Heads up, Wells Fargo customers: Many of you have a new checking account and should make sure by July 31 that you have the qualifying balances to avoid future monthly fees.
Wells Fargo has replaced its two portfolio checking accounts — the highest tiers — with two new accounts it's calling premier and prime.
The move solidifies the line between its highest balance holders and everybody else by imposing penalties and adding perks. It is part of a larger banking trend of pursuing wealthy individuals.
The premier checking account is for customers with $250,000 or more in "statement-ending-qualifying-linked-balances." The prime checking account requires a $20,000 end-of-statement balance.
These new accounts replace the two former portfolio accounts. But whereas customers could move between the two former levels penalty-free — so long as they didn't dip below $20,000 — the new accounts lock customers into one tier or the other.
Ed Kadletz, head of the Deposit Products Group for Wells Fargo, said the real difference is at the $250,000-and-above tier. "The reason we're separating that out is we have a lot of features and functions that customers will really enjoy. That's the distinction at the $250,000 and above level."
The bank says it is trying to simplify the checking accounts and add more perks for customers with the largest balances.
Perks of the premier include: No ATM fees charged worldwide; 2% foreign currency discount; no fee on stop payments, and an annual advisory fee discount on linked intuitive investor accounts. The prime account offers some of these perks.