I’m hardwired not to carry credit card balances. If I can’t afford it, I don’t charge it.
Usually. Once in a while, I come across a 0% introductory APR offer that’s simply too good to pass up. Then I’ll break my rule, front-load purchases I would have made over a period of many months, and pay them off gradually without incurring any interest charges.
If you’re like me, you’ll want to check out the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. It’s the best new 0% APR credit card in recent memory, with equal benefits for purchases and balance transfers. See if it’s worth adding to your credit card lineup.
What Is the Wells Fargo Reflect Card?
The Wells Fargo Reflect Card is a low-APR credit card with one of the longest 0% APR introductory promotions around: 18 months for sure, and 3 months longer when you make timely, in-full payments during your first year and three-quarters as a cardholder. That’s a total of 21 months with no interest charges.
Key Features of the Wells Fargo Reflect Card
Beyond the long 0% APR promotion, Reflect doesn’t have a lot going for it. It has no rewards program, no sign-up bonus, few travel or purchase benefits, and few other perks to distinguish it. But that’s almost part of its appeal. There’s absolutely no secret what it’s good for.
0% APR Introductory Promotion
The Wells Fargo Reflect Card charges no interest on purchases or balance transfers for at least 18 months from account opening. Qualifying balance transfer requests must be made within 120 days of account opening. Otherwise, variable regular APR applies to those transfers.
Following the end of the 0% APR introductory period, variable regular APR applies to all purchases and balance transfers unless you qualify for the 0% APR period extension.
0% APR Period Extension
Qualifying for the 0% APR period extension shouldn’t be too difficult. If you make on-time minimum payments during the initial 0% APR promotion period and the extension period, you earn a three-month extension of the 0% APR window.
That results in a total of 21 consecutive months of purchases and balance transfers at 0% APR.
Following the end of any extension period you earn, variable regular APR applies (for real this time). Pay off all your charges or transfers in full before the rate resets if you want to avoid interest. If you don’t, you lose out on the promo and have to pay all that interest you’d saved yourself anyway.
Cellphone Protection
Wells Fargo Reflect comes with complimentary cellphone protection when you pay your eligible cellphone bill in full with the card each month.
There’s a benefit cap of $600 per claim with a $25 deductible and no more than two paid claims per 12-month period. But you have to be pretty careless to need three new phones in 12 months.
Wells Fargo Deals
As a Reflect cardholder, you can take advantage of personalized cash-back rewards from a variety of participating merchants through My Wells Fargo Deals. Offers vary, but you can expect to find the equivalent of 5% to 10% off purchases with popular national chains, from restaurants like Panera to automotive service businesses like SpeeDee Oil Change.
While this isn’t a regular cash-back rewards program and doesn’t promise a return on every purchase, it’s a nice way to reduce the net cost of certain purchases made on your Reflect card.
Roadside Dispatch
Enjoy access to a 24/7 roadside dispatch network that provides on-demand towing, lockout, and other roadside assistance in covered geographies. You may have to pay out of pocket for some or all services, and their use isn’t unlimited, but they’re nice to have in a pinch.
Credit Close-Up
Enroll in Wells Fargo’s free Credit Close-Up program to see your FICO score, get access to your Experian credit report, set up personalized credit alerts, and get customized tips to help improve your score. Enrollment doesn’t affect your credit score, so there’s no reason not to take this step.
Important Fees
Wells Fargo Reflect charges no annual fee. The foreign transaction fee is 3% of the total transaction amount for any international transaction converted to U.S. dollars.
During the 120-day introductory balance transfer window, the balance transfer fee is 3% of the transfer amount (minimum $5). After that, the fee rises to 5% of the transfer amount (minimum $5).
Credit Required
This card requires a good to excellent credit score. Significant blemishes on your credit history that lower your credit score could adversely affect your application.
Advantages of the Wells Fargo Reflect Card
The Wells Fargo Reflect Card is one of the better 0% APR credit cards on the market. Here’s where it shines.
- Long 0% APR Introductory Promotion. Wells Fargo Reflect has a very long 0% interest rate introductory promotion. It stretches for 18 months on both purchases and balance transfers, although you must make balance transfers within 120 days of account opening to qualify.
- Opportunity to Extend the 0% Intro APR Promotion for Three More Months. Reflect’s three-month 0% APR extension period pushes it into category-leading territory. Make on-time minimum payments during the initial and extended promotional periods and pay no interest on eligible large purchases or balance transfers for 21 months (billing cycles) from account opening.
- No Annual Fee. Wells Fargo Reflect charges no annual fee. That’s just as well because it has no regular rewards program to deliver a reliable return on spending.
- Up to $600 in Cellphone Protection Per Claim. Reflect offers complimentary cellphone protection coverage when you pay your cellphone bill in full with your card. It’s worth up to $600 per claim and $1,200 per rolling 12-month period, though there’s a $25 deductible per claim.
- Personalized Shopping Deals Through My Wells Fargo Deals. My Wells Fargo Deals isn’t a proper cash-back rewards program, but it does deliver a nice return on eligible purchases with well-known national merchants.
Disadvantages of the Wells Fargo Reflect Card
Wells Fargo Reflect has some important downsides, like no rewards program or sign-up bonus for new account holders.
- No Regular Rewards Program. Wells Fargo Reflect doesn’t have a regular rewards program. That’s a drawback in comparison to cash-back credit cards with similar 0% APR introductory offers, like the Citi Custom Cash Card.
- No Sign-Up Bonus. Wells Fargo Reflect doesn’t have a sign-up bonus for new account holders either. You have to make do with the admittedly generous 0% APR introductory promotion.
- Relatively High Balance Transfer Fee. After a 120-day period during which the balance transfer fee is the greater of 3% or $5, the fee rises to account for as much as 5% of the transfer amount (minimum $5). That’s a bit pricey for a card that rightly touts its long 0% APR introductory promotion.
- 3% Foreign Transaction Fee. Wells Fargo Reflect levies a 3% surcharge on foreign transactions. If you routinely travel outside the U.S. or patronize overseas merchants that charge patrons in the merchant’s local currency, use another card.
How the Wells Fargo Reflect Card Stacks Up
The Wells Fargo Reflect Card is an above-average low-APR credit card, but it doesn’t have the space to itself. Here’s how it stacks up to the Chase Slate Edge Card, a popular competitor with similar benefits.
| Wells Fargo Reflect | Chase Slate Edge | |
| 0% APR Period | Up to 21 months total | 18 months |
| Applies To | Purchases and balance transfers | Purchases and balance transfers |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Credit Required | Good to excellent | Good to excellent |
| Rewards | None | None |
Other Alternatives to Consider
Before you apply for the Reflect Card — or Chase Slate Edge, for that matter — consider these alternatives. Each has at least one strength not shared by Reflect.
Final Word
If you’re seriously considering applying for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, you’re most likely after a very long 0% intro APR offer on one of two things: purchases or balance transfers.
This card doesn’t have many secrets, after all. But that’s OK — it’s among the best credit cards for doing what it does, which is reducing the cost of credit card financing. If you’re seeking a generous rewards program or luxe travel perks, look elsewhere. Otherwise, you’re in the right place.
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: moneycrashers.com