What Credit Score Is Needed for a Wells Fargo Autograph Card?

7 min read

The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers rewards in several everyday spending categories without an annual fee. It can be a strong fit for people who spend often on dining, travel, gas, transit, streaming services, and phone plans.

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

Approval depends on more than a credit score. Wells Fargo may also review your income, debt obligations, payment history, recent applications, and current credit card balances before it makes a decision.

Credit Score Requirements for the Wells Fargo Autograph Card

A credit score of at least 700 is a reasonable target before you apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph Card. That falls within the good credit range and may place you closer to the profiles Wells Fargo seeks for an unsecured rewards card.

The following ranges can help you estimate where you stand:

Credit Score RangeEstimated Approval Outlook
740 or higherStrong, assuming the rest of your application is solid
700 to 739Competitive approval odds
670 to 699Approval may be possible with other financial strengths
Below 670Approval will likely be more difficult

These ranges are estimates, not official Wells Fargo requirements. Wells Fargo doesn’t guarantee approval based on any specific credit score. Your result can also depend on which credit score model and credit bureau Wells Fargo checks.

Someone with a 690 credit score, low debt, steady income, and no recent late payments may have a stronger application. This is compared to someone with a 720 credit score, high balances, and several recent credit card applications.

Does Wells Fargo Have a Minimum Credit Score Requirement?

Wells Fargo doesn’t disclose an official minimum credit score for the Autograph Card. The card issuer also states that a particular FICO credit score doesn’t guarantee approval.

Credit card companies keep their underwriting formulas private. Wells Fargo may consider information from your credit report along with the income and housing details listed on your application.

This means you should treat 700 as a practical target rather than a firm cutoff. A credit score above 700 doesn’t guarantee approval, and a credit score below 700 doesn’t guarantee denial.

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Can You Get the Wells Fargo Autograph Card with a 670 Credit Score?

You may qualify for the Wells Fargo Autograph Card with a credit score near 670, but approval becomes less predictable in this range.

Your application will need strengths beyond your credit score. Wells Fargo may respond more favorably when your credit report shows low balances, a long payment history, and few recent applications.

Applicants in the upper 600s may have better chances when they have:

  • Low credit utilization: Credit card balances use only a small portion of the available limits.
  • No recent late payments: Every account shows payments made by the due date.
  • Stable income: Reported income supports the applicant’s current debts and expenses.
  • Limited recent applications: The credit report contains few new accounts or hard inquiries.
  • Established credit history: Open accounts show responsible use over several years.

Consider waiting before applying if your credit score recently dropped because of a missed payment, high balance, or several new accounts. A denial adds another hard inquiry without giving you access to the card.

What Else Does Wells Fargo Consider for Approval?

A credit score summarizes information from your credit report, but it doesn’t show your complete financial position. Wells Fargo can review several other factors before it approves or denies your application.

  • Income: Wells Fargo asks for income to assess your ability to repay new purchases.
  • Monthly obligations: Rent, mortgage payments, loans, and other debts affect how much room you have for another credit line.
  • Payment history: Recent late payments, charge-offs, or collection accounts can weaken your application.
  • Credit utilization: High credit card balances can signal that you depend heavily on borrowed money.
  • Recent hard inquiries: Several applications within a short period may suggest a greater need for credit.
  • Account history: A longer record of responsible credit use may support your application.
  • Current Wells Fargo relationship: Existing accounts may give Wells Fargo more information about you, but they do not guarantee approval.

Wells Fargo may also consider the total amount of credit already extended to you. Applicants with other Wells Fargo credit cards could face a different decision than new customers with similar credit scores.

How to Check Your Approval Odds Before Applying

Wells Fargo lets consumers check for prequalified credit card offers without affecting their credit scores. Prequalification can show whether Wells Fargo has matched you with an offer before you complete a full application.

A prequalified offer doesn’t guarantee approval. Wells Fargo still needs to review the full application, and the formal application may result in a hard inquiry.

Before you apply, take these steps:

  1. Check for prequalified Wells Fargo credit card offers.
  2. Review your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
  3. Confirm that your income and housing information are accurate.
  4. Check your current balances and recent credit applications.
  5. Apply only when your overall credit profile supports approval.

Checking your credit reports matters because each credit bureau may hold different information. You can dispute inaccurate accounts, balances, or payment details with the credit bureau that lists the error.

How to Improve Your Wells Fargo Autograph Approval Odds

You may not need a major credit score increase to improve your application. A few targeted changes can address the issues that often concern credit card issuers.

  • Pay down credit card balances: Lower balances can reduce your credit ratio and free up room in your monthly budget.
  • Pay before the statement date: Your card issuer commonly sends the statement balance to the credit bureaus. An earlier payment may reduce the balance that appears on your credit report.
  • Make every payment on time: Payment history has a major effect on most credit scoring models.
  • Correct credit report errors: Dispute information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or linked to someone else.
  • Limit new applications: Avoid several credit card or loan applications before you apply.
  • Report all eligible income: Include income that the application permits you to report and that you can reasonably access.
  • Keep older accounts open: An older account can support the length of your credit history when it has no costly annual fee.

Do not dispute accurate negative information merely because it hurts your credit score. Credit bureaus can remove or correct information that is inaccurate or can’t be verified, but accurate information can remain for the legal reporting period.

Wells Fargo Autograph Card Eligibility Rules to Know

Credit score requirements aren’t the only restrictions that may affect your application. Wells Fargo can limit eligibility based on your history with its credit cards.

Review the current offer terms before you apply. Wells Fargo may restrict welcome bonuses or introductory offers for people who currently have the card or received a bonus on the same card within a stated period.

Approval and bonus eligibility are separate decisions. Wells Fargo could approve your application without awarding every promotional benefit shown to a new cardholder.

Card terms can change, so read the application page and pricing disclosures on the day you apply.

What to Do if Wells Fargo Denies Your Application

A denial doesn’t mean you should submit another application right away. Wells Fargo should send an adverse action notice that explains the main reasons for its decision.

Read that notice and focus on the factors it identifies. Common reasons may include high balances, limited credit history, recent late payments, too many inquiries, or insufficient income compared with existing obligations.

You should also check which credit bureau supplied the credit report used in the decision. Review that credit report for inaccurate information and dispute any confirmed errors.

Wait until you have addressed the stated problems before applying again. Another immediate application could lead to the same result and another hard inquiry.

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Is the Wells Fargo Autograph Card Worth Applying For?

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card can be a strong choice for people who spend regularly in its bonus categories. It has no annual fee and earns unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, eligible streaming services, and phone plans. Other purchases earn 1X points.

The card makes the most sense when you can pay the full statement balance each month. Interest charges can quickly exceed the value of the points you earn.

Aim for a credit score of at least 700 before applying. You may still qualify with a credit score in the upper 600s, but low debt, clean payment history, stable income, and limited recent applications become more important.

Wells Fargo doesn’t publish a firm minimum credit score, so no number can guarantee approval. Check for prequalified offers and review your full credit profile before you submit an application.

Brooke Banks
Meet the author

Brooke Banks is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt, and money management. She has written hundreds of articles on avoiding banking fees, improving credit scores, and understanding consumer finance laws.