TD Bank vs. Wells Fargo: Which Bank is Best for you?

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TD Bank and Wells Fargo are brick-and-mortar financial institutions with big branch and ATM networks.

To help you determine which banks suit you best, we’re comparing the institutions’ bank accounts. We’re also assessing each bank’s trustworthiness so you can learn more about their previous settlement history.

Pros and Cons of TD Bank

Pros Cons
  • More than 1,100 branches

  • Over 2,600 free ATMs

  • Possible to waive monthly services fees

  • A+ Better Business Bureau rating

  • TD Bank Convenience Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus bonus for TD Bank Convenience Checking Account – Product Name Only; TD Bank Beyond Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus for TD Bank Beyond Checking Account – Product Name Only

  • Only available on the East Coast
  • Monthly service fees
  • High CD early withdrawal penalties

Pros and Cons of Wells Fargo

Pros Cons
  • Around 4,900 branches around the US

  • Over 12,000 free ATMs

  • Possible to waive monthly service fees

  • Save As You Go® feature transfers $1 into your Way2Save Savings Account from checking each time you swipe your debit card

  • Checking account offers a Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account – Intro Bonus

 

  • Monthly service fees
  • F rating from the Better Business Bureau

TD Bank vs. Wells Fargo Checking Account Comparisons

Below, we’ve compared the TD Bank Convenience Checking Account and Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account. These accounts have similar fees and require an opening deposit of $25 or less. 

  TD Bank Convenience Checking Account Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account
Minimum opening deposit TD Bank Convenience Checking Account Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account
Monthly service fee TD Bank Convenience Checking Account – Fees Display Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account – Fees Display
How to waive the monthly service fee

Meet one of the following requirements each month:

  • Have $100 or more in your account daily
  • Are between the ages of 17 and 23

Meet one of the following requirements each month:

  • Receive direct deposits of at least $500
  • Have $500 or more in your account daily
  • Link your account to a Wells Fargo ATM Card or Campus Debit Card
  • Are between the ages of 17 and 24
Bonus TD Bank Convenience Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus
Next steps TD Bank Convenience Checking Account – CTA Text Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account – CTA Text

Your best option between these two banks may ultimately depend on whether it’s easier to waive monthly service fees at a particular bank and if you’re eligible for a sign-up cash bonus at either bank. 

The TD Bank Convenience Checking Account and Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account both waive monthly service fees for people between the ages of 17 and 23.

If you are over the age of 24, it may be easier to waive monthly service fees at TD Bank. The TD Bank Convenience Checking Account also has a much lower minimum balance requirement than Wells Fargo. 

TD Bank offers a cash bonus if you’re a new customer and opening a checking account. To be eligible for the TD Bank Convenience Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus bonus at TD Bank, you’ll need to receive $500 or more in direct deposits during the first 60 days. 

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo has a Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus bonus for new customers. To earn the bonus, you must receive a total of $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your new checking account within 90 calendar days of account opening (offer ends Sept. 26, 2023).

Keep in mind, another TD Bank checking account (TD Bank Beyond Checking Account – Editorial Name Only) also offers a TD Bank Beyond Checking Account – Ongoing Bonus bonus. It’s just a little harder to qualify — you’ll need to receive $2,500 in direct deposits in 60 days.

Learn more about the best bank account bonuses>>

TD Bank vs. Wells Fargo Savings Account Comparisons

The TD Simple Savings Account and Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account are each bank’s standard low-fee savings account. See how the two savings accounts stack up.

  TD Simple Savings Account Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account
APY TD Simple Savings Account Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account
Minimum opening deposit TD Simple Savings Account Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account
Monthly service fee TD Simple Savings Account – Fees Display Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account – Fees Display
How to waive the monthly fee

No monthly service fees during the first year if you do the following: 

  • Receive a monthly direct deposit of $25 or more from a TD Bank checking account

If you don’t set up direct deposit or skip a month, you must meet one of the following requirements to waive the fee:

  • Maintain $300 in your checking account daily
  • Are under the age of 24 
  • Are over the age of 62

Fulfill one of the following criteria monthly: 

  • Have $300 in your account daily
  • Use the Save as You Go feature if you have a checking account
  • Are under the age of 24
  • Transfer $25 or more from a linked Wells Fargo checking account 
Bonus

None

Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account – Intro Bonus

Next steps TD Simple Savings Account – CTA Text Wells Fargo Way2Save® Savings Account – CTA Text

TD Bank and Wells Fargo savings account share similar features. Both accounts have low minimum opening deposits and pay low interest rates.

The requirements for waiving the $5 monthly service fee are also comparable. The only significant distinction is that the TD Simple Savings Account automatically waives the monthly service fee if you’re over the age of 62. 

If you’d like to open a high-yield savings account or a bank account with strong budgeting features, consider looking over our best high-yield savings accounts guide. 

TD Bank vs. Wells Fargo CD Comparisons 

  TD Bank Choice Promotional Certificate of Deposit Wells Fargo Fixed Rate Certificate of Deposit
Term lengths 3 months to 5 years 3 months to 1 year
Minimum opening deposit TD Bank Choice Promotional Certificate of Deposit Wells Fargo Fixed Rate Certificate of Deposit
APY TD Bank Choice Promotional Certificate of Deposit Wells Fargo Fixed Rate Certificate of Deposit
Early withdrawal penalties 3 months to 2 years interest 3 months interest for all CD terms
Types of CDs Standard CDs, No-Penalty CDs, Step-Up CDs Standard CDs
Next steps TD Bank Choice Promotional CD – CTA Text Wells Fargo Standard Fixed Rate CD – CTA Text

Wells Fargo has fewer CD terms than most brick-and-mortar banks. Usually, you’ll be able to choose from terms 6 months and 5 years. However, you can only open a 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year term at Wells Fargo. (It does have a 5-month specialty term that pays a competitive rate right now, though.)

At TD Bank, you may choose from a variety of standard CD terms. You’ll also be able to choose from special types of CDs like a no-penalty CD or a step-up CD. A no-penalty CD permits withdrawals from a CD without facing a penalty. A step-up CD increases its rate at a set date.

TD Bank vs. Wells Fargo Trustworthiness and BBB Rating

We include ratings from the Better Business Bureau to evaluate how a bank deals with customer issues.

Good BBB ratings do not guarantee a perfect relationship with a bank. You may want to talk to current customers or read online customer reviews to get a well-rounded perspective of a bank.

Wells Fargo received an F rating from the BBB because it hasn’t responded to a high volume of customer complaints and government action has been taken against the business. TD Bank has an A+ rating.

Both banks have been involved in recent public controversies. 

The US Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection required TD Bank to pay $122 million in a settlement in 2020 that accused the bank of charging customers a Debit Card Advance service without their permission.

Wells Fargo has been involved in the following cases:

  • In December 2022, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required Wells Fargo to pay more than $3.7 billion in a settlement that accused the bank of wrongfully charging fees that led thousands of customers to lose vehicles and homes. The settlement also accuses the bank of wrongfully charging overdraft fees on checking and savings accounts.
  • In 2021, Wells Fargo consented to a Cease and Desist order from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The OCC stated that the bank’s home lending loss mitigation program was unsuccessful, and it charged Wells Fargo a $250 million civil penalty.
  • The Maryland Attorney General entered into a settlement with Wells Fargo when it claimed that the bank didn’t accurately disclose information to investors about residual mortgage-backed securities. The Attorney General announced the $20 million settlement in 2020, but the issues with Wells Fargo’s RMBSs were from 2005 to 2009.

Wells Fargo vs. TD Bank: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wells Fargo better, or TD Bank?

You might lean more toward TD Bank if you are searching for a checking account or CD. It could be a toss-up between Wells Fargo and TD savings account because their accounts are similar, but Wells Fargo offers a savings account bonus right now for eligible customers.

Which has more branches, Wells Fargo or TD Bank?

Wells Fargo has more branches. TD Bank has 1,100 branches, while Wells Fargo has 4,900 locations.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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