Main recipients
- Wells Fargo Active Cash features a relatively easy welcome bonus that can be earned in a short period of time.
- The APR entry period gives you time to pay for your summer travel purchases.
- Travel-specific credit cards can provide additional benefits and perks for long-term credit card use.
With only a few months left before this summer’s travel season, there’s not much time left to save for a trip. Luckily, you can boost your vacation money by applying for a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in purchases within three months of account opening.
As long as you pay your balance in full and on time each month, an Active Currency Card is one of the best credit cards for paying for last-minute summer travel expenses. Here are some things you should consider before you apply.
How Wells Fargo Active Cash can help pay for summer travel
Wells Fargo Active Cash is one of the welcome bonuses on this easy-to-earn credit card. Once you reach the spending limit set by the credit card issuer, the welcome bonus pays out additional rewards on top of what you earn on regular purchases with the card.
The minimum spending requirement is $500 in the first three months of account opening, and you can earn that amount simply by putting one month’s worth of groceries and gas on the card. Once you reach the mark, you’ll earn an additional $200 cash bonus to use toward future travel.
And a cash card with a welcome bonus isn’t the only way to help you save for summer travel. It’s also one of the best loyalty rewards cards, giving you 2% cash back on purchases—including your hotel, airfare, car rental, or other travel expenses. Plus, it has no annual fee.
New cardholders can take advantage of the card’s introductory APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, such as debt consolidation or to pay for large purchases, such as airline tickets.
0% on purchases and eligible account transfers for 15 months from account opening date (rate changes to 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% thereafter). If you are making a large purchase, plan your payment schedule in advance to avoid interest charges when the preferential rate expires.
CNET Money delivers financial insights, trends and news to your inbox every Wednesday.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
All the fun, delivered to your inbox.
How to Get the Wells Fargo Active Cash Welcome Bonus
Planning before applying for a credit card can help ensure you receive your welcome bonus and don’t go into credit card debt:
- Plan your spending around your budget . Knowing ahead of time what purchases you can make with your card can help you avoid overspending to earn rewards.
- Use your card to pay for everyday expenses and bills . Pay all your everyday expenses with your card to earn rewards faster. In addition to everyday expenses like groceries and gas, consider using your credit card to pay for subscriptions and insurance premiums. But credit card convenience fees may increase your bills.
- Keep a close eye on your spending on your card . Even a $1 difference can mean you’re missing out on bonus offers.
- Wait for the bonus points to appear in your account . Most credit card welcome offers will appear in your account after your next billing date. However, some bonuses may take six to eight weeks to appear in your account.
How to Apply for Wells Fargo Active Cash
Before you apply, it’s best to make sure Wells Fargo Active Cash is right for you.
- Check pre-qualification. Knowing whether you are pre-qualified can give you an idea of your chances of getting approved without hurting your credit score.
- Calculate whether you can earn the bonus through regular spending. To earn the bonus, you need to spend $500 within three months of account opening. That adds up to $167 per month for three consecutive months. While this is a relatively low threshold, avoid spending too much.
- Make sure the card is a good fit for long-term use. While the Active Cash welcome bonus is attractive, you shouldn’t apply for a card just for the welcome bonus. Applying for a credit card requires serious research and can temporarily hurt your credit score, so you must also get long-term value from the card’s other features.
- Read this great article. It helps you understand exactly how much time you have to meet the spending requirements. Typically, the time to earn the rewards starts the day you are approved for the card, not the day you get it in the mail.
- Submit your application. If you think the card offers the right benefits, you can apply for a new credit card and wait for it to arrive in the mail. Some credit cards offer virtual card numbers that you can use before the physical card arrives at your door.
How to handle the welcome bonus
How you use your welcome bonus is up to you. Since Active Cash is a cash rewards credit card, you can redeem your bonus for profile credit, gift cards or cash at an ATM ($20 per redemption when using a Wells Fargo ATM or debit card).
Wells Fargo Active Cash options
The Active Cash is not a travel card. While it earns rewards on travel purchases, it lacks many of the standard features of a travel card, including points transfers and travel-focused benefits and protections.
If you want to earn travel rewards like points or miles, the best travel credit cards offer additional benefits and travel protections, although some charge an annual fee. However, unlike ActiveCash, many do not charge foreign transaction fees, making them a better choice if you plan to travel internationally.
Some of the best credit cards with welcome bonuses have higher fees (and higher spending requirements) than Active Cash.
in conclusion
Going after a credit card welcome bonus makes sense at any time of year, but it can be especially beneficial when you have big expenses like summer travel plans.
Upcoming charges can be used to pay for part or all of your purchases, not only reaching your bonus spending limit but also lowering your credit card bill.
Remember, only pay for purchases you can afford at your monthly checkout. If you go into debt to get a credit card welcome bonus, the interest you pay will offset the value of the bonus.
recommended article
The editorial content of this page is based solely on objective, independent reviews by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or affiliate relationships. It is not provided or supplied by a third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services provided by our partners.
