You want to know the moment money moves in your Wells Fargo account, whether that's a large purchase, a low balance, or a payment coming due. Account alerts do exactly that, sending you a text, email, or push notification when activity you care about happens.
Wells Fargo manages nearly every alert from one place called Manage Alerts, and the setup is similar whether you bank from a laptop or your phone. This guide walks you through enrolling, picking your alerts, choosing how they reach you, and setting up the specific debit card, credit card, and business alerts most people miss.
Work through the sections in order. The fastest path is on desktop web, so start there if you can, then turn on push notifications in the app.
Confirm You Can Receive Alerts First
Before you pick a single alert, make sure the basics are in place. Skipping this is a common reason alerts never arrive.
- You must be enrolled in Wells Fargo Online (or Wells Fargo Business Online for business accounts) to reach Manage Alerts.
- Your contact information must be current and accurate so alerts can actually be delivered.
- For text alerts, you need a mobile number enrolled with consent (covered below).
- For push notifications, you need the latest Wells Fargo Mobile app on an iOS or Android device.
- For email alerts, you need a current email delivery address on file.
Eligible accounts include checking, savings, ATM/debit cards, credit cards, mortgage, home equity, certificates of deposit, personal lines, loans, and auto loans. One exception worth noting: Wells Fargo Retail Services credit cards are not eligible for subscription based alerts.
Set Up Alerts on Desktop Web
This is the quickest and most complete way to choose your alerts and set dollar thresholds. Sign on to Wells Fargo Online, then follow these steps.
- 1.Navigate to Manage Alerts, which is linked from your account dashboard.
- 2.Choose an account for which you want to add or edit alerts.
- 3.Check the boxes to select or de-select specific alerts.
- 4.Enter dollar thresholds and frequency of alerts where appropriate.
- 5.Save your edits.
That's the core flow for any account. Each account is configured separately, so repeat it for every account you want covered.
Choose How Each Alert Reaches You
Inside Manage Alerts, after you select an account and the alerts you want, you choose the delivery channel: email, text message, or push notification.
These preferences are not locked in. Return to Manage Alerts at any time to change how (or whether) you receive a given alert.
Enroll Your Mobile Number for Text Alerts
Text delivery has its own enrollment step. Until you complete it, selecting text as a channel will not deliver anything.
- 1.Sign on and access Update Contact Information.
- 2.Add your mobile number if you haven't already, and check the box labeled "Allow mobile texts" for each number you want to enroll.
- 3.Read and accept the "Consent to receive text messages."
- 4.Reply "YES ENROLL" to the text message Wells Fargo sends from the shortcode 93557.
- 5.Return to Manage Alerts to subscribe to the optional text alerts you want.
The number must be a domestic, SMS-capable number registered to you. Wells Fargo charges no fee for the alerts service, but your carrier's message and data rates may apply, and availability depends on carrier coverage.
Set Up Email Delivery
Email is the simplest channel to enable. Update or confirm your email delivery address through Update Contact Information (or by calling 1-800-956-4442), then select email as the delivery channel for your chosen alerts in Manage Alerts.
If email alerts don't show up, check your spam or junk folder and add [email protected] to your contacts so future messages land in your inbox.
Turn On Push Notifications in the Wells Fargo Mobile App
Push notifications require the app, and the setup differs slightly between platforms.
On iOS, install the latest Wells Fargo Mobile app and launch it. When prompted on first launch, select "Allow" to permit notifications. Then:
- 1.Tap Menu in the bottom bar.
- 2.Tap your name or "Welcome" at the top of the page.
- 3.Select "Manage Banking Alerts."
- 4.Select "Push Notifications" and slide it to On.
If notifications still don't arrive on iOS, open the iOS Settings app, go to Notifications, and enable notifications for the Wells Fargo app.
On Android, push notifications are enabled automatically, but you can confirm the toggle the same way: open the app, tap Menu, tap your name or "Welcome," select "Manage Banking Alerts," then make sure "Push Notifications" is On. If they still don't arrive, open Android Settings, go to Notifications, and enable notifications for the Wells Fargo app.
One important detail: push notifications only go to devices where you frequently or recently use the app. If you haven't opened it in a while, simply log in again to reactivate delivery. Wells Fargo also advises against enabling push if you regularly share your device with other people.
Set Up Debit Card Alerts
Debit card alerts cover purchases, ATM activity, and card declines. Sign on to Wells Fargo Online and access Manage Alerts, then:
- 1.Select your debit card from the account list.
- 2.Choose your alerts and delivery preferences: email, push notification, or text.
- 3.Add new alerts or change preferences whenever you like.
Note that "Card Declined" alerts fire only for select decline reasons, such as insufficient funds, an incorrect PIN, an exceeded daily dollar limit, or a blocked card. They do not fire for every possible decline.
Set Up Credit Card Alerts
Credit card alerts are the richest set, useful for staying ahead of payments and catching unusual spending. First confirm your contact information is current so alerts can be delivered, then sign on and go to Manage Alerts.
- 1.Select your credit card account.
- 2.Choose the alerts you want, such as Payment Due, Payment Posted, Approaching Credit Limit, Single Purchase Amount, Daily Total Spending, Online/Phone or Mail Purchase, Foreign Transaction, or Card Declined.
- 3.Choose delivery by text message, email, or mobile push (push requires the Wells Fargo Mobile app).
- 4.Save your settings.
Set Up Business Online Alerts
Business accounts use a parallel system that requires Wells Fargo Business Online enrollment. Sign on to access alerts, then choose your alerts and how you want to receive them (email, text message, or push notification).
For text alerts on business accounts, access Update Contact Information, add your mobile number, check "Allow mobile texts," accept the "Consent to receive text messages," then reply "YES ENROLL" to the text from shortcode 93557. Go to Manage Alerts to subscribe to the text alerts you want, and save. You can change selections at any time. Note that questions and responses for Business Online route through the secure Message Center rather than open channels.
Stop or Suspend Alerts
To dial alerts back, sign on, go to Manage Alerts, select an account, uncheck the individual alerts you no longer want, and save. To stop text alerts specifically, text "STOP ALERTS" to 93557 or unsubscribe through Manage Alerts. To stop push notifications, disable Wells Fargo app notifications in your device's Settings, under Notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until my alerts start working?
Alerts generally begin one to two business days after you set them up, so don't be surprised if there's a short delay before the first one arrives.
Why did an alert reference a purchase from a few days ago?
Card and transaction alerts are sent at authorization, not at final posting. Merchant processing delays can mean an alert points to a transaction from several days prior, with delays of up to two to three days possible.
Why didn't I get an alert for a transaction I know happened?
Merchants that do not submit a transaction for authorization will not trigger an alert. Alerts are a supplement, not a replacement, so keep reviewing your transaction history and monthly statements. Delivery delays can also stem from service-provider outages or system errors.
Why did one purchase trigger several alerts at once?
A single transaction can match more than one alert type you have enabled, so it may legitimately fire multiple alerts.
My email alerts aren't arriving. What should I check?
Look in your spam or junk folder first, then add [email protected] to your contacts so future alerts are delivered to your inbox.
Does Wells Fargo charge for alerts?
No. There is no fee for the alerts service itself. However, your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply to text alerts, and availability depends on carrier coverage. The enrolled number must be a domestic, SMS-capable number registered to you.
