Wells Fargo CD Rates (2026): Up to 3.99% APY
Wells Fargo has two kinds of CD with very different rates. Its Special Fixed Rate CDs paid up to 3.99% APY on the 11-month term for rates posted October 17-23, 2026 (ZIP 10001; for new CDs, fixed once opened), and 4.25% with a linked Prime or Premier Checking account. Its Standard Fixed Rate CDs paid 0.05% for 3 and 6 months and 1.50% for a year, and a special renews into a standard CD when it matures.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 21, 2026
Facts checked October 21, 2026 against Wells Fargo's own CD rate page and deposit agreement (1 sources, listed below). We re-check prices about once a month. We do not earn a commission from Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo at a glance
| Special Fixed Rate CDs (APY) | 4 months 3.49%, 7 months 3.84%, 11 months 3.99%, 15 months 3.74%; rates for October 17-23, 2026 (ZIP 10001); for new CDs, fixed once opened [1] |
|---|---|
| Special CDs with linked checking (relationship APY) | 4 months 3.75%, 7 months 4.10%, 11 months 4.25%, 15 months 4.00%, with Prime Checking, Premier Checking or Private Bank Interest Checking [1] |
| Standard Fixed Rate CDs (APY) | 3 months 0.05%, 6 months 0.05%, 1 year 1.50% (relationship 0.06% to 1.51%), same at every balance; other terms at a branch [1] |
| Minimum deposit | $5,000 for special CDs; $2,500 for standard CDs [1] |
| At maturity | A special renews for a shorter or equal term (3, 6, 6 or 12 months) at the standard rate then in effect, 0.05% to 1.50% on October 21, 2026; 10-calendar-day grace period [1] |
| Early withdrawal penalty | Terms under 3 months: 1 month of interest; 3 to 12 months: 3 months; over 12 through 24 months: 6 months; over 24 months: 12 months; taken from interest first, then principal [1] |
| Withdrawals in the first 7 days | Seven days of simple interest (Regulation D penalty) [1] |
| Interest | Compounded daily; no monthly service fee on Fixed Rate CDs [1] |
| Rates by location | Wells Fargo says rates may vary by location; we read them for ZIP 10001 [1] |
| FDIC-insured bank | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. [1] |
Wells Fargo in official federal data
Rate compared with the national average
Wells Fargo's 1-year CD APY of 1.50% (as of October 21, 2026) is about 0.9 times the FDIC's national average for 12-month CDs, 1.76% (as of October 19, 2026). On $10,000 kept for a year, that is about $150 in interest against $176 at the national average, before tax; a CD locks its rate for the term, while the national average is for CDs opened that month.
Who holds your money
- Deposits are held by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, FDIC certificate #3511, based in Sioux Falls, SD, established January 1, 1870 according to the FDIC. CFPB files complaints under the parent, Wells Fargo & Company.
- FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Money held at the same bank under another brand name counts toward the same limit.
- Size: $1564 billion in deposits and $1908 billion in total assets (June 30, 2026 call report). Primary federal regulator: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Customer complaints filed with the CFPB
From October 2025 through September 2026, consumers sent the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 10,034 complaints about checking or savings accounts at WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, about 6.42 per $1 billion of deposits; the company responded on time to 100%. Complaint counts grow with the number of customers and cover the whole company, including checking accounts, and the CFPB does not verify each complaint, so treat them as a rough signal. Read the complaints.
Sources: FDIC BankFind (certificate, deposits and assets), FDIC national deposit rates (October 19, 2026), CFPB Consumer Complaint Database (product "Checking or savings account"). Updated monthly.
How Wells Fargo works
Wells Fargo posts its CD rates for a week at a time and asks for your ZIP code. The specials (4, 7, 11 and 15 months) need $5,000 and pay far more than the standard CDs, which need $2,500. Linking the CD to Prime Checking, Premier Checking or Private Bank Interest Checking adds about a quarter point; the link must be in place when you open the CD and at every renewal. The federal-data block on this page compares the rates with FDIC national averages and shows Wells Fargo's CFPB complaint count.
The catch is what happens at maturity. A special rate applies to the first term only. The 11-month special then renews into a 6-month standard CD, which paid 0.05% APY on October 21, 2026, unless you act during the 10-day grace period. On $10,000, six months at 0.05% earns about $2.50 (our arithmetic), so set a reminder for the maturity date and move the money or pick a new special. If you want a longer plan, see how a CD ladder works.
A hypothetical early withdrawal: you put $10,000 in the 11-month special (interest rate 3.91%, 3.99% APY) and close it after 5 months. The term is between 3 and 12 months, so the penalty is 3 months of interest: $10,000 x 3.91% x 3 / 12 = $97.75. Interest earned by then is about $10,000 x 3.91% x 5 / 12 = $162.92 (simple interest, ignoring daily compounding), so you would keep about $65.17. Try other terms in the CD calculator.
Pros
- 11-month special at 3.99% APY, or 4.25% with linked checking
- Four special terms from 4 to 15 months
- Penalty of 3 months of interest on terms up to 12 months
- Branches nationwide and no fee on the CD
Cons
- Standard CDs paid 0.05% (3 and 6 months) and 1.50% (1 year)
- Specials renew into a standard CD, at 0.05% for most terms on October 21, 2026
- $5,000 minimum for specials, $2,500 for standard CDs
- No no-penalty CD, and longer terms only at a branch
Who Wells Fargo fits, and who should skip it
A good fit if
- You bank with Wells Fargo and have $5,000 or more for 4 to 15 months.
- You have Prime or Premier Checking and want the higher relationship rate.
- You want to open or manage a CD at a branch.
Look elsewhere if
- You want a CD you can cash out early: Bank of America's Flexible CD has no penalty after the first 6 days.
- You want a 2- to 5-year rate: Barclays pays 4.75% on 24 and 60 months with no minimum.
- You don't want to watch maturity dates: Marcus pays 4.40% from 1 to 6 years.
Limitations to know
- Special Interest Rates apply to the initial term only; at maturity the CD renews at the standard rate. [1]
- Relationship rates require the CD to be linked to Prime Checking, Premier Checking or Private Bank Interest Checking at opening and at every renewal. [1]
- The bank may limit deposits in special-rate CDs to $2.5 million in total. [1]
- If the penalty is larger than the interest earned, the rest comes out of principal. [1]
- Rates may vary by location. [1]
Wells Fargo compared with alternatives
| Bank | 6-month | 1-year | 3-year | 5-year | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | 0.05% | 1.50% | n/a | n/a | $2,500 ($5,000 for specials) |
| Bank of America | 0.03% | 3.15% (Flexible CD) | 0.03% | 0.03% | $1,000 |
| Chase | 2.25% | 0.50% | 2.00% | 2.00% | $1,000 |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.95% | 4.40% | 4.40% | 4.40% | $500 |
| Barclays | 4.00% | 4.50% | 4.50% | 4.75% | $0 |
- Pick Bank of America if you want a 12-month CD with no penalty after the first 6 days.
- Pick Chase if you have Chase checking and want an 8- or 13-month featured CD.
- Pick Marcus by Goldman Sachs if you want 4.40% from 1 to 6 years without watching renewals.
- Pick Barclays if you want 4.75% on a 2- or 5-year CD with no minimum.
Security and privacy
- CDs are deposits of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. FDIC insurance covers $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category, so Wells Fargo checking, savings and CDs in the same ownership category count together. [1]
- About 30 days before a CD matures, Wells Fargo sends a notice with the maturity date and the scheduled renewal term. [1]
Recent changes
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2026 | Rates posted for October 17-23, 2026: specials 3.49% to 3.99% APY (relationship 3.75% to 4.25%), standard 1-year CD 1.50%. [1] |
Wells Fargo FAQ
What are Wells Fargo CD rates today?
For October 17-23, 2026 (ZIP 10001), Special Fixed Rate CDs paid 3.49% APY for 4 months, 3.84% for 7, 3.99% for 11 and 3.74% for 15 months, or 3.75% to 4.25% with linked Prime or Premier Checking. Standard CDs paid 0.05% for 3 and 6 months and 1.50% for a year. Compare on our <a href="/cd-rates/">CD rates page</a>.
What is the minimum deposit for a Wells Fargo CD?
$5,000 for a Special Fixed Rate CD and $2,500 for a Standard Fixed Rate CD.
What happens when a Wells Fargo special CD matures?
It renews automatically for its renewal term (3, 6, 6 or 12 months) at the standard rate then in effect, which was 0.05% for most of those terms on October 21, 2026. You have 10 calendar days after maturity to withdraw or choose another CD.
What is the penalty for withdrawing a Wells Fargo CD early?
One month of interest for terms under 3 months, 3 months for 3 to 12 months, 6 months for over 12 through 24 months, and 12 months for longer terms. Withdrawals in the first 7 days cost 7 days of simple interest.
Is Wells Fargo FDIC insured?
Yes. CDs are deposits of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category.
How we researched this review
We did not get paid for this page. On October 21, 2026 we read Wells Fargo's own CD rate page, deposit account agreement and disclosures, quoted each fact and link every one below. FDIC and CFPB figures come straight from the agencies' public data. Penalty examples are our arithmetic on the bank's stated formula. CD rates for new accounts change often; we re-check them about once a month.
Sources
- Wells Fargo, Savings and CD interest rates (rates for 10/17/2026 - 10/23/2026, ZIP 10001, read October 21, 2026), checked October 21, 2026.
This review is for general information, not financial advice. CD rates for new accounts change often; the rate is fixed only once you open the CD. Confirm the current rate with the bank.