WellsTrade is Wells Fargo's self-directed brokerage (not the advisor-led Wells Fargo Advisors) for existing customers who want banking and investing under one roof—basic but functional.
Updated August 26, 2026
WellsTrade is designed for existing Wells Fargo customers who want their banking, lending, and investing under one roof. It is the bank's self-directed, do-it-yourself brokerage; Wells Fargo Advisors is the separate advisor-managed wealth business with its own fees and minimums.
Account management happens through the Wells Fargo website and mobile app. You can view and manage banking and investment accounts together.
However, the investment platform itself is basic—it serves buy-and-hold investors rather than active traders.
WellsTrade offers free dividend reinvestment for stocks and ETFs. You can choose which securities reinvest dividends individually—it's not an all-or-nothing choice.
DRIP supports fractional share reinvestment, ensuring your full dividend payment is put back to work without cash sitting idle.
Enrollment is managed through the Wells Fargo Mobile app: go to the portfolio tab, scroll to 'Manage dividend reinvestment,' and select securities.
WellsTrade's Stock Fractions program lets you buy partial shares with amounts as low as $10. Hundreds of stocks and ETFs are eligible.
This is an improvement over bank-brokers that only offer fractional shares through DRIP. You can build a diversified portfolio without waiting for dividends.
Combined with DRIP, you can start investing with small amounts and compound your dividends effectively.
WellsTrade doesn't offer pre-market trading at all. After-hours trading is available only on the mobile app from 4:01 PM to 6:30 PM EST.
There's no crypto, futures, or forex trading. Online bond trading isn't available—you'd need to call an advisor.
Option trading is available but expensive when exercising or assigning contracts. Active options traders should look elsewhere.
Online stock and ETF trades are commission-free, matching industry standards. Phone trades with a representative cost $25.
As of 2026, margin rates remain high at 8.5% to 12.5%, depending on balance. Accounts over $250,000 can get discounts up to 2.5%.
Mutual funds with transaction fees cost $35 per trade. The $49.95 outgoing ACAT transfer fee is about average.
WellsTrade serves self-directed, long-term, buy-and-hold investors who already bank with Wells Fargo.
If you want all your financial life under one roof and don't need advanced trading features, WellsTrade is adequate.
Sophisticated traders, active investors, and those seeking best-in-class tools will prefer other platforms.
Transparent breakdown of all fees you might encounter.
| Fee Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stock & ETF Trades | $0 (online) |
| Options Trades | $0.65/contract |
| Phone Trades | $25 |
| Mutual Funds (TF) | $35 |
| US Treasurys | $0 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Account Maintenance Fee | $0 |
| Inactivity Fee | $0 |
| Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP) | Free |
| Margin Rate | 8.5%-12.5% |
| Account Transfer Out (ACAT) | $49.95 |
Consolidate banking and investing under one roof with the same login.
Basic platform works fine for buy-and-hold dividend portfolios.
If you don't need advanced features, WellsTrade's simplicity may be a feature, not a bug.
WellsTrade is a basic brokerage for Wells Fargo customers who value convenience over features. The $0 commissions, fractional shares, and selective DRIP check the essential boxes for dividend investing. However, the limited trading hours, high margin rates, and basic tools make it a hard sell for anyone who isn't already in the Wells Fargo ecosystem. If you bank with Wells Fargo and want simplicity, WellsTrade works. If you want a better investing experience, Fidelity, Schwab, or even Merrill Edge are superior choices.
Compare All PlatformsSee how WellsTrade stacks up against the competition
Better tools and Preferred Rewards with Bank of America integration.
Read Review →Similar bank integration concept with Chase, slightly better features.
Read Review →WellsTrade covers the essentials: $0 commissions, free dividend reinvestment with per-security selection, and fractional shares from $10. It works for buy-and-hold dividend investors who already bank with Wells Fargo, but its research tools are thin compared to Fidelity or Schwab.
Yes. Dividend reinvestment is free and can be enabled per security, with fractional share reinvestment so your full dividend goes back to work. Separately, the Stock Fractions program lets you buy partial shares of hundreds of stocks and ETFs with as little as $10.
Online stock and ETF trades are $0, options cost $0.65 per contract, phone trades cost $25, and transaction-fee mutual funds cost $35. There's no account minimum, maintenance fee, or inactivity fee. Watch the 8.5%-12.5% margin rates and the $49.95 outgoing account transfer fee.
On features alone, no. Fidelity (4.9/5) offers automatic DRIP, $1 fractional shares, and far better research; J.P. Morgan Self-Directed (4.3/5) offers a similar bank-integration pitch with Chase plus direct fractional purchases. WellsTrade (3.8/5) wins only if consolidating with your Wells Fargo banking matters most.
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