Wells Fargo Attune Card - Is It a Harmonious Fit for Your Wallet?

Wells Fargo has introduced several new credit cards this year, and the new Attune Card is the latest and perhaps most unique. This card rewards taking care of yourself and the world around you.

Cardholders earn 4% cash back on self-care purchases (beauty and barber shops, gyms, spas, and massage parlors); 4% cash back on select sports, recreation, and entertainment purchases, and 4% cash back on impactful purchases, which include EV charging stations, public transportation, and shopping at select thrift stores. You earn 1% cash back on other purchases and there’s no annual fee. A couple of these categories cover an expansive list of purchases so we’ll break them down in the next section.

What Is Included in the Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment Category?

Wells Fargo defines sports, recreation, and entertainment purchases pretty broadly. As you’ll see below, the list is pretty extensive:

Artist’s Supply and Craft Shops
Camera and Photographic Supply Stores
Hobby, Toy, and Game Shops
Photofinishing Laboratories and Photo Developing
Sewing, Needlework, Fabric and Piece Goods Stores
Florist
Florists Supplies Nursery Stock and Flowers
Nurseries and Lawn and Garden Supply Stores
Aquariums, Seaquariums, Dolphinariums, and Zoos
Amusement Parks
Billiard and Pool Establishments
Bowling Alleys
Circuses, Carnivals, and Fortune Tellers
Dance Halls, Studios and Schools
Public Golf Courses
Recreation Services Not Elsewhere Classified
Sporting and Recreational Camps
Tourist Attractions and Exhibits
Trailer Parks and Campgrounds
Pet Shops, Pet Foods, and Supplies Stores
Bicycle Shops – Sales and Service
Boat Rentals and Leasing
Marinas, Marine Service, and Supplies
Motor Home and Recreational Vehicle Rentals
Sports and Riding Apparel Stores
Sporting Goods Stores
Bands, Orchestras, and Miscellaneous Entertainers
Commercial Sports, Professional Sports Clubs, Athletic Fields, and Sports Promoters
Ticket Agencies and Theatrical Producers
Book Stores
Cable and Other Pay Television
Digital Goods Media – Books, Movies, Digital artwork/images, Music
DVD/Video Tape Rental Stores
Large Digital Goods Merchant
Motion Picture Theaters
Music Stores – Musical Instruments, Pianos, and Sheet Music
Record Stores

What Is Included in the Planet-Friendly Purchases Category?

For the planet-friendly category, here’s a list of purchases that qualify:

Antique Shops
Used Merchandise and Secondhand Store
Bus Lines
EV Charging Stations
Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, including Ferries
Passenger Railways
Other Transportation Services

You’ll want to see the Wells Fargo Attune categories page for merchant examples and the most up-to-date list of categories. It’s probably the only credit card in existence that includes fortune tellers as a category. Note that it’s possible merchants may submit purchases under a different category than you might expect and your purchase may not qualify for the elevated 4% cash back.

You can redeem your rewards through statement credits, PayPal, or gift cards. You get a small welcome offer, and when you earn the bonus Wells Fargo will donate $50 to Capital Link, a national non-profit organization that brings solar power to community health centers.

So far, this card has caused a bit of stir on Reddit due to the unusual categories and the 4% cash back. Many are eager to apply or have applied already, but be warned: some report being denied even with excellent credit scores. Below is a list of approvals and denials reported by applicants on public forums.

App Status	Date	Credit Score	Bureau	Credit Limit
Approved	06/07/2024	802	Experian	---
Approved	06/12/2024	776	Experian	$12,000
Approved	06/17/2024	814	Experian	$9,500
Approved	06/11/2024	815	Not Provided	$4,000
Approved	06/16/2024	779	Experian	$7,000
Approved	06/09/2024	844	Not Provided	$30,000
Approved	06/13/2024	790	Not Provided	$10,000
Approved	06/10/2024	835	Not Provided	$20,000
Approved	06/09/2024	795	Experian	$7,500
Approved	06/09/2024	820	Not Provided	$25,000
Approved	06/10/2024	790	Not Provided	$30,000
Denied	06/07/2024	690	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/07/2024	805	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/06/2024	691	Equifax	---
Denied	06/06/2024	692	TransUnion	---
Denied	06/06/2024	741	Experian	---
Denied	06/13/2024	827	Experian	---
Denied	06/13/2024	835	Experian	---
Denied	06/13/2024	835	TransUnion	---
Denied	06/07/2024	720	Experian	---
Denied	06/07/2024	830	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/07/2024	800	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/10/2024	773	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/07/2024	820	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/07/2024	800	Not Provided	---
Denied	06/10/2024	794	Equifax	---
Denied	06/10/2024	795	TransUnion	---
Denied	06/10/2024	804	Experian	---

How to Maximize Rewards with the Wells Fargo Attune Card

The Wells Fargo Attune covers a vast amount of purchases that do not normally earn elevated rewards and 4% cash back for those purchases is generous. However, most people will earn the most rewards from everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and dining. Therefore, the best way to maximize rewards using the Attune card is to use it in addition to another credit card that pays elevated rewards on the categories where you spend the most.

We call this the 1-2-3 cash back system. For example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card pays 2% cash back on all purchases and makes a great first credit card. If groceries is one of your biggest spending categories, you may consider adding the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express or the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express as a second card. Both of those cards pay elevated rewards at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1% (terms apply). The cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout. After that, you can use your 2% cash back card for the rest of your grocery purchases for the year. Here’s where the Wells Fargo Attune comes in: it makes an interesting third addition to your wallet especially if there are several things in the entertainment category you regularly spend money on like cable, streaming services, movie tickets, or concert tickets.

Now that we’ve covered how to best use your rewards card, here’s how to maximize all of the rewards you earn: invest them. You’ll be surprised how quickly your investment grows. If you’re skeptical (and we were, too, at one point) check out how our founder, Rob, is stacking up his credit card rewards. He’s figured out the right credit cards to suit his spending and is building quite a large pot of money.

Summary

While the Wells Fargo Attune stands out for its high cash back rate on unique categories, it’s not for everyone. You’ll want to carefully evaluate your spending habits and see if you spend a decent chunk of your budget on self-care, sports, recreation, entertainment, or planet-friendly categories. If so, this can be a great addition to your wallet, especially since there is no annual fee. Bottom line, don’t attune your spending to fit this card, instead, consider if the Attune is naturally a good fit for your spending.