Do you want to stay on top of your Wells Fargo accounts? Absolutely! Getting timely notifications is a fantastic way to monitor your spending, track deposits, prevent fraud, and generally keep your financial life organized. Wells Fargo offers a robust system of alerts, and this comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to set them up, step by step, so you can receive the information you need, when you need it.
Let's dive in!
Step 1: Log In to Wells Fargo Online®
First things first, to manage your alerts, you'll need to access your Wells Fargo Online account.
- Head to the Wells Fargo Website: Open your web browser and go to
www.wellsfargo.com. - Locate the Sign On Button: You'll typically find this in the top right corner of the homepage.
- Enter Your Credentials: Input your Username and Password. If you've forgotten them, there are options to retrieve or reset them. If you don't have an online banking account yet, you'll need to enroll first. This usually requires your ATM/debit or credit card number or a Wells Fargo account/loan number, your Social Security or Tax ID number, your current email address, and your current mobile number.
Step 2: Navigate to the "Manage Alerts" Section
Once you're successfully logged in, it's time to find the alert settings.
- Look for "Manage Alerts": This option is usually easily accessible from your main account summary page. You might find it under a "Customer Service" or "Account Services" menu, or sometimes it's directly visible.
- Alternatively, via Mobile App: If you're using the Wells Fargo Mobile® app, tap "Menu" (often in the bottom bar), then tap your name or "Welcome" at the top, and select "Manage Banking Alerts."
Step 3: Choose the Account You Want to Monitor
Wells Fargo allows you to set up alerts for various accounts.
- Select an Account: On the "Manage Alerts" page, you'll see a list of your eligible accounts, such as checking, savings, credit cards, mortgages, and loans. Click on the specific account for which you want to set up or modify alerts.
Step 4: Select Your Desired Alert Types
This is where you customize what information you want to receive. Wells Fargo offers a wide range of alerts to help you stay informed. Here are some common categories and examples:
Sub-heading: Balance and Activity Alerts
These are crucial for daily money management.
- Low Account Balance: Get notified if your checking or savings account balance drops below a specific amount you set. This can help you avoid overdrafts!
- Recent Deposits: Receive an alert when a deposit posts to your account.
- Large Withdrawal/Purchase: Be alerted if a withdrawal or debit card purchase exceeds a dollar amount you choose.
- Daily Total Spending: Track your daily card activity when it goes above a preset amount.
- Upcoming Payments Due: Get a reminder before a payment is due for credit cards or loans.
- Payment Posted: Confirm when your payment has been successfully processed.
Sub-heading: Card Activity Alerts
These are particularly useful for security and tracking your spending.
- Single Purchase Amount: Alerts you when a purchase on your debit or credit card is above a specific amount.
- Card Declined: Know immediately if your card is declined.
- Online, Phone, or Mail Purchase: Get notified when your card number is used for "card-not-present" transactions.
- Foreign Transaction: Be alerted for purchases made outside the United States.
- ATM Withdrawal: Track cash withdrawals.
- Approaching Credit Limit: Get notified if your available credit drops below a certain amount.
Sub-heading: Security and Fraud Alerts
These are highly recommended for protecting your accounts.
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Suspicious Card Activity: Wells Fargo may automatically send you an alert if they detect unusual debit card activity, asking you to verify the transaction. You do not need to enroll for this specific alert, but it's good to be aware it exists.
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Digital Wallet Added: Be notified if your debit card is added to a digital wallet.
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Contact Information Changed: This is a critical alert for safeguarding your account.
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Password/Security Questions Changed: Another essential security alert.
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Check the Boxes: Simply check the boxes next to the alerts you wish to receive.
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Set Thresholds (if applicable): For alerts like "Low Account Balance" or "Single Purchase Amount," you'll need to enter the specific dollar threshold that will trigger the alert. For example, you might set a low balance alert for "$100" or a large purchase alert for "$500."
Step 5: Choose Your Delivery Methods
Wells Fargo provides flexibility in how you receive your notifications.
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Email: A common and reliable method. Ensure the email address on file is current.
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Text Message (SMS): Get quick alerts directly to your mobile phone. You must enroll your mobile number for text messages first.
- How to Enroll for Text Messages:
- Sign on to "Update Contact Information" in Wells Fargo Online.
- Add your mobile number if you haven't already.
- Check the box labeled "Allow mobile texts" for each mobile number you want to enroll.
- Accept the "Consent to receive text messages."
- Important: Reply "YES ENROLL" to the text message Wells Fargo sends you from the shortcode 93557. This confirms your enrollment.
- How to Enroll for Text Messages:
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Push Notification (Wells Fargo Mobile® App): Receive alerts directly on your smartphone or tablet, even when you're not actively using the app. This is often the fastest delivery method.
- How to Enable Push Notifications:
- Ensure you have the latest version of the Wells Fargo Mobile® app installed on your device.
- Check your device settings: Go to your phone's main settings (e.g., "Settings" on iOS or Android), find "Notifications," and ensure notifications are enabled for the Wells Fargo Mobile app.
- Within the Wells Fargo App: In the app, after tapping Menu > your name/Welcome > Manage Banking Alerts, you may also need to select "Push Notifications" and slide it to "On."
- How to Enable Push Notifications:
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Select Your Preferred Options: You can choose one, two, or all three delivery methods for each alert, depending on your preference. For critical alerts, consider enabling multiple methods for redundancy.
Step 6: Save Your Edits
- Click "Save" or "Update": After selecting your alerts and delivery methods, make sure to click the "Save" or "Update" button to confirm your changes.
- Confirmation: Wells Fargo will usually provide a confirmation message that your alert settings have been updated.
Step 7: Verify and Troubleshoot (If Needed)
- Check Your Message Center: Wells Fargo typically sends alerts to your online Message Center in addition to your chosen delivery methods. If you're not receiving alerts, check your Message Center first to see if they were generated there.
- Review Contact Information: Double-check that your email address and mobile phone number on file are accurate and current. You can do this in the "Update Contact Information" section of Wells Fargo Online.
- Check Spam/Junk Folders: If you're not receiving email alerts, look in your spam or junk email folders. If you find them there, add Wells Fargo's email address (alerts@notify.wellsfargo.com) to your address book to prevent future filtering.
- Mobile Carrier Issues: Sometimes, there can be delays from your mobile carrier. If you recently changed carriers, you'll need to re-enroll your mobile number for text messages even if the number remains the same.
- Device Notification Settings: For push notifications, ensure your device's overall notification settings for the Wells Fargo app are not disabled.
- Alert Thresholds: Verify that the dollar thresholds you've set for alerts are appropriate. For example, if you set a purchase alert for "$50.00," you won't receive an alert for a $49.99 purchase.
- Delays: While most alerts are sent within minutes, occasional delays can occur due to merchant processing, system errors, or carrier/email provider issues.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to receiving valuable notifications from Wells Fargo, empowering you to manage your finances with greater awareness and security.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about Wells Fargo notifications, with quick answers:
How to set up text alerts for Wells Fargo?
Sign on to Wells Fargo Online, go to "Update Contact Information," add your mobile number, check "Allow mobile texts," accept the consent, and then reply "YES ENROLL" to the text from 93557. After that, go to "Manage Alerts" to subscribe to specific text alerts.
How to receive push notifications from Wells Fargo on my phone?
Install the latest Wells Fargo Mobile® app, enable notifications for the app in your phone's device settings, and then within the app, go to "Manage Banking Alerts" (via Menu > your name/Welcome) and ensure "Push Notifications" are turned on.
How to change my email address for Wells Fargo alerts?
Sign on to Wells Fargo Online, go to "Update Contact Information," and modify your email address. Alerts will then be sent to your updated email.
How to stop receiving Wells Fargo text alerts?
You can text "STOP ALERTS" to 93557 (WELLS) from your mobile phone, or sign on to Wells Fargo Online, go to "Manage Alerts," deselect your mobile number(s) for the alerts you wish to stop, and save your changes.
How to get alerts for low balance on my Wells Fargo account?
Sign on to Wells Fargo Online, go to "Manage Alerts," select your checking or savings account, and then choose and configure the "Low Account Balance" alert by setting your desired dollar threshold.
How to know if a large purchase is made on my Wells Fargo card?
Go to "Manage Alerts" in Wells Fargo Online, select your credit or debit card account, and set up a "Single Purchase Amount" alert with the desired dollar threshold that will trigger the notification.
How to troubleshoot if I'm not getting Wells Fargo alerts?
Check your Wells Fargo Message Center for the alert, verify your contact information (email/phone) is correct, check your email spam/junk folders, ensure your mobile device's notification settings are enabled for the Wells Fargo app, and confirm that your alert thresholds are set appropriately.
How to get security alerts from Wells Fargo?
Wells Fargo automatically sends some security alerts (like suspicious card activity), but you can also explicitly enable alerts for changes to your contact information or password within the "Manage Alerts" section of Wells Fargo Online.
How to get notifications for Wells Fargo credit card payments?
Within "Manage Alerts" in Wells Fargo Online, select your credit card account and enable "Payment Due" (to remind you before it's due) and "Payment Posted" alerts.
How to re-enroll my mobile number for Wells Fargo text alerts if I changed carriers?
Sign on to "Update Contact Information" in Wells Fargo Online, check the box to verify your number, check the "Allow Mobile Texts" box, accept the consent, and then reply "YES ENROLL" to the text message Wells Fargo sends.
