Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Santander UK vs Wells Fargo
Santander UK
Wells Fargo
Higher score in this comparison
Where Santander UK and Wells Fargo differ
| Compare | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Wells FargoReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | $5 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95%Lower | 3% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Same on both: Card type (Debit).
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Key differences
- Wells Fargo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Wells Fargo: 1852 vs 1988.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Santander UK: 2.95% vs 3%.
- Support channels: only Santander UK offers Chat.
- Features: only Santander UK offers Same day funding.
- Features: only Wells Fargo offers Rewards.
Our verdict on each
Santander UK
Santander UK suits UK households wanting everyday banking, savings and borrowing from one Financial Conduct Authority regulated bank, with an easy-access saver paying 2% variable. The charges elsewhere, 2.95% for currency conversion and 24.9% on the credit card, are where the case weakens.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo suits US customers who want one bank for a rewards card, easy-access checking and a fixed-rate personal loan. Deposits sit under FDIC protection, and the card pairs an annual fee of $0 with 2% cash rewards at an APR of 18.74% to 28.74%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Monthly fee £0 and annual fee £0 are low, but 2.95% on conversion and 24.9% on the card are not. | 8.8 |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.1Annual fee of $0 plus 2% cash rewards on spending, against a card APR of 18.74% to 28.74% that is high for the market. |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.9Higher |
Pick Santander UK if, pick Wells Fargo if
Pick Santander UK if offer and currency conversion fee matter most.
Pick Wells Fargo if trust matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 27389 |
Additional countries for Santander UK: 1. Additional countries for Wells Fargo: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 313 of 1492 | 240 of 1492 |
| Loans | 469 of 2043 | 370 of 2043 |
| Personal loans | 418 of 1317 | 331 of 1317 |
| Mortgages | 201 of 853 | 159 of 853 |
| Credit and debit cards | 348 of 1594 | 272 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 111 of 421 | 92 of 421 |
| Debit cards | 218 of 826 | 169 of 826 |
| Balance transfer cards | 12 of 32 | 8 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Same day funding | Rewards |
| Audience | Seniors | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Santander UK plc | Wells Fargo National Bank West |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1988 | 1852Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Loans
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 24.9% | 18.74% to 28.74%Lower |
| Loan amount | £1,000 to £25,000 | $3,000 to $100,000 |
| Term | 12 to 60 months | 12 to 84 monthsHigher |
| Arrangement fee | 0 GBP | 0 USD |
| Credit check | Hard | Hard |
| Funding time | Within 2 working days of releasing funds | Same day as approval for most customers |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Unsecured personal loan: $17,000 over 48 months at 13.99% APR, monthly payment $464 |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Yes |
| Eligibility | Aged 21 or over, live permanently in the UK, regular yearly income of GBP 10,500+ for loans up to GBP 19,999 and GBP 20,000+ for loans up to GBP 25,000, good credit record | Existing customers only: must have been a Wells Fargo customer for at least 12 months |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | 0% |
| Loan types | Personal, Debt consolidation, CarCovers more | Personal, Debt consolidation |
| Credit needed | Good | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Home improvement |
Credit cards
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 2% cash rewards |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 months | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Personal insurance
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | £6 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Landlord, Critical illness | Not confirmed |
| Provider type | Broker | Not confirmed |
| Monthly payments | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Excess from | £100 to £500 | Not confirmed |
| Cover limit | Contents sum insured up to GBP 50,000 (Classic), unlimited (Plus) | Not confirmed |
| Claims channels | Online, Phone | Not confirmed |
| Age range | 50 and over | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Access terms | Instant, penalty-free access; withdrawals by website, Mobile and Online Banking, in branch or over the phone | more ways to access your money |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Mortgages
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 4.28% | Not confirmed |
| APRC | 6.2% | Not confirmed |
| Fixed period | 2 years | 30 yearsHigher |
| Maximum loan to value | 95% | 100%Higher |
| Product fee | £999 | Not confirmed |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Buy to let | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Home equity |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Santander UK | Wells Fargo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95%highest quarter | 3%highest quarter | 1% |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
Median across 336 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Santander UK
Pros
- The easy-access saver pays 2% at a variable rate with instant, penalty-free access, and deposit protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Personal loans of £1,000 to £25,000 over 12 to 60 carry an origination fee of 0 GBP, and early repayment is free.
- Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with support on chat, phone and help centre.
Cons
- Currency conversion on the basic current account costs 2.95%, against 1% for a typical brand on the site.
- Credit card borrowing runs at 24.9%, well above the 15.5% typical across the site.
- Rewards on the everyday credit card are none.
Wells Fargo
Pros
- Personal loans carry an arrangement fee of 0 USD and free early repayment, with funding Same day as approval for most customers.
- Deposits are covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the bank is listed as FDIC cert 27389.
- A 12 month introductory period applies to balance transfers on the card.
Cons
- The card APR of 18.74% to 28.74% is steep for a card with no annual charge, so a balance carried month to month costs a lot.
- Personal loans are for existing customers who have been with the bank for a waiting period, which rules out new applicants.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only.
Who each suits
Santander UK
Who it suits
- Households that want a current account paired with an easy-access saver.
- Borrowers consolidating debt or funding home improvement, given a good credit record and a hard credit check.
- Savers who want instant, penalty-free withdrawals by app, in branch or over the phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for regular sending and converting abroad, where the conversion fee is 0.1%.
- bunq, whose plan is priced in euro with a monthly fee of €0, fits euro-based banking better.
- The Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if a US dollar card with a monthly fee of $0 is the goal.
Wells Fargo
Who it suits
- US customers already banking with Wells Fargo who want a rewards card and loans from the same lender.
- Households holding savings, since deposits carry FDIC up to USD 250,000.
- People planning a home purchase or remortgage, as the listed mortgage purposes are purchase, remortgage and first time buyer.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for applicants with no credit history, since personal loans run a hard credit check, while Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is aimed at rebuilding credit.
- Not for euro or sterling spenders: bunq and Wise both charge an annual fee of €0 and £0, while Wells Fargo is a US bank.
Current offers
Santander UK
Current offer
Bonus
Get 240 GBP for switching to Everyday Current Account: 240 GBP
Switch to Everyday Current Account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Wells Fargo
Current offer
Bonus
Active Cash Card $100 cash rewards bonus: $100
spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Santander UK | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Santander UK
What does the everyday current account cost?+
The monthly fee is £0, and the everyday credit card carries an annual fee of £0. The charge to watch is currency conversion at 2.95% on the basic current account, and help is available on chat, phone and help centre.
Is my money protected?+
Deposits are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the bank is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Savings pay 2% at a variable rate with instant, penalty-free access.
Wells Fargo
What does the Wells Fargo credit card cost to keep?+
The Active Cash card has an annual fee of $0 and pays 2% cash rewards on spending. Borrowing on it costs an APR of 18.74% to 28.74%, which is high for a card with no annual charge. Rewards are cashback, so you get money back rather than points or miles.
Is there an interest-free period for balance transfers?+
The Active Cash card terms set an introductory balance transfer period of 12. That window is for balances you move onto the card, so plan the transfer before it ends. Afterwards the standard rate on the balance takes over.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Santander UK
Wells Fargo