period ending within the first 64 days of opening. “
That would be privileged communication. 😉
Not that long. It was changed earlier this year, just about 45 days before I was due to churn 🙁
On my completed W9 form (part of the Docusign paperwork I received a copy of), I signed the statement indicating that I am not subject to backup withholding.
Likely hit the box for being subject to backup witholdings.
Add one more to your backlog, I sent you one. (in case I got filtered out to SPAM) Pickle Rick🔗
Oh nice! Truly inspirational as always 😀
Thanks Super Pirate formerly SP 🔗 , we’re considering But it doesn’t seem like it’s a matter of ID verification. P2 has a personal checking, so it seems promo-specific… Will see if the offer gets extended in a week or two.