Banking Bank Reviews

U.S. Bank vs. Wells Fargo [2026]: 6K+ Branches, Too Many Fees

U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo shine when it comes to in-person support, but other important banking features are lacking, like truly fee-free accounts.

By Lindsay Frankel

Edited by Steve Miller

Updated Feb. 18, 2026

Our view

Both Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank offer in-person support at many local branches, but both generally charge more fees and have lower APYs than online-only banks, so they're best suited to customers who prioritize local access over other favorable account terms.

U.S. Bank is a better choice for price-conscious consumers because there are more options to waive monthly account fees and better protections in case of overdrafts¹ If you have linked eligible accounts and the negative Available Balance in your checking account is $5.01 or more, the advance amount will transfer in multiples of $50. If, however, the negative Available Balance is $5 or less, the amount advanced will be $5. The Overdraft Protection Transfer Fee is waived if the negative Available Balance in your checking account is $50 or less. Note: If you have Overdraft Protection and your account becomes overdrawn, Overdraft Protection funds will be accessed before the account is eligible for U.S. Bank Overdraft Fee Forgiven. Refer to <a href="https://www.usbank.com/dam/documents/pdf/Deposit-Account-Agreement.pdf">Your Deposit Account Agreement</a> (PDF) section titled Overdraft Protection Plans for additional information. .

Wells Fargo could be the right option if you want more choices for your checking account or you have enough money to qualify for Wells Fargo's special CD rates or premium checking accounts.

How we rate products

Compare U.S. Bank vs. Wells Fargo

	U.S. Bank	Wells Fargo
Year founded	1863	1852
Best for	Price-conscious consumers in states with local branches	Savers with high balances who can qualify for competitive rates on special CDs and earn fee waivers for premium accounts
U.S. branches	2,000+	4,100+
States with in-person locations	26² <p>Applicant must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, WY to be eligible for Checking account</p>	36
Fee-free ATMs	15,000+ U.S. Bank ATMs 30,000+ partner ATMs	11,000+
Products offered	Checking accounts Savings accounts CDs Credit cards Home loans Personal loans Auto loans Retirement accounts Brokerage accounts Wealth management services Small business services Commercial banking services Corporate and investment banking services	Checking accounts Savings accounts CDs Credit cards Home loans Personal loans Auto loans Retirement accounts Brokerage accounts Wealth management services Small business services Commercial banking services Corporate and investment banking services
FDIC insurance	U.S. Bank, National Association (Cert. #6548)	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (Cert. #3511)

Is Wells Fargo good for you?

Wells Fargo is a large, established bank that has a large physical presence in a majority of states. If you want to maximize your chances of being able to go to a local branch, Wells Fargo is the better choice over U.S. Bank.

Wells Fargo can also be a good option for those with deeper pockets, as its most competitive CD offerings require a large initial investment, and large balances are required to waive fees for some of the bank's checking and savings accounts.

Wells Fargo pros and cons

Pros

Physical locations across 40 states
Better CD rates than U.S. Bank for special CDs
More credit card offerings than U.S. Bank

Cons

History of penalties for consumer rights violations
Very low APY on savings accounts
Monthly fees that can be difficult to waive without a large balance or direct deposits

Learn more in our Wells Fargo banking review.

Wells Fargo Everyday Checking - Get a $325 Bonus

4.0

Open an account today & learn how to qualify for a $325 bonus with Wells Fargo.
Account protections like 24/7 Fraud Monitoring
Multiple ways to avoid the $15 monthly fee
Open online in minutes with just a $25 minimum opening deposit
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

4.0

Learn More

Is U.S. Bank good for you?

U.S. Bank can be a better choice than Wells Fargo if your primary goal is to find an affordable bank with in-person access.

U.S. Bank offers more options than Wells Fargo to waive fees on checking and savings accounts without large balances, and its overdraft protection is a little better as you can link three accounts instead of the two that Wells Fargo allows.

U.S. Bank also offers a money market option that Wells Fargo doesn't and has a larger ATM network, though Wells Fargo has more branches. If you want to be sure you can access your funds wherever and whenever you need them from an ATM without paying fees, U.S. Bank may be the better choice.

U.S. Bank pros and cons

Pros

More options for waiving account fees than Wells Fargo, including waiving fees based on age or because you sign up for certain credit cards
Offers a money market account while Wells Fargo doesn't
More options for overdraft protection to avoid higher fees

Cons

Fewer checking account options than Wells Fargo
Rates on CDs are slightly lower than Wells Fargo rates on special CDs
Local branches are available in fewer states than Wells Fargo

Learn more in our U.S. Bank review.

U.S. Bank vs. Wells Fargo: Compare checking

Account	Best for	Monthly fee	Minimum opening deposit
U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking	Relationship banking	$12	$25
U.S. Bank Safe Debit Account	Managing overspending	$4.95	$25
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking³ <p>Subject to account eligibility requirements.</p>	College students	$15⁴ <p>The Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account monthly service fee is $15. Minimum opening deposit is $25.</p><br> <p>The monthly service fee can be avoided with one of the following each fee period:</p><br> <p>- $1,500 minimum daily balance.</p><br> <p>- $5,000 or more in qualifying deposit balances, investment balances, or both. On the last business day of each fee period balances in eligible Wells Fargo accounts will be automatically totaled. Eligible accounts include consumer deposit account balances (checking, savings, CDs, FDIC-insured IRAs), certain investment account balances, and applicable Wells Fargo bank fiduciary and custody accounts.</p><br> <p>- $500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits. A qualifying electronic deposit is a deposit of funds, such as your salary, government benefit payment, or other income, that has posted to your account and is (1) a direct deposit made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, (2) an instant payment processed through the RTP® network (real-time payment system) or FedNow℠ Service, or (3) an electronic credit from a third party service that facilitates payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network (e.g., an Original Credit Transaction). Transfers from one account to another, mobile deposits, Zelle®, or deposits made at a branch or ATM are not considered a qualifying electronic deposit.</p><br> <p>- A primary account owner who is 17 to 24 years old. (When the primary account owner reaches the age of 25, age can no longer be used to avoid the monthly service fee.)</p><br> <p>- A qualifying monthly non-civilian military direct deposit with the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking program. You will receive your Worldwide Military Banking program benefits 45 days after your qualifying non-civilian military direct deposit is deposited into your eligible Wells Fargo checking account. For more information on the qualifying non-civilian military direct deposit, program qualifications and benefits, please visit <a href="https://www.wellsfargo.com/military/worldwide-military-banking/">wellsfargo.com/military/worldwide-military-banking</a><a href="https://wellsfargo.com/military/worldwide-military-banking or wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures"> </a> or <a href="https://wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures">wellsfargo.com/depositdisclosures</a>.</p> <ul> <ul> <ul> </ul> </ul> </ul>	$25
Wells Fargo Prime Checking	Banking discounts	$25	$25
Wells Fargo Premier Checking⁵ <p>Learn More. Member FDIC.</p>	High-net-worth banking	$35	$25
Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking	Teens	$5	$25

Both Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank offer in-person support at local branches across the United States. This sets both apart from online-only options like Ally and SoFi.

Unfortunately, unlike many online banks, both U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo charge fees for all of their checking and savings accounts and have $25 minimum opening deposit requirements. While fees can be waived on most Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank accounts (except for U.S. Bank's Safe Debit), you'll often need to make large direct deposits or maintain a large balance to do so.

The good news is that both Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank make funds readily accessible with large ATM networks. Wells Fargo offers around 11,000 fee-free ATMs, while U.S. Bank has 15,000+ ATMs with no transaction fees and 30,000+ partner ATMs that don't charge surcharges.

Since U.S. Bank has lower fees for its checking accounts than most of the Wells Fargo accounts plus a wider ATM network and slightly better overdraft protection, U.S. Bank may be a better choice for price-conscious consumers who live in one of the states where it operates when it comes to checking.

U.S. Bank checking

U.S. Bank offers two checking accounts: U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking and Safe Debit Account.

You can waive the $12 monthly fee for the U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking if:

The average account balance or combined monthly direct deposits total $1,500 or more
You're a U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature^® Card owner
You're in the Smart Rewards® Gold Tier or higher
You're a senior 65 and over, young adult age 13-24, military personnel (must self-disclose), or part of another qualifying group
You own an eligible U.S. Bank Small Business Checking account

Unfortunately, the $4.95 monthly fee on the U.S. Bank Safe Debit Account can't be waived.

Wells Fargo checking

Wells Fargo offers twice as many checking accounts as U.S. Bank. Its options include Everyday Checking, Prime Checking, Premier Checking, and Clear Access Banking.

Wells Fargo Everyday Checking

The $15 monthly fee is waived if:

$500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits
$1,500 minimum daily balance
$5,000 or more in qualifying deposit balances, investment balances, or both
Primary account owner is 17-24 years old
Qualifying monthly non-civilian military deposit made as part of the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking program

Wells Fargo Prime Checking

The $25 monthly fee is waived if:

$20,000 or more in statement-ending qualifying linked balances

Wells Fargo Premier Checking

The $35 monthly fee is waived if:

$250,000 or more in statement-ending qualifying linked balances
Fee is waived for the first six months after account opened

Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking

The $5 monthly fee is waived if:

Primary account owner is 13-24 years old
$250 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits

Qualifying monthly non-civilian military deposit made as part of the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking program

U.S. Bank vs. Wells Fargo: Compare savings

Account	APY	Monthly Fee	Requirement to Waive Fees	Minimum Opening Deposit
U.S. Bank Smartly Savings	0.05% (as of 11/05/25)	$5.00	Add a Bank Smartly Checking Account, Safe Debit account, or Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card	$25
Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings	0.01% (as of 11/05/25)	$5.00	Maintain a $300 minimum daily balance One $25 or higher automatic transfer each fee period from a linked Wells Fargo checking account One automatic transfer each business day within the fee period of $1 or more from a linked Wells Fargo checking account One or more Save As You Go® transfers from a linked Wells Fargo checking account Primary account owner is 24 or under	$25
Wells Fargo Platinum Savings	0.01% - 0.05% (as of 12/06/25)	$12.00	$3,500 minimum daily balance each fee period	$25

Both Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank offer savings accounts that come with monthly fees by default, so you'll need to earn a fee waiver to avoid them. U.S. Bank makes this easy, as you can earn a waiver simply by being the owner of a checking account or an eligible credit card with the bank. U.S. Bank also provides a significantly higher APY than Wells Fargo.

Wells Fargo offers a Platinum Savings account with check writing privileges, which most other savings providers, including U.S. Bank, don't do. This can make it easier to access your funds if you need the money.

Other banking products

Both Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank offer multiple other banking products beyond just savings and checking accounts. For example, both offer CDs, but only U.S. Bank offers a money market account.

CDs

U.S. Bank offers a choice of CDs that offer 0.05%-4.00% (as of 12/10/25) APY depending on term. You can invest in them with as little as a $500 minimum deposit, though you'll need to deposit more to earn higher APYs.

These rates are well above the average national deposit rates published by the FDIC.

Wells Fargo's CD options offer 1.01%-4.00% (as of 11/05/25) APY depending on term length.

You'll need to make a $5,000 minimum deposit to get the highest available rates, though. APYs on the lower end of that range require a $2,500 minimum deposit.

Money market accounts

Only U.S. Bank offers a money market account. You can earn up to 3.75% (as of 11/13/25) APY, depending on account balance, and you can access your funds whenever you want using an ATM card, debit card, check, or by transferring money at an ATM.

Unfortunately, there is a $10 monthly maintenance fee you'll have to waive by opening a U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking account with a minimum of Gold Tier or maintain a $10,000 minimum daily balance, and you earn the highest APY only if you deposit at least $25,000.

Wells Fargo credit cards vs. U.S. Bank credit cards

There are a range of Wells Fargo credit cards available, including cash back cards, travel cards, rewards cards, 0% intro APR cards, and balance transfer cards.

Its Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card is a particularly great option for those who want a simple card. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases with a $0 annual fee to pay.

You'll have fewer options for unsecured U.S. Bank credit cards as the bank only offers seven standard cards and three secured credit builder cards. However, those looking for a secured card will find great options with U.S. Bank, including cards with no annual fee and cards that offer cash back on purchases, which is unusual for secured cards.

Mobile apps compared

The Wells Fargo mobile app⁶ Availability may be affected by your mobile carrier's coverage area. Your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply. is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars in the App Store⁷ 4.9/5 Stars on the App Store as of August 4, 2025 and 4.8 stars in Google Play. The app is full-featured and allows you to check your balance, do a mobile deposit, transfer money between accounts, and fulfill many other important account functions.

Wells Fargo doesn't advertise specific mobile deposit limits, rather, the bank advises that limits are shown for each eligible account when you select an account to deposit to on the Enter Amount screen.

The U.S. Bank Mobile app also fared well in terms of customer service, receiving 4.8 stars in the App Store and a 4.7 rating in Google Play. Mobile deposits are also limited with U.S. Bank, but users have the opportunity to raise the limit by submitting a request for a higher limit via phone or at a local branch.

FAQs

Which is better, Wells Fargo or U.S. Bank?

Wells Fargo operates locations in more states and, for certain types of accounts like checking accounts, it offers more choices. However, U.S. Bank also has advantages compared to Wells Fargo, including more access to fee-free ATMs and lower CD minimums. These are just a few of the key differences. The right choice will depend on your specific needs and goals.

What is the most trusted bank in the USA?

According to the America's Most Trusted® Bank Study conducted in 2024 by Lifestory, the most trusted bank is Chase.

Is U.S. Bank bigger than Wells Fargo?

Wells Fargo is a larger bank than U.S. Bank, as it operates in more locations and controls more assets.

Bottom line

Both Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank have some features that may be appealing, but if you don't really need a local branch, it may not be worth choosing either since both charge monthly fees with strict waiver requirements.

Online-only banks and fintechs typically offer fewer fees, lower opening deposit requirements, and higher APYs. If neither U.S. Bank or Wells Fargo feels right, check out our guide to the best banks to find the right bank that makes sense for your needs.