Wells Fargo is replacing emergency ATM cards with Visa-brand cards

Wells Fargo & Co. is systematically replacing its instant-issue emergency ATM cards with a Visa-branded product after some cardholders complained that a number of hotels and merchants did not accept the older cards.

Wells Fargo branches in Texas and parts of the Midwest last March began issuing the Visa cards to replace non-branded PIN-debit cards processed over Visa's Interlink electronic funds transfer network, Brenda Yost, senior vice president and debit card marketing manager, tells ATMmarketplace. Wells Fargo's name appeared on the card, but it did not have Visa's logo, Yost says. It is not known when all of Wells Fargo branches will issue the new card.  

Wells Fargo executives decided to replace the Interlink-cards because some cardholders complained that a number of hotels in Europe refused to accept them.

"With the Visa brand, the cards are accepted everywhere Visa is accepted. Cardholders now can fly to Europe without worrying where their cards will be accepted," said Yost, adding that the card also is accepted at the point-of-sale. Wells Fargo is a Visa card issuer.

Wells Fargo has issued emergency ATM cards for at least seven years to customers who lose their ATM cards. To obtain an emergency card, customers must visit a Wells Fargo branch and identify themselves in order to receive an ATM card that is instantly issued. The card is embossed, although the cardholders' names do not appear on the products, Yost says. Interlink processes PIN-debit transactions, and VisaNet processes signature transactions, Yost says.

Wells Fargo operates 10,000 branches in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The bank also owns 12,363 ATMs, according to the company's 2009 annual report. Wells Fargo produced a locator map, which assists customers in finding branches and ATMs. Wells Fargo, which is based in San Francisco, mails customers a permanent replacement cards in three to seven days, Yost says.  She declined to say how many emergency ATM cards Wells Fargo issues annually.