Choice Privileges World Elite Mastercard Credit Card Terms and Conditions

Choice Privileges^® Mastercard^® Credit Card Terms and Conditions

Issued and administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Mastercard International.

If you opened a Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card or a Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Credit Card within the last 15 months, you may not be eligible for an introductory bonus rewards offer. See important exclusions below.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

How we will calculate your balance

We use a method called "average daily balance (including new purchases)".

* You are leaving Wells Fargo and entering a website that Wells Fargo does not control. Wells Fargo has provided this link for your convenience, but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of this website.

We will begin charging interest on cash advances and balance transfers on the transaction date.

How we will calculate your variable APRs

• Unless an introductory or promotional APR is in effect, we will add a “Margin” to the U.S. Prime Rate to determine your standard variable APR. For each billing period we will use the U.S. Prime Rate, or the average of the U.S. Prime Rates if there is more than one, published in the Money Rates column of The Wall Street Journal three business days prior to your billing statement closing date. If the U.S. Prime Rate is not published or is otherwise unavailable, whether temporarily or permanently, we will select a substitute index that we believe, in our sole discretion, to be similar to the U.S. Prime Rate. The U.S. Prime Rate is 7.75 percentage points as of 11/22/2024.
• The "Margin" for purchases and balance transfers will be 12.49 to 21.74 percentage points, based on your creditworthiness. The Maximum APR is 29.99%.

• The "Margin" for cash advances will be 22.74 percentage points. The Maximum APR is 29.99%.

Wells Fargo reserves the right to change terms, rates (APRs) and fees, at its discretion in accordance with the Consumer Credit Card Customer Agreement and Disclosure Statement ("Agreement") for your account and applicable law. 

You may not qualify for the lowest APRs disclosed above. The APRs applicable to your account will be determined by our review of your credit report, information you provide on your application, and other relevant information available to us.

Application of payments

Generally, we will apply your minimum payment first to lower APR balances (such as Purchases) before balances with higher APRs (such as Cash Advances). Payments made in excess of the minimum payment will generally be applied to balances with higher APRs first before balances with lower ones.

Important information about procedures for opening a new account

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, U.S. Federal law requires financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person (individual or business) who opens an account. What this means for you: when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask for your driver's license or other identifying information.

Consent to contact you

You agree that we have your consent to contact you at any phone number, email address, or mailing address you provide for any Wells Fargo account or at any number that you call us from or at any number that we obtain by other means. If you provided a phone number(s), you agree that you are authorized to provide this phone number(s) and agree to receive calls and text messages from Wells Fargo at this number(s) for all your current and future Wells Fargo products and services. This does not give Wells Fargo permission to call or text you for marketing purposes. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Automated systems, including prerecorded or artificial voice may be used.

Notice to Ohio residents

The Ohio laws against discrimination require that all creditors make credit equally available to all creditworthy customers, and that credit reporting agencies maintain separate credit histories on each individual upon request. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission administers compliance with this law.

Notice to married Wisconsin residents

If you are married, by submitting your credit card application you are confirming that this credit card obligation is being incurred in the interest of your marriage and your family. No provision of any marital property agreement (pre-marital agreement), unilateral statement under 766.59 of the Wisconsin Statutes, or a court decree under 766.70 adversely affects the interest of the creditor unless the creditor, prior to the time the credit is granted, is furnished a copy of the agreement, statement or decrees or has actual knowledge of the adverse provision. If the credit card for which you are applying is granted, you will notify the Bank if you have a spouse who needs to receive notification that credit has been extended to you.

Application agreement

This application is for a credit card with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. You certify that all information provided is true, correct, and complete and that you have the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement. The Bank is authorized to verify or check any of the information given and to obtain credit reports on you. You authorize the Bank to obtain information from others to investigate your credit, employment and income history and state records including state employment security agency records and to report information regarding your account to consumer reporting agencies. You agree that the Bank will determine the amount of credit extended, as well as which product you qualify for, based on the Bank's review criteria. If you do not qualify for the product or pricing requested or for the lowest pricing offered, you authorize the Bank to grant you the product and pricing for which you do qualify. You agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, which will be sent to you, and understand that the terms of your account may be changed at any time, subject to applicable law. You hereby stipulate to the terms of the arbitration program described in the Agreement. You understand and agree that you will be liable for payment of all amounts owing on the account. The minimum credit limit, provided you meet the terms and conditions of this offer, is $1,000.00.

A consumer report from consumer reporting agencies will be obtained in considering this application and for the purposes of any update, renewal, extension of credit, review or collection of the account. Upon request, we will inform you of the name and address of each consumer reporting agency from which we obtain a consumer report relating to you. If you are a married applicant you may apply for credit in your own name.

Information Sharing

If a Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card is opened, the issuing bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., will provide your full account number to Choice Hotels as part of the account opening process. We may share Account and personal information with Choice Hotels for purposes of administering or servicing the Card Rewards Program.

Important notice

Please call to confirm receipt of your new card as soon as you receive it. If you do not do so, your requests for certain services such as balance transfers, Wells Fargo Online^®, and ATM access may be delayed and you may be denied access to your account.

This information about the cost of the credit card account described in this disclosure is accurate as of May 2024. This information may have changed after that date. To find out what may have changed, call 1-833-714-3490.

Important Bonus Notice

40,000 bonus notice

To qualify for the 40,000 bonus rewards points, a total of at least $1,000 in net purchases (purchases minus returns/credits) must post to your account within 3 months from the date your account is opened. These bonus rewards points will show as redeemable within 1 – 2 billing periods after they are earned. Cash advances and balance transfers do not apply for purposes of this offer and may affect the credit line available for this offer. ATM charges, cash advances, traveler’s checks, money orders, pre-paid gift cards, balance transfers, wire transfers, fees or interest posted to your card account such as returned payment fees, late fees, monthly or annual fees, bets or wagers transmitted over the internet, casino gaming chips, lottery tickets, off-track wagers, do not earn rewards points. Refer to the Choice Privileges^® Mastercard^® Credit Card Rewards Program Agreement (the "Card Rewards Program") Terms and Conditions ("Terms") for details.

Cellular telephone protection

Cellular Telephone Protection can reimburse the eligible Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card cardholder for damage to, theft of, or involuntary and accidental parting of a cell phone. This is supplemental coverage not otherwise covered by another insurance policy (for example, cell phone insurance programs, or your homeowner’s, renter’s, automobile, or employer’s insurance policies) and may be applied after all other insurance is exhausted. Reimbursement is limited to the cost to repair or replace your original cell phone, less a $25 deductible with an allowable maximum of two paid claims per 12-month period. Each approved claim has a benefit limit of $800.This benefit does not cover cell phones that are lost (i.e., mysteriously disappear). This protection is only available when cell phone bills are paid with an eligible Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card. Eligible cell phones are the lines listed on your most recent cellular wireless service provider’s monthly billing statement for the billing cycle prior to when the incident occurred. Electronic failure or issues related to the software of the device are not covered. Cellular Telephone Protection coverage begins the first day of the calendar month following the payment of your first cell phone billing using your eligible Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card, and remains in effect when you continue to charge your total monthly cell phone bill to your Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card. This protection may not be equivalent to or better than other applicable coverage. For complete coverage benefits and exclusions regarding this protection, refer to www.wellsfargo.com/choicebenefits. Note:  Call your cellular provider (or sign on to their website) and request to set up automatic payments. Setting up automatic payments is not required to qualify for Cellular Telephone Protection; however, you need to pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card to get up to $800 protection.

Choice Privileges^® Mastercard^® Credit Card Rewards Program Agreement (the "Card Rewards Program") Terms and Conditions ("Terms")

1. Definitions. The terms below have the following meanings:

   1. "Account" means a Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card* issued by Wells Fargo
      Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo," "We," "Our," and "Us").
   2. "Billing Cycle" is the interval between statements for Your Account.
   3. "You" and "Your" means each person that has an Account.
   4. "authorized user" shall mean anyone legally authorized by you to use your card account.
   5. "Choice Privileges Rewards Program" refers to the loyalty program owned and operated by Choice Privileges Loyalty Services, LLC. The "Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations" refers to the agreement between you and Choice.
   6. "Choice Privileges Rewards Member account" means the account through which you participate in the Choice Privileges Rewards Program.
   7. "point(s)" represents an earning unit in the Choice Privileges Rewards Program.
   8. "net purchases" means purchases charged to Your Account minus returns and adjustments. 
   9. "statement period" is the interval between statements for your card account.
   10. "transaction(s)" means a use of your card that results in a charge to your line of credit, excluding fees and finance charges.
   11. "account anniversary year" means the year beginning with your account open date through the anniversary of your account open date, each 12 months after that.

   Any capitalized terms not defined in this Card Rewards Program are defined in the Choice Privileges Reward program.

2. Agreement. These Terms govern Your use of the Card Rewards Program. You agree to these Terms by participating in both this Card Rewards Program as well as the Choice Privileges Rewards Program. We may share Account information with Choice Privileges Rewards Program for purposes of administering or servicing the Card Rewards Program. Wells Fargo or Choice Privileges may contact You using any contact information You provide for purposes of servicing the Card Rewards Program. To contact You, We may call or text You using any phone number You provide to Us in connection with Your account. If the phone number You provide is for a mobile phone, You understand and agree that We may contact You using an autodialer, prerecorded or artificial voice message, or text message. You also understand that Your mobile carrier may charge message or data fees. You must have an open Choice Privileges Rewards Member account in which you are earning points.

3. Earning Points with your Choice Privileges Mastercard.  One way to earn points on Your Choice Privileges Rewards membership is through purchases made on Your Choice Privileges Mastercard. The Card Rewards Program is automatically available for Your Account if it is open and not delinquent at the time points are earned.

   Choice Privileges Mastercard cardholders will earn:

   • 5 points (1 base point plus 4 bonus points) per $1 spent on qualifying net purchases made on the card Account on stays at Choice^® brand hotels and at non-Choice brand hotels and resorts booked through choicehotels.com, the Choice mobile app, or by calling the Choice Hotels Service Center and, for Choice brand hotels only, for bookings made directly at the hotel (each participating hotel an "Eligible Location"). Eligible Locations are located in the following regions: United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Australasia. Europe excludes: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. Note that all Choice brands, hotels or third-party hotels or resorts may not participate and that Eligible Locations may be added or removed at any time; see www.choicehotels.com/creditcards/eligiblelocations* for a list of Eligible Locations and for any other locations that may be eligible. *You are leaving Wells Fargo and entering a website that Wells Fargo does not control. Wells Fargo has provided this link for your convenience but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of this website. You also earn 5 points (1 base plus 4 bonus points) per $1 spent on qualifying net purchases made on the Card Account of Choice Privileges points, which will be awarded in the billing cycle when the qualifying purchase posts to the Card Account.

   • 3 points (1 base Point plus 2 bonus points) per $1 spent on qualifying net purchases at retailers whose merchant category for Mastercard® is classified in the following categories:
     • Gas stations, automated fuel dispensers, and electric vehicle charging stations. Gas purchases at warehouses and membership clubs, grocery stores, car washes, auto repair stores, and superstores that sell gasoline may not be coded as gas stations and may not be eligible to earn bonus points.
     • Grocery stores, supermarkets, delis and bakeries.  Grocery purchases at warehouses and membership clubs, convenience stores, meal-kit delivery services, and superstores that sell groceries may not be coded as grocery stores and may not be eligible to earn bonus points. 
     • Landline and cell phone providers considered telecommunication services. Purchases of cell phone hardware, cell phone accessories, or subscription-based services not related to telecommunications, including cable television and streaming services, may not be coded as a telecommunication service and may not be eligible to earn bonus points. In addition, cell phone payments made through third-party merchants may not be classified as a telecommunication transaction and may not be eligible to earn bonus points.
     • Home improvement stores, hardware stores, nurseries and garden supply stores, furniture and household appliances stores, home accessories stores, floor, glass, paint and wallpaper stores, lease/rental services for furniture and household appliances, swimming pool sales and supplies, contractors, or specialists for providing a home improvement services.  The following services may not earn bonus points:  exterminating and disinfecting services, cleaning, maintenance and janitorial services, miscellaneous repair and small appliance repair services, and welding services. In addition, supermarkets, department stores, discount stores, and wholesale clubs that sell home furnishings may not be coded as a home supply warehouse store or a furniture, home furnishings, and equipment store and may not be eligible to earn bonus points. 

   • One point will be earned per $1 spent on other qualifying net purchases.

     Choice Privileges Elite Night Credits. 10 Elite Night Credits will be available in your Choice Privileges Rewards Program Member account, owned and operated by Choice, within 14 days upon the opening of your card account. On January 1 of each subsequent calendar year, the 10 Elite Night Credits will be available in your Choice Privileges Rewards Program account in accordance with Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations, as long as your card account is open as of December 31 of the prior calendar year. To be eligible to receive the 10 Elite Night Credits with your card account, you must have an active Choice Privileges Rewards Program Member account linked to your card account. Refer to the Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations at www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/rules-regulations* for details. *You are leaving Wells Fargo and entering a website that Wells Fargo does not control. Wells Fargo has provided this link for your convenience but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of this website.

     The following will not count as qualifying net purchases and do not earn points:

     Cash Advances and Equivalents of Any Kind	ATM charges, cash advances, traveler’s checks, money orders, pre-paid gift cards, SUPERCHECKS™, wire transfers
     Balance Transfers	Balance Transfers, SUPERCHECKS™
     Disputes, Illegal Actions, and Violations	Disputed or illegal purchases, purchases that violate the terms of your Credit Card Account Agreement or the Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations
     Fees and Interest of Any Kind	Fees or interest posted to your card account such as returned payment fees, late fees, monthly or annual fees
     Gambling Charges of Any Kind	Bets or wagers transmitted over the internet, casino gaming chips, lottery tickets, off-track wagers

     Merchants are assigned codes by Mastercard based on the products or services they primarily sell. Purchases not processed using the codes for Mastercard identified above will not qualify for bonus points. Wells Fargo and Choice Privileges do not have the ability to control how a retailer chooses to classify their business and, therefore, reserves the right to determine which purchases qualify for bonus points.

     Merchants control when they process purchases; therefore the date each qualifying purchase posts to your account is determined solely based on the date provided by the merchant.

     You may not earn bonus points for purchases made through third-party payment accounts, at online marketplaces, with retailers who submit purchases using a mobile or wireless card reader, or if you use a mobile or digital wallet.

     You may view your earned and unredeemed points at Choice Privileges by logging into your membership account.

     Bonus Offer Points:

     • Wells Fargo or Choice Privileges may offer you ways to earn bonus points through the Card Rewards Program or with third-party partners, such as special promotional offers ("promotional offers"). You’ll find out more about the number of points you can earn and any other terms at the time of the promotional offer. The additional terms for those promotional offers are incorporated by reference herein as part of these Terms as well as the Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations.
     • Promotional offers may be subject to any such third party’s additional terms and conditions that are outside of Our control. We are not liable for the actions of those parties and their implementation of such additional terms and conditions. It is Your responsibility to carefully read and comply with any terms and conditions imposed in connection with any promotional offer.

4. Point Redemption. You can only redeem Your points at Choice Privileges. Point redemptions may not be refundable.  Refer to the Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations at www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/rules-regulations* for details. To learn more about the redemption value of a reward night earned from eligible stays at Choice Privileges, refer to www.choicehotels.com* for details. *You are leaving Wells Fargo and entering a website that Wells Fargo does not control. Wells Fargo has provided this link for your convenience but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of this website.

5. General Terms. We reserve the right to amend, cancel, or temporarily suspend the Card Rewards Program, in whole or in part, or change any of the terms, at any time and for any reason, which may result in the decrease of redemption value or cancellation or forfeiture of any spend that has not been allocated to a point. We will give you advance written notice of material changes to the Terms or Card Rewards Program. We reserve the right to remove any person from the Card Rewards Program in the event of suspected fraud or abuse of the Card Rewards Program privileges or a violation of these Terms, as determined solely by us. We reserve the right to delay or not enforce any of our rights under the Rewards Program without waiving or losing our rights to enforce them later. Any unredeemed points do not have cash value. At any time and for any reason without notice to you, Choice Privileges may change the amount of points required for a redemption. The card Account is only available if you have an open Choice Privileges Rewards Member account in your name. Your card Account will be closed if either you or Choice Hotels terminates or deactivates your Choice Privileges Rewards membership.

   Points accrued and issued by Choice Privileges are subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Choice Privileges Rewards Program. For complete Rules and Regulations of the Choice Privileges Rewards Program refer to www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/rules-regulations. *You are leaving Wells Fargo and entering a website that Wells Fargo does not control. Wells Fargo has provided this link for your convenience but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of this website. Rules and Regulations of the Choice Privileges Rewards Program may be modified and services and benefits may be added or deleted at any time without notice to cardholders. Choice Privileges Rewards Points awarded through the use of the authorized user’s card will only be credited to the primary cardholder’s membership account.

   Wells Fargo’s sole obligation concerning the award and redemption of points is to make a valid request to Choice Privileges to award points to Your associated Choice Privileges Rewards Member account. Points will be calculated each Billing Cycle. You will see Points you’ve earned from card purchases on Your monthly card billing statement. Points earned during a billing cycle will be automatically transferred to Choice Privileges Rewards Program after the end of each billing cycle. Returns or adjustments may affect your Points calculation. Wells Fargo disclaims liability or responsibility for Choice Privileges’ failure to award or redeem points to or from your associated Choice Privileges Rewards Member account after Wells Fargo has met its obligations to Choice Privileges Rewards Program in connection with such a request.

   This agreement governs the receipt of points in connection with the use of your card account and is separate and in addition to the Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations that govern your participation in the Choice Privileges Rewards Program. The Choice Privileges Rewards Program Rules and Regulations are available online at www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/rules-regulations. *You are leaving Wells Fargo and entering a website that Wells Fargo does not control. Wells Fargo has provided this link for your convenience but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy of this website. Information in this agreement that relates to the Choice Privileges Rewards Program is not complete or comprehensive and does not include all of the information that you should know about the Choice Privileges Rewards Program.

   Some points or promotional offers you receive may qualify as taxable income to you. Your points’ value may be reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service, as well as state and local tax authorities. By using the Card Rewards Program, you are responsible for paying any federal, state or local taxes on the reward, or other connected fees or gratuities. If you have other questions about your tax liability, please consult your tax advisor.

6. Governing Law. These terms are governed by federal law and to the extent applicable, South Dakota law.
7. Arbitration Disclosure. These terms are made part of your credit card agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and any arbitration provisions listed, including the Military Lending Act, will apply to these terms.

* The Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card is issued and administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.