What Do You Need to Open or Close a Bank Account?

You can apply online if you are at least 18 years old and a legal U.S. resident. For Alabama and Puerto Rico residents, the minimum age requirement varies by product.

You can apply in person by making an appointment at a Wells Fargo branch near you. Before visiting a branch, be sure to review what you’ll need to bring to your appointment.

If you're under 18, a non-permanent U.S. resident, or if you’re applying for a joint account, you’ll need to make an appointment to apply in person at a branch.

To get started, find the right account for you:

• Compare checking accounts
• View savings accounts and rates

What do I need to apply online?

You can complete the online application for a checking or savings account in minutes. You’ll need to:

• Be at least 18 years old (for Alabama and Puerto Rico residents, age requirement varies by product)
• Have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
• Have a physical U.S. address
• Provide your mobile phone number

You’ll need to remove any security freezes or fraud alerts you’ve placed on your credit report before applying online. Otherwise, you’ll need to apply in person at a branch.

If you're under 18, a non-permanent U.S. resident, or you want to open a joint account, you’ll need to make an appointment to apply in person at a Wells Fargo branch.

What should I bring to my appointment when applying in person?

When applying for an account at a branch, you’ll need:

• Two acceptable forms of identification (ID)
• Proof of address, if your current physical address is not listed on one of your IDs
• An adult co-owner, if you don’t meet the minimum age to open

The minimum deposit to open a checking or savings account is $25. For Certificate of Deposit (CD) or time accounts, the minimum opening deposit is based on the term you select. Learn more about Wells Fargo CDs

What is the minimum age to open an account at a branch?

The minimum age to open varies by account:

• Clear Access Banking – 13 or older (teens 13 to 16 can open with an adult co-owner)
• Everyday Checking – 17 or older
• Prime Checking or Wells Fargo Premier ® Checking – 18 or older (19 in AL and 21 in PR)
• Platinum Savings or Way2Save ® Savings – 13 or older (minors 12 and under can open with an adult co-owner)

An adult co-owner must be a relative or guardian. Both the primary account owner and co-owner need to provide two acceptable forms of identification when applying at a branch.

What forms of identification (ID) are accepted when applying for an account in person?

Each primary account owner and co-owner needs to provide a primary and secondary ID to apply in a branch. Make sure your IDs meet the following requirements:

• Original physical ID or document (we cannot accept digital or photocopied versions)
• Not expired (if an expiration date is printed on the ID)
• At least one ID contains your photograph or signature
• Your primary ID is printed in English
• Your primary and secondary IDs are issued by different entities and each has a unique ID number
• Your name is identical on both forms of ID

We accept a wide variety of IDs to help you meet those requirements.

Primary ID

• State or U.S. territory issued driver's license
• State or U.S. territory issued ID card
• Tribal identification issued by a federally recognized U.S. tribal government
• Passport
• U.S. Armed Forces ID
• Consular card issued by Colombia, Guatemala, or Mexico
• Canadian driver’s license or ID card issued in English (Quebec-issued IDs are not accepted)
• El Salvador Documento Unico de Identidad (DUI) card
• Border Crossing Card
• Employment authorization card
• Permanent resident card

Secondary ID

• Any ID that’s acceptable as a primary ID
• Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
• Employee ID
• Social Security card (signed)
• Student ID
• ATM, credit, or debit card
• ID issued by a business, education institution, or government agency (domestic or foreign)

Non-U.S. citizens without a U.S. issued taxpayer identification number must provide a government issued ID that provides evidence of nationality or residence.

Teens without a primary ID need to be accompanied by an adult co-owner, who is a relative or guardian, and bring a secondary ID, such as a Social Security card, birth certificate, or student ID.

What do I need to bring as proof of my address when applying in person?

If neither your primary nor secondary identification (ID) contains your current residential address, you’ll need to provide separate proof of your physical U.S. address (we cannot accept a P.O. Box or Private Mailbox as a residential address).

Examples of acceptable proof of address documentation:

• Utility bill issued within the last 60 days
• Paystub issued within the last 60 days
• Bank, credit card, or mortgage statement issued within the last 60 days
• Prior year Federal or State Income Tax Return
• Current lease agreement
• Current vehicle registration
• For students, proof of enrollment for the current school year, such as tuition statement, acceptance letter, or housing assignment letter

Your name should be the same on this document as it appears on your primary and secondary IDs.

What do I need to open a joint account?

To open a joint account, you’ll need to make an appointment at a Wells Fargo branch. Before visiting the branch, be sure to review what you’ll need to bring to your appointment. Both the primary account owner and co-owner will need to provide two acceptable forms of identification and proof of address.

Can I open an account if I’m not a permanent U.S resident?

If you’re a non-resident alien with a primary residence in the U.S. or its territories, you can apply in person by making an appointment at a Wells Fargo branch. Be sure to review what you’ll need to bring to your appointment when applying in person.

How do I check the status of my application?

You can sign on to view your application status using your Wells Fargo Online ® username and password. If you’re not an online banking customer, you can sign on using the Access Code we emailed to you after you submitted your application. If you can’t find the email with your Access Code, you can submit a request to resend your access code.

Still have questions? See more Application Status FAQs.

How do I move checking accounts to Wells Fargo from another bank?

We can help you every step of the way. To make the switch, you should:

• Apply for your new Wells Fargo account. Then fund your new account and establish payment services.
• Move your automatic payments and direct deposits, if applicable, to your new Wells Fargo account.
• Move any remaining balances and close your old account.

For detailed instructions and easy-to-use forms, learn more about your switch to Wells Fargo.

How do I close a checking or savings account?

We’re sorry to see you go. Here’s how you can close your account:

• Call us at 1-800-TO-WELLS ( 1-800-869-3557 )
• Visit a Wells Fargo branch near you.
• If outside of the U.S., complete the Account Closure or Partial Withdrawal Request form (PDF) and send it to us by mail.

You can request to close your account anytime. We can close most accounts immediately when:

• The account has a positive or zero balance.
• All deposits, outstanding and pending items are posted.

Are there conditions that may prevent closure?
Yes. When you request closure by phone or in person, we'll inform you if your account has a condition that prevents closure. These may include:

• Transactions that are in progress, including Overdraft Protection transfers, that need to post.
• Inactive accounts that need to be reactivated. Ask a Wells Fargo banker to reactivate your account. Or, you can sign on to Wells Fargo Online ® to see if you have the option to reactivate your account online.
• Prime Checking and Premier Checking accounts that need to process a statement; the statement will be finalized no later than the third business day of the month.
• Legal or bank restrictions that need to be resolved.
• Funds pledged for collateral or other purposes that need to be released.
• Balance sweep feature needs to be removed.
• Overdrawn accounts that need to be brought to a zero or positive balance.
• This information may help you avoid additional transactions and fees:
  • If your account is enrolled in the optional Debit Card Overdraft Service, any account holder with transaction authority on the eligible checking account can remove the service by visiting a Wells Fargo ATM (select More Choices, Wells Fargo Services), through Online Banking, talking with a branch banker, or calling a phone banker at 1-800-TO-WELLS ( 1-800-869-3557 ). Business customers call 1-800-CALL-WELLS ( 1-800-225-5935 ).
  • Review your statements for automatic transactions and cancel them by contacting the merchant(s).
  • When you have a previously authorized transaction, such as ATM and debit card transactions, account transfers, and Wells Fargo Online Bill Pay transactions presented for payment and your account doesn't have enough money, we will pay the item(s) into overdraft and an overdraft fee may be assessed . Please refer to the Deposit Account Agreement and Consumer Fee and Information Schedule for more information.
  • When checks and preauthorized automatic payments (ACH) are presented for payment and your account doesn't have enough money, we may pay the item(s) into overdraft or return the item(s) unpaid. Overdraft fees may be assessed for items paid into overdraft. Please refer to the Deposit Account Agreement and Consumer Fee and Information Schedule for more information.

  Important Reminders:

  • Accounts with a zero balance will continue to be charged applicable fees (like the monthly service fee) until you request to close your account.
  • Any recurring payments or withdrawals (such as bill payments and debit card payments) from your account need to be cancelled before your request to close; otherwise, they may be returned unpaid. The payee or merchant may charge fees for returned items.
    

  How do I close a CD (Time account)?

  • Call us at 1-800-TO-WELLS ( 1-800-869-3557 )
  • Visit a Wells Fargo branch near you.
  • Or complete the Account Closure or Partial Withdrawal Request form (PDF) and send it to us by mail.

  Please note: Early withdrawal penalties may apply if you make withdrawals or close a CD before the maturity date. In addition, the Bank does not pay interest from the maturity date to the date of withdrawal on any funds withdrawn during the grace period. If you make a final transfer or withdrawal, you will have to wait until that item posts.

  If you would like to close your Loan, Line of Credit, or other type of account, please call the appropriate customer service department listed on your statement or in this phone directory.

  Our overdraft fee for Consumer checking accounts is $35 per item (whether the overdraft is by check, ATM withdrawal, debit card transaction, or other electronic means), and we charge no more than three overdraft fees per business day. Overdraft fees are not applicable to Clear Access Banking SM accounts. The overdraft fee for Wells Fargo Teen Checking SM accounts is $15 per item and we will charge no more than two fees per business day.

  Recurring debit card payments and other transactions, such as checks, Bill Pay, or ACH transactions, may continue to be authorized into overdraft at our discretion if there isn’t enough money in the account, even if the account is not enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service, and our standard overdraft fees and policies will apply.

  The payment of transactions into overdraft is discretionary and we reserve the right not to pay. For example, we typically do not pay overdrafts if your account is overdrawn or you have had excessive overdrafts. You must promptly bring your account to a positive balance.

  Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.