You have bills to pay, a Wells Fargo checking account, and no desire to write checks or drive to a branch. Wells Fargo Bill Pay lets you schedule one-time and recurring payments to almost any company or person in the United States, straight from your account, with no monthly service fee for the feature itself.
This guide walks you through the whole thing in order: confirming you meet the prerequisites, adding a payee, scheduling a payment, automating recurring bills, turning on electronic bills, and canceling a payment if plans change. The quickest path is the one most people need first, so we start there.
A few rules matter before you begin. You need a Wells Fargo checking account and a Wells Fargo Online username and password. Bill Pay cannot send money to federal, state, or local tax agencies, and it cannot make court-ordered payments. And timing counts: electronic payments need at least 2 business days before the due date, while payments sent by paper check need at least 5 business days.
Confirm Your Prerequisites First
Bill Pay rides on top of your Wells Fargo accounts, so two things have to be in place before anything else works.
- 1.Make sure you have a Wells Fargo checking account. Bill Pay requires one.
- 2.Enroll in Wells Fargo Online if you do not already have a username and password. Use the enroll option, then you can sign on. If you already use Wells Fargo Online, skip this step.
- 3.Gather recent copies of the bills you want to pay. For each payee you will need the payee's name, address, and account number.
There is no monthly service fee to use Bill Pay. Standard account fees, such as a monthly service fee or overdraft fee on the account you pay from, can still apply.
Open Bill Pay in Wells Fargo Online
First-time access works from a desktop browser or a mobile device once your checking account and online enrollment are set.
- 1.Go to the Wells Fargo Online Bill Pay page and select Get started with Bill Pay, or sign on to Wells Fargo Online directly.
- 2.Sign on with your Wells Fargo Online credentials.
- 3.From the top menu, open Transfer & Pay, then select Pay Bills.
The initial setup follows a simple sequence: set up your payees, schedule your payments (amounts and when to send them), then optionally set up auto pay so Wells Fargo handles the bill for you.
Add a Payee
A payee is any company or person you want to pay. Keep your most recent bill nearby so you can verify the name, address, and account number.
- 1.In Bill Pay, select Add Payee.
- 2.Choose your payee one of three ways: browse the list, search by payee name, or add a payee manually.
- 3.If you are adding manually, follow the prompts to enter the payee's details.
- 4.Select your payee's address from the options shown.
- 5.Enter your account number with that payee.
- 6.Select Save.
Schedule a One-Time Payment
Use a one-time payment for bills that change each month, such as phone or utility bills.
- 1.From your payees list, find the payee and select the Pay button beside it.
- 2.Choose the Pay From account.
- 3.Enter the payment amount.
- 4.Enter or confirm the Send On date, which is the date the payment is sent. You can schedule up to one year in advance.
- 5.Allow enough lead time: at least 2 business days before the due date for electronic payments, or at least 5 business days for payments sent by paper check. Look just below the Send On date, or use the calendar tool next to it, to see how many days to allow and the expected delivery timing.
- 6.Enter any other required details and submit the payment.
Money is withdrawn the business day after the Send On date, not on the Send On date itself, and the payee typically receives the payment within 2 to 5 business days.
Pay Bills in the Wells Fargo Mobile App
You can also add payees and send payments from the Wells Fargo Mobile app on iOS and Android. The information you provide is the same as on desktop.
- 1.Open the Wells Fargo Mobile app and sign in.
- 2.Go to the app's pay and transfer area and open Bill Pay.
- 3.To add a payee, enter the payee's name, address, and your account number with that payee, following the on-screen prompts.
- 4.To pay a bill, choose the payee, enter the amount and the Send On date, then review and submit.
The same lead-time and funding rules apply on mobile as on desktop.
Set Up Recurring or Automatic Payments
For bills that stay the same or are driven by an electronic bill, automatic payments save you from scheduling each month.
- Use Set up auto pay for recurring bills such as a mortgage or cable TV bill.
- You set the rules for timing and amount, and Wells Fargo follows them.
- With electronic bills active, automatic payments can adjust for monthly changes in the amount due.
To find the exact screens for choosing frequency or an end date, open the Help section inside Bill Pay after you sign on.
Turn On eBills to Get Bills Electronically
eBills deliver your bills inside Bill Pay so you can see and pay them in one place. The feature is free with no additional charge.
- 1.Activate eBills from one of three spots: the Bill Pay home screen, the Manage Payee screen for that payee, or while you are setting up a new payee.
- 2.Expect a wait. After signup, it can take anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months before eBills begin arriving, depending on the payee.
Be aware that some payees stop mailing paper bills once you enroll in eBills, so plan to check Bill Pay for new bills.
Edit or Delete a Payee
Payee details change, and old payees pile up. Cleaning them up takes a moment.
- 1.Open Bill Pay and go to the payee you want to change.
- 2.Open the payee's profile.
- 3.At the bottom of the profile, select Edit or Delete Payee.
- 4.Make your changes and save.
Cancel or Stop a Scheduled Payment
Plans change, and a standard Bill Pay payment can be stopped if you act in time.
- 1.For a standard (non-instant) payment, submit your stop payment request no later than 7 p.m. Pacific Time on the payment's Send On date.
- 2.If you prefer, you can place or manage a stop payment by calling 1-800-869-3557 (1-800-TO-WELLS) or by speaking with a banker at a Wells Fargo branch.
An instant payment cannot be canceled or amended once it has been sent. If you provide accurate payment information and meet the 7 p.m. Pacific Time deadline and Wells Fargo still fails to stop the payment, Wells Fargo will pay related late fees or finance charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my taxes or a court-ordered payment with Bill Pay?
No. Wells Fargo does not support payments to federal, state, or local tax agencies, or court-ordered payments. Those payees are not available in Bill Pay.
How far ahead do I need to schedule a payment?
Set the Send On date at least 2 business days before the due date for electronic payments, and at least 5 business days before for payments sent by paper check. Paper checks can take over 5 days to reach their destination, so the longer lead time matters.
When does the money actually leave my account?
Funds are withdrawn the business day after the Send On date, not on the Send On date. The payee typically receives the payment within 2 to 5 business days after it is sent.
What is an instant payment, and can I undo it?
Instant payments are sent to certain participating billers through a third-party network, and funds typically post within seconds, around the clock including weekends and holidays. They appear as "Instant Pmt" in transaction descriptions. An instant payment cannot be canceled or changed after it is sent.
Does Bill Pay guarantee my payment arrives on time?
If Wells Fargo does not properly complete a payment on or before the Deliver By date, it will pay any late fees or finance charges directly caused by its delay or error. The guarantee does not cover payees outside the continental U.S., government agencies, court-ordered payments, insufficient funds, closed or frozen accounts, mail delays, or payments misrouted because of incorrect payee information.
Will I be charged a fee or get overdrawn using Bill Pay?
There is no monthly service fee for Bill Pay itself, and eBills are free. Standard account fees can still apply, and Bill Pay transactions can contribute to overdrafts of the account you pay from, so keep sufficient available funds on the Send On date.
