Wells Fargo Reflect Card Review: Get Breathing Room From Interest With an Extra-Long Intro APR

Wells Fargo Reflect Card Benefits

New Purchase Intro APR

The Reflect Card comes with a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases, followed by an ongoing 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR. That’s one of the longest purchase intro APRs available among credit card offers right now.

The purchase intro APR offers cardholders the opportunity to slowly pay off large purchases, without having to worry about racking up additional interest. I applied for the Reflect Card ahead of a cross-country move and used it to pay for all of the last-minute expenses that came up as my husband and I moved into our new home. I paid off a few hundred dollars at a time rather than having to pull money from savings, and was able to reach a zero balance in just a few months.

The card came in handy again when we had an unexpected pipe issue and had to replace our water line. Now, I’m slowly paying off that expense, and I didn’t have to deplete my emergency fund or take out a loan with a high APR to do so.

Balance Transfer Intro APR

In addition to a generous intro APR on new purchases, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR thereafter). If you are carrying debt on another credit card — or cards — a balance transfer can be a great way to reduce your interest charges.

You’ll have to pay an upfront balance transfer fee of 5%, min: $5. But after that, you’ll have more than a year and a half to chip away at your balance without accruing more interest.

Cell Phone Protection

The Wells Fargo Reflect Card is no-frills, offering no rewards program and few benefits aside from its competitive intro offer. One notable exception is cell phone protection, which can be a valuable perk when used correctly. Reflect Card holders who pay their monthly wireless bill with the card are eligible for up to $600 of coverage in case their phone is damaged or stolen. Claims are subject to a $25 deductible, with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period.

Wells Fargo Reflect Card Drawbacks

High Balance Transfer Fee

One of the biggest downsides of the Reflect Card is that it has a higher balance transfer fee than many other cards with intro APRs. At 5%, min: $5, you could end up paying a large upfront fee if you have a high balance you need to transfer.

Even other Wells Fargo credit cards, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, offer a lower introductory balance transfer fee alongside its intro APR. For the Active Cash Card, the fee is 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5.

Still, the longer intro period on the Reflect Card may make up for the higher transfer fee.

No Rewards Program

The Wells Fargo Reflect Card does not offer any sort of cash back or points on purchases. That means the card has limited value after the intro APR ends.

Few Additional Benefits

Minus cell phone protection, the Reflect Card doesn’t offer many extra benefits for carrying the card. While some other cards offer benefits like statement credits, purchase protection or travel insurance, the Reflect Card has few ancillary perks.

Who Is the Wells Fargo Reflect Card Best For?

With few perks and no rewards, the Reflect Card has a narrow pool of cardholders it is best for. Namely, it is a good fit if you want to take advantage of long intro APRs on new purchases, balance transfers or both, and don’t need additional benefits from the card.

For me, the Reflect Card was the right choice because I wanted some payment flexibility while I made a big move. I use it for the purchase APR on charges I can’t afford to pay off immediately to avoid interest. My other daily purchases — like groceries and gas — go on rewards credit cards like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (an advertising partner). I don’t need rewards or extra perks from my Reflect Card, because I get those from other cards in my wallet. So, I opted for the longest intro APR available at the time of my application.

If you want an all-in-one card that offers both introductory APRs and other benefits that give long-term value, another card may be a better fit. You may have to sacrifice the length of the intro APR to get other benefits, but for some users, that can make more sense in the long run.

Is the Wells Fargo Reflect Card the Right Card for You?

The Wells Fargo Reflect Card may be the right card for you if:

• You are carrying debt on other cards and want a lengthy intro balance transfer offer to pay it down
• You want to pay off large purchases over time without accruing interest
• You don’t need a rewards program
• You want cell phone protection

Alternatives to the Wells Fargo Reflect Card

If the Wells Fargo Reflect Card doesn’t match your needs, consider one of these alternatives:

• U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card: The U.S. Bank Shield Card is one of the only cards on the market currently offering an intro APR period longer than the Wells Fargo Reflect Card. New cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 24 billing cycles. After that the APR is variable, currently 17.74%-28.74%. Like with the Reflect Card, the Shield Card charges a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer amount, $5 minimum will apply. But unlike the Reflect Card, the Shield Card does have a rewards program, though qualifying purchases are limited.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: If you’re looking for a card that combines rewards and intro APR opportunities, the Active Cash Card could be a good fit. It has a shorter intro APR period than the Reflect Card: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR. But it also offers a competitive 2% cash rewards on purchases and a respectable welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.