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How To Earn 100k+ Wells Fargo Rewards Points [In 90 Days]

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Stella Shon

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With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in ...
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Wells Fargo introduced transfer partners to its rewards program in early 2024. This addition was a big deal because travelers can maximize their points to get more than 2 to 10 cents per value on their next award flight or hotel booking.

You might wonder how you can accumulate a ton of Wells Fargo Rewards points to cash in on transfer partner redemptions — how does 100,000 sound? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best strategies to earn a ton of Wells Fargo Rewards points through credit cards and other methods in just 90 days.

Why Earn 100,000+ Wells Fargo Rewards Points?

Wells Fargo Rewards may fly under the radar compared to American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, but the program still offers tremendous value for cardholders.

Wells Fargo transfer partners include Aer Lingus AerClub, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, Choice Privileges, British Airways Executive Club, and Iberia Avios. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to all of the partners, with the exception of Choice Privileges, which has an enhanced 1:2 ratio.

While the list of partners may seem limited compared to other transferable point programs, you can still book airfare across all the major airline alliances: Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance. A few ways to redeem points would be to book business class flights to Europe with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Lufthansa first class through Avianca LifeMiles, and domestic flights for a steep discount via British Airways Executive Club. Keep reading to learn about these redemption options.

Lufthansa B747 8 First Class Seat 1A
Book Lufthansa first class with Wells Fargo Rewards points. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Earn 100,000+ Wells Fargo Rewards Points

1. Apply for Wells Fargo Rewards Credit Cards

Wells Fargo offers several credit cards with various features, from low interest to cash rewards and rewards points.

If you want to earn Wells Fargo Rewards points, you’ll need the right credit card in your wallet. Both of the points-earning cards are in the Autograph family.

Once you have either the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card or Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, you can also pick up a cash rewards card from the issuer, such as the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. While you can’t convert cash rewards to Wells Fargo Rewards points alone, you can transfer the cash rewards once you have either Autograph card to earn even more points.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
60,000 points
$900
$95
20.49%, 25.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph JourneySM Card is an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around travel rewards card that offers bonus categories on hotels, airfare, travel, and dining, giving you the opportunity to earn points on these purchases quickly.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options including access to transfer partners, an annual statement credit with airfare purchase, and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Earn 5x points on hotels
  • Earn 4x points on airfare
  • Earn 3x points on other travel and restaurants; 1x on other purchases
Cons
  • $95 annual fee
  • List of transfer partners is smaller than competing programs
Card Highlights
  • Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
  • Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
  • $95 Annual Fee.
  • Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
  • Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
  • Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.49%, 25.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers great 3x bonus points and cell phone protection with no annual fee.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers great 3x bonus points and cell phone protection with no annual fee.
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 points
$0
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR thereafter
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is an excellent no annual fee card that offers 3x points on 6 different bonus categories. Choose from multiple options when you’re ready to redeem your rewards, and take advantage of great perks including cell phone protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, and no foreign transaction fees.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3x points per $1 spent on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans
  • 1x points per $1 spent on other purchases
  • No annual fee
Cons
    • Points are worth a fixed 1 cent per point, so it isn’t possible to get outsized value
Card Highlights
  • Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.
  • Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR thereafter.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% variable APR thereafter
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

A few other cards, including the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card, also earn cash rewards.

Out of all the options above, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is the best for earning travel rewards. Cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airfare, 3x points on dining and other travel purchases, and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.

The welcome bonus offer is also the highest of any Wells Fargo credit card. Here’s what’s on the table for eligible new applicants of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Once you reach the minimum spending requirement, you’ll likely get the bonus points after your statement closes. From this point, you could be over halfway of the way to a 100,000 Wells Fargo Rewards points balance.

That said, issuers have their own application rules. Wells Fargo generally requires you to wait at least 16 months between receiving welcome bonuses on personal credit cards. Business credit cards do not apply, so you could get 1 personal card and 1 business card within the 16-month timeframe.

Hot Tip:

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card also offers a $50 airline statement credit every year, adding to the value of this travel credit card.

2. Leverage the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

It’s in the name: The Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns cash rewards. However, you can convert cash rewards earnings into Wells Fargo Rewards points.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases with no annual fee.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases with no annual fee.
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
$200 cash rewards bonus
$0
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter (rates & fees)
Cons
    • No bonus categories for those who want to optimize certain purchases
Card Highlights
  • Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars.

You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards with the card, no matter the purchase. Because of this fantastic rewards rate, it’s the perfect match to double-up with the Wells Fargo Autograph card or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card, both of which earn 1x points on non-bonus purchases.

Additionally, the Wells Fargo Active Cash card comes with the following welcome bonus offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Once you reach the minimum spend requirements, those points are worth 20,000 points once you transfer them to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card. Pairing the Wells Fargo Active Cash card with the Wells Fargo Autograph card or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card, you’ll set yourself up to always earn at least 2x Wells Fargo Rewards points on all purchases. That’s an amazing 3% return on spending, based on our valuations of points and miles.

3. Maximize Bonus Categories To Boost Your Earnings

If you’re deciding between the Wells Fargo Autograph card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card, there are 2 main factors to consider. Do you want to pay an annual fee, and do the bonus categories align with your spending patterns?

Once you’ve made your decision, it’s all about knowing when to use each card. Then, if you have it, you should put all non-bonus spending on your Wells Fargo Active Cash card. You’ll be set up to earn 2% cash rewards no matter where you shop, then you can transfer them to your points-earning card.

Here’s an overview of the bonus categories offered by each card:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Category

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Hotels

5x

3x

2%

Airfare

4x

3x

2%

Dining

3x

3x

2%

Travel

3x

3x

2%

Gas Stations

1x

3x

2%

Transit

1x

3x

2%

Popular Streaming Services

1x

3x

2%

Phone Plans

1x

3x

2%

All Other Purchases

1x

1x

2%

The combination of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card presents the best value for frequent travelers, whether for work or leisure. If you’re frequently reimbursed for work travel, you could earn anywhere from 2% cash rewards (which you can convert to 2x points) to 5x points.

For those who don’t travel often, having the $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph card (rates & fees) and the $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash card (rates & fees) can be a nice duo to earn 2% cash rewards (which you can convert to 2x points) to 3x points.

Bottom Line:

As you can see, it can make a big difference when knowing exactly when to leverage each bonus category. In just 90 days of routine spending, you can rack up a ton of points on everyday purchases and get closer to your goal of earning 100,000 points.

Use 100,000+ Wells Fargo Rewards Points

Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt, Switzerland, is available with cash or points. Image Credit: Preferred Hotels

Once you’ve racked up a 6-figure balance (or more) of Wells Fargo Rewards points, here are some ways you can use them:

  • Fly to Europe: There are several ways to accomplish this. You can transfer 34,000 Wells Fargo Rewards points to Iberia Plus and book a one-way business class ticket from the East Coast to Barcelona (BCN) or Madrid (MAD). For 50,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles, you can book a one-way business class ticket between the U.S. and Paris (CDG) or Amsterdam (AMS).
  • Visit Hawaii: Transfer just 26,000 points to British Airways Executive Club, and you can book a round-trip economy ticket to Hawaii from the West Coast on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. This includes nonstop services like Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL).
  • Book Cheap Domestic Tickets: Transfer Wells Fargo Rewards points to Star Alliance partner Avianca LifeMiles and book cheap domestic tickets on United Airlines. Awards are priced by flight distance and region, but domestic flights start at just 7,500 points one-way.
  • Book Nearly a Dozen Hotel Nights: With the Choice Privileges program, you can book award nights at luxury Preferred Hotel properties. If you transfer 100,000 Wells Fargo points to Choice Privileges, you’ll receive 200,000 Choice points. Depending on where you go, Preferred Hotel nights can be booked for around 20,000 points per night.

No matter what you do with your points, you should be able to get a minimum of 1.5 cents per point in value based on our valuations. Other options, including cash rewards, gift cards, and travel booked through the Wells Fargo Rewards portal should be avoided since you’ll only get a flat-rate value of 1 cent per point.

Final Thoughts

Once you review the strategies above, earning 100,000 Wells Fargo Rewards points doesn’t seem like such a lofty goal.

To achieve the welcome bonus offers, follow these steps: open the right credit card combinations, pay for everyday and travel purchases using your card, and meet minimum spend requirements. Keep following this strategy to earn even more points throughout the year.

The information regarding the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not reviewed nor provided by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not reviewed nor provided by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not reviewed nor provided by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wells Fargo Attune Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Wells Fargo Rewards points?

Wells Fargo Rewards points are the rewards currency of eligible Wells Fargo credit cards, including the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card and the Wells Fargo Autograph card.

How much are Wells Fargo Rewards points worth?

We value Wells Fargo Rewards points at 1.5 cents each when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Do Wells Fargo Rewards points expire?

As long as you keep your credit card account open and active and maintain good standing with the issuer, your Wells Fargo Rewards points won’t expire.

Can Wells Fargo Rewards points be combined?

Yes. You can combine points earned from the Wells Fargo Autograph card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card. You can also combine cash rewards earned from the Wells Fargo Active Cash card with either Autograph card.

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About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

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