Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Credit Card

The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® Credit Card is a premium hotel rewards credit card designed for travelers who regularly stay with Choice Hotels and want accelerated Choice Privileges points, automatic elite benefits and useful travel protections without paying the much higher annual fees associated with many luxury travel cards. Issued by Wells Fargo and operating on the Mastercard network, the card earns 10X Choice Privileges points on qualifying stays at participating Choice Hotels properties, 5X points at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on eligible phone plan services, and 1X point on other qualifying purchases. New cardholders can currently earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases during the first three months, while ongoing benefits include 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary, 20 elite night credits each calendar year, automatic qualification for at least Choice Privileges Platinum Elite status, up to a $120 statement credit toward an eligible Trusted Traveler Program, cell phone protection and no foreign transaction fees. The card charges a $95 annual fee, but frequent Choice travelers can potentially recover significantly more value through anniversary points, hotel rewards and elite benefits.

Favorable Details

• 60,000-Point Welcome Bonus: New qualifying cardholders can currently earn 60,000 Choice Privileges® bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months after account opening, giving new members a substantial initial balance for eligible hotel redemptions.
• 10X Points at Participating Choice Hotels: Eligible hotel purchases at participating Choice Hotels properties earn 10 Choice Privileges® points per $1 spent with the card, making paid Choice stays the card’s strongest rewards category.
• 5X Points at Gas Stations: Eligible purchases at merchants classified as gas stations, automated fuel dispensers, and qualifying EV charging locations can earn 5X points.
• 5X Points at Grocery Stores: Eligible grocery-store and supermarket purchases earn 5X Choice Privileges® points, giving cardholders a useful everyday category for accumulating hotel rewards between trips.
• 5X Points at Home Improvement Stores: Qualifying purchases from home improvement merchants can earn 5X points, an unusually useful bonus category among hotel credit cards.
• 5X Points on Phone Plans: Eligible telecommunications and cellular phone-plan payments can earn 5X points while also potentially qualifying the account for the card’s cellular telephone protection when the applicable requirements are met.
• 30,000 Anniversary Points: Cardholders receive 30,000 Choice Privileges® bonus points every account anniversary, creating an unusually substantial recurring benefit for a hotel card with a $95 annual fee.
• 20 Elite Night Credits: The card provides 20 elite night credits each calendar year, automatically helping cardholders qualify for elevated Choice Privileges® status and potentially progress toward higher loyalty tiers.
• Automatic Platinum Elite Status: The annual elite night credits are sufficient to provide at least Platinum Elite status under the current Choice Privileges® program structure.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Credit: Eligible application fees charged to the card can qualify for a statement credit of up to $120 once every four years.
• Cell Phone Protection: Paying an eligible monthly cellular telephone bill with the card can provide protection against qualifying damage or theft of an eligible phone, subject to benefit terms, coverage limits, and a deductible.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: International purchases do not carry a foreign transaction fee, making the card more practical for Choice travelers outside the United States.
• Mastercard® Acceptance: The card operates on the Mastercard network, providing broad merchant acceptance domestically and internationally.
• Choice Hotels Portfolio: Choice Privileges® points can be used across a large portfolio of participating Choice brands, including many economy, midscale, extended-stay, upscale, and selected Radisson-branded properties.
• Points Can Contribute Toward Elite Qualification: Under the revamped 2026 Choice Privileges program, eligible points generated through Choice Privileges Mastercard spending can also contribute toward qualifying activity within the loyalty program.

Unfavorable Details

• $95 Annual Fee: The Select Mastercard is not a no-annual-fee hotel card, so consumers who rarely stay with Choice Hotels should determine whether the anniversary bonus, status benefits, and spending rewards provide enough practical value to justify paying $95 each year.
• Choice-Specific Rewards: Unlike flexible bank rewards currencies that can be transferred among multiple airline and hotel programs, the card primarily generates Choice Privileges® points, making the rewards less versatile for travelers who frequently switch hotel chains.
• No 0% Purchase APR: The card is not designed as an interest-free financing product and currently does not advertise an introductory 0% APR period for new purchases.
• No 0% Balance Transfer Promotion: Consumers whose main objective is consolidating existing high-interest credit card debt should generally consider a dedicated balance-transfer credit card instead.
• Only 1X on General Purchases: Eligible purchases outside Choice Hotels and the card’s 5X everyday categories earn only 1 Choice Privileges® point per $1, making another credit card potentially more rewarding for uncategorized spending.
• Merchant Coding Determines Bonus Eligibility: Purchases generally must be processed under eligible Mastercard merchant category codes to receive elevated rewards, meaning a purchase from a merchant that appears to fit a category may occasionally earn only the standard rate.
• Reward Values Can Vary: Choice Privileges® does not provide one guaranteed cash value for every point, so the practical return depends heavily on the hotel, destination, travel date, and redemption selected.
• Reward Availability Varies: Reward rooms depend on participating properties and available inventory, so travelers may not always find their preferred hotel or date at an attractive redemption level.
• Benefits Favor Choice Loyalists: Travelers who frequently use Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, or independent hotels may receive less value from the card’s elite benefits and anniversary rewards.
• Interest Can Erase Rewards Value: Carrying a revolving balance at the regular variable APR can quickly cost substantially more than the Choice Privileges® points earned from purchases.

Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® Credit Card Facts Table

Feature	Details
Credit Card Issuer	Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Payment Network	World Elite Mastercard®
Card Type	Hotel Rewards Credit Card
Recommended Credit	Good Credit to Excellent Credit Score (690-850)
Annual Fee	$95
Welcome Bonus	60,000 points after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months
Choice Hotels Rewards	10X points
Gas Rewards	5X points
Grocery Rewards	5X points
Home Improvement Rewards	5X points
Phone Plan Rewards	5X points
Other Purchases	1X point
Anniversary Bonus	30,000 points every account anniversary
Elite Night Credits	20 each calendar year
Elite Status	At least Choice Privileges Platinum Elite
Trusted Traveler Credit	Up to $120 on eligible programs
Cell Phone Protection	Up to $800 per qualifying claim
Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Intro APR	None
Regular APR	19.74%, 25.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee	Generally up to 5%, minimum $5
Best For	Frequent Choice Hotels guests and Choice Privileges members

60,000 Choice Privileges® Points Welcome Offer

New qualifying Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® cardholders can currently earn 60,000 Choice Privileges bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases during the first three months after opening the account. Choice and Wells Fargo describe the offer as potentially enough for up to seven reward nights at select Choice Hotels properties, although additional fees may apply and the actual number of nights obtained from 60,000 points depends on the property’s redemption requirement, destination, travel dates, and availability. The $3,000 spending requirement averages approximately $1,000 per month during the qualifying period, so applicants should ideally meet it using purchases already planned within their normal budget rather than spending unnecessarily or carrying an interest-bearing balance simply to earn the bonus.

Welcome Bonus Eligibility

Receiving the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard does not necessarily guarantee that every applicant will qualify for every introductory bonus, because eligibility can be affected by the specific terms shown during application and Wells Fargo’s promotional restrictions. Consumers who previously carried Choice Privileges credit cards or recently received a Choice-related introductory offer should review the current application disclosures before applying. Applicants should also confirm the required purchase amount and qualifying period because welcome offers can change over time.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® Rewards Rate

The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard earns 10X Choice Privileges® points on qualifying stays at participating Choice Hotels properties, 5X points on eligible purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and qualifying phone-plan providers, and 1X point on most other net purchases. Merchant category coding determines whether many purchases qualify for elevated rewards, and transactions processed through certain third-party payment platforms, online marketplaces, mobile card readers, or digital payment arrangements may not always receive the expected bonus rate.

10X Points at Participating Choice Hotels®

The Select Mastercard earns 10 Choice Privileges® points per $1 on qualifying hotel stays when eligible Choice hotel purchases are charged to the card. This card-generated return can be earned in addition to applicable Choice Privileges loyalty-program points generated from qualifying hotel stays, depending on the program’s current terms, making direct paid stays with participating Choice properties one of the fastest ways for cardholders to grow their points balances. Eligible locations include participating properties across numerous Choice brands and geographic regions, although not every Choice-affiliated property worldwide necessarily participates.

5X Points at Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations

Eligible purchases made at merchants classified as gas stations, automated fuel dispensers, and qualifying electric-vehicle charging stations earn 5 Choice Privileges® points per $1. This can be particularly attractive for road travelers who frequently combine hotel stays with substantial fuel expenses, allowing the card to earn elevated rewards both during a Choice Hotels stay and while traveling between destinations.

5X Points at Grocery Stores

Eligible grocery purchases earn 5X Choice Privileges® points, giving the Select Mastercard a useful category beyond hotel travel. The category generally applies to qualifying merchants classified as grocery stores, supermarkets, delis, and bakeries according to Mastercard merchant coding, although not every business that sells groceries will necessarily process transactions under an eligible category.

5X Points at Home Improvement Stores

Qualifying purchases at eligible home improvement merchants can earn 5 Choice Privileges® points per $1, distinguishing the Select Mastercard from many hotel credit cards that concentrate their everyday rewards primarily on dining, gas, and grocery spending. Eligible categories can include home improvement stores, hardware stores, nurseries, garden supply stores, furniture and appliance retailers, certain home-accessory merchants, and other qualifying businesses when they use an eligible Mastercard merchant classification.

5X Points on Phone Plan Services

Qualifying telephone-plan purchases earn 5 Choice Privileges® points per $1 when processed by eligible landline or cellular telecommunications providers. This category can be particularly useful because paying an eligible monthly wireless bill with the card may simultaneously generate bonus Choice points and satisfy the payment requirement associated with the card’s cellular telephone protection, subject to the applicable coverage conditions.

1X Point on Other Purchases

Most qualifying purchases that do not fall within the card’s hotel or 5X bonus categories earn 1 Choice Privileges® point per $1. Cardholders with significant spending outside the featured categories may benefit from combining the Select Mastercard with another rewards card that provides a stronger base return on general purchases while reserving the Select Mastercard for Choice Hotels, groceries, gas, home improvement, and phone-plan expenses.

30,000-Point Account Anniversary Bonus

One of the strongest recurring features of the Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard is the 30,000 Choice Privileges bonus points awarded every account anniversary under the current program terms. Unlike a welcome offer that is earned only once, this benefit renews annually and can significantly change the long-term economics of keeping the card. Cardholders who regularly redeem Choice points for hotel stays may potentially receive enough practical value from the anniversary points to offset the $95 annual fee before considering any rewards earned through ordinary purchases.

20 Elite Night Credits Every Calendar Year

Select Mastercard cardholders receive 20 Choice Privileges® elite night credits each calendar year, giving the card an unusually strong built-in hotel-status benefit for a $95 annual fee. These credits can establish elevated status without requiring the cardholder to physically complete the same number of qualifying hotel nights and can also provide a meaningful head start toward higher Choice Privileges elite tiers for travelers who regularly stay within the program.

Choice Privileges® Platinum Elite Status

The Select Mastercard’s 20 annual elite night credits are sufficient to provide Choice Privileges® Platinum Elite status under the current 2026 loyalty structure. Choice significantly revised its elite program beginning January 1, 2026, with Platinum now attainable at 15 qualifying nights or 30,000 qualifying credits, while higher Diamond and Titanium levels require greater qualifying activity. Because the Select card supplies 20 annual elite night credits, cardholders begin each calendar year with status above the normal Platinum night threshold under the current structure.

Choice Privileges® 2026 Elite Program

Choice Privileges introduced significant program changes beginning January 1, 2026, including lower qualifying thresholds for certain elite tiers, a new Titanium tier, Milestone Rewards, and the ability for qualifying activity generated through Choice Privileges Mastercard spending to contribute toward elite progression. Gold status currently begins at five nights or 10,000 qualifying credits, Platinum at 15 nights or 30,000 credits, Diamond at 35 nights or 70,000 credits, and Titanium at 55 nights or 110,000 credits, making the Select Mastercard’s annual elite credits especially relevant for travelers pursuing higher loyalty status.

Earning Choice Privileges® Points From Hotel Stays

Choice Privileges members can earn loyalty-program points from qualifying hotel stays independently of the rewards earned through the credit card, subject to current Choice program rules. Choice currently advertises earnings of up to 10 Choice Privileges points per $1 on qualifying guest-room charges at more than 7,100 participating locations, meaning eligible Select Mastercard holders can potentially combine loyalty-program earnings with the card’s 10X hotel purchase category when paying for qualifying stays.

Redeeming Choice Privileges® Points for Reward Nights

Choice Privileges® points can be redeemed for eligible Reward Nights at participating properties worldwide. Choice states that some Reward Nights begin at approximately 6,000 points, although most participating properties begin at 8,000 points or more and individual hotel requirements can vary throughout the year. This variability means 30,000 anniversary points or a 60,000-point welcome bonus may provide substantially different amounts of hotel value depending on where and when the cardholder chooses to travel.

Choice Hotels® Participating Brands

Choice Privileges encompasses a broad collection of hotel brands spanning different price points and travel styles. Participating eligible Mastercard locations can include properties associated with Cambria®, Clarion®, Clarion Pointe®, Comfort®, Econo Lodge®, Everhome Suites®, MainStay Suites®, Quality®, Rodeway Inn®, Sleep Inn®, Suburban Studios®, Ascend Hotel Collection®, and eligible Radisson-branded properties in supported geographic regions, among others. Participation can vary by region and specific property, so travelers should verify eligibility before assuming a stay will receive the card’s elevated hotel rewards.

Choice Privileges® Reward Night Value

The practical value of Choice Privileges® points depends on the redemption selected rather than a guaranteed fixed dollar amount. An inexpensive roadside hotel during a low-demand period may require a different number of points than an upscale property or a hotel during a busy travel period, meaning travelers can potentially improve redemption value by comparing the cash price with the number of points required before booking. This also means the card’s 30,000 annual anniversary points should be evaluated according to the hotel stays a cardholder would realistically book rather than assigning them one universal cash-equivalent value.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Credit

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard cardholders can receive a statement credit of up to $120 once every four years when an eligible Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee is charged to the card. Global Entry provides expedited processing for eligible travelers entering the United States and includes TSA PreCheck eligibility, while TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening at participating U.S. airports. For travelers who would otherwise pay for one of these programs, this benefit adds meaningful periodic value beyond the card’s Choice Hotels rewards.

Cell Phone Protection

The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard includes cellular telephone protection that can provide up to $800 per qualifying claim against eligible damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible and the program’s exclusions, limits, and coverage requirements. To activate coverage, the cardholder generally must use the eligible card to pay the required monthly cellular telephone bill, making the card’s 5X phone-plan rewards category and cell phone protection complementary benefits for consumers who use the card for wireless service.

World Elite Mastercard® Benefits

As a Mastercard product with access to applicable Mastercard benefits, the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard may provide additional travel, shopping, lifestyle, and service features according to the current Mastercard benefit guide. Individual benefits can change and may carry specific eligibility or activation requirements, so cardholders should consult the current Guide to Benefits rather than assuming every general World Elite Mastercard feature automatically applies to every purchase.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard charges no foreign transaction fee, allowing cardholders to make qualifying purchases outside the United States without Wells Fargo adding the common percentage-based foreign purchase fee charged by many credit cards. Combined with Mastercard’s broad international acceptance and Choice’s international hotel footprint, the benefit makes the card considerably more practical for travelers visiting eligible Choice destinations abroad.

$95 Annual Fee

The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard charges a $95 annual fee. Whether that fee represents good economic value depends on how a cardholder uses Choice Privileges points and hotel benefits, but the recurring 30,000-point anniversary bonus can play a major role in the calculation. Travelers who already stay at Choice Hotels and would otherwise purchase hotel nights may have considerably more opportunity to recover the annual fee through anniversary rewards, elite benefits, and elevated hotel earnings than consumers who rarely participate in the Choice ecosystem.

Introductory Purchase APR

The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard does not currently advertise a 0% introductory APR for purchases. Consumers who need to finance a major expense over several months without interest should therefore compare dedicated introductory-APR credit cards, because carrying a large balance on this card can result in interest expenses that significantly exceed the value of the rewards earned.

Regular Purchase APR

The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard currently carries a variable purchase APR of 19.99%, 25.74%, or 28.74%, with the applicable rate determined according to creditworthiness and account terms. Because the APR is variable, it can change with the applicable benchmark rate. Cardholders seeking to maximize the economic value of Choice Privileges rewards should generally avoid carrying interest-bearing balances because even a strong 5X or 10X rewards category can be outweighed by financing charges.

Balance Transfers

The Select Mastercard does not currently advertise a promotional 0% introductory balance-transfer APR. Current published information lists a balance-transfer fee of 5% of the transferred amount with a $5 minimum, making the card considerably less suitable for debt consolidation than credit cards specifically structured around lengthy introductory balance-transfer promotions.

Paying the Balance in Full

Paying the statement balance in full by the applicable due date is generally the most effective way to preserve the value earned from Choice Privileges® points. Even when a purchase generates 5X or 10X points, revolving interest at the regular APR can quickly outweigh the economic benefit of those rewards. The card is therefore most effective when used as a rewards and loyalty tool for expenses the cardholder already intends and can afford to pay.

Credit Requirements

The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard is generally targeted toward consumers with good to excellent credit, although Wells Fargo does not publish a single minimum credit score guaranteeing approval. Decisions may consider credit history, payment history, current debt obligations, income, recent applications, existing Wells Fargo relationships, overall credit utilization, and other underwriting factors. A strong credit score can improve approval prospects but does not guarantee approval because lenders evaluate the overall application.

Application Process

Applications for the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard are processed by Wells Fargo, and applicants generally provide identification, Social Security information, income, housing information, and other financial details required for underwriting. Approved applicants should review the credit limit, APR, welcome-offer requirements, annual fee, and account terms provided with their approval before using the card because individualized account pricing and promotional eligibility can differ from general marketing information.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Credit Card for Frequent Choice Hotels Guests

The Select Mastercard is particularly well aligned with travelers who regularly stay with Choice Hotels because virtually every major recurring benefit reinforces participation in the Choice Privileges ecosystem. The card provides accelerated Choice hotel rewards, 30,000 anniversary points, 20 elite night credits, elevated loyalty status, and everyday bonus categories capable of producing additional Choice points between hotel stays. Travelers who already prefer Choice properties can therefore benefit from several layers of rewards without substantially changing their existing travel behavior.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Credit Card for Road Trips

The card can be especially practical for road travelers because Choice operates numerous hotels along highways, in suburban markets, and near smaller regional destinations while the card simultaneously earns 5X points on qualifying gas purchases and EV charging. A traveler who drives frequently and stays at participating Choice properties can earn elevated rewards on both transportation and lodging expenses, creating a natural combination of spending categories that many general-purpose hotel cards do not provide.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Credit Card for Grocery Spending

Earning 5X Choice Privileges® points at qualifying grocery merchants gives the card meaningful everyday rewards potential even when the cardholder is not traveling. Families that spend heavily at eligible supermarkets can accumulate hotel points throughout the year and then use those rewards toward future Choice stays, although consumers should compare the value of Choice points with cash-back or transferable-points alternatives before deciding whether grocery spending belongs primarily on this card.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Credit Card for Home Improvement Spending

The 5X home improvement category is one of the card’s more unusual advantages because relatively few hotel rewards cards offer elevated rewards in this area. Homeowners planning qualifying purchases from hardware stores, home improvement retailers, nurseries, appliance merchants, furniture stores, and other eligible businesses may be able to build a substantial Choice Privileges balance, although merchant coding determines whether a particular transaction receives bonus rewards.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Credit Card for International Travel

The card is suitable for international purchases from a fee perspective because Wells Fargo does not charge a foreign transaction fee and Mastercard is broadly accepted around the world. Travelers should nevertheless verify that the specific Choice property they intend to book qualifies as an eligible location for the Mastercard’s accelerated rewards because Choice participation and eligible brands can vary by geographic region.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard vs. No-Annual-Fee Choice Privileges® Mastercard® Credit Card

Wells Fargo also offers a no-annual-fee Choice Privileges® Mastercard that currently earns 5X points on eligible Choice Hotels stays, 3X at qualifying gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone-plan providers, and 1X on other purchases while providing 10 annual elite night credits. The $95 Select version doubles the hotel-card earning rate to 10X, increases the everyday categories to 5X, provides 20 annual elite night credits instead of 10, and adds 30,000 anniversary points, making the Select card structurally more rewarding for consumers who regularly participate in Choice Privileges.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard vs. General Travel Credit Cards

General travel rewards cards often provide flexible points that can be redeemed for multiple airlines, hotels, cash, or statement credits, while the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard concentrates its strongest value within one hotel loyalty ecosystem. The Choice card can therefore provide stronger Choice-specific benefits such as automatic elite credits and anniversary points, whereas a flexible travel card may provide broader redemption choices for consumers who do not consistently stay with one hotel group.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard vs. Cash-Back Credit Cards

A cash-back card generally offers simpler rewards because earnings have a direct monetary value, while Choice Privileges® points require hotel-redemption decisions and can vary in practical value. Consumers who enjoy optimizing hotel redemptions may find Choice points useful, while travelers who prefer predictable rewards without loyalty-program restrictions may find straightforward cash back easier to manage. The appropriate structure depends largely on whether future Choice Hotels stays are already part of the consumer’s normal travel plans.

Is the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Good for Families?

The card can work particularly well for families that combine regular travel with substantial grocery, gas, home improvement, and cellular telephone spending. These everyday categories can generate 5X Choice Privileges points while the account builds toward future hotel stays, and the annual 30,000-point bonus creates another recurring pool of travel rewards. Families should nevertheless consider whether Choice’s hotel locations fit their typical destinations because points provide the most practical value when they replace lodging expenses the household would otherwise pay in cash.

Is the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Good for Business Travelers?

Business travelers who frequently stay at participating Choice Hotels can use the card’s 10X hotel rewards, automatic elite status, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit, no foreign transaction fee, and annual anniversary points to strengthen the value received from recurring work-related travel. However, individuals whose employers require bookings through corporate travel systems or who predominantly stay with other hotel groups should verify that their normal business travel will qualify before selecting the card primarily for work expenses.

Who Should Get the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard?

The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard is best suited to consumers who already stay at Choice Hotels, expect to redeem Choice Privileges points regularly, value automatic hotel status, and can take advantage of the card’s 5X everyday categories. Travelers who can naturally use the 30,000 anniversary points each year and benefit from Platinum Elite status are especially well positioned to receive ongoing value from the $95 annual fee.

Who Should Avoid the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard?

Consumers who rarely stay at Choice Hotels, prefer completely flexible rewards, need a 0% introductory financing offer, or carry substantial credit card balances may receive less value from the Select Mastercard. Travelers committed primarily to another hotel loyalty program may also find that a cobranded card from their preferred hotel group aligns better with their actual spending and travel patterns, while consumers seeking simple rewards may prefer a cash-back card with no annual fee.

How to Maximize the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard

Cardholders can maximize the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard by meeting the welcome-offer requirement entirely through planned spending, using the card for qualifying Choice Hotels stays, putting eligible gas, grocery, home improvement, and phone-plan purchases on the card, paying the monthly cellular bill with the card when seeking phone-protection coverage, using the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit when eligible, tracking annual elite night credits, comparing cash prices with Choice point redemption requirements before booking Reward Nights, and paying statement balances in full whenever possible to prevent interest charges from reducing the value of earned rewards.

Is the Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Worth the $95 Annual Fee?

The $95 annual fee can be relatively easy to evaluate for travelers who regularly redeem Choice Privileges® points because the card provides 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary in addition to 20 elite night credits, automatic elevated status, higher earning rates, cellular telephone coverage, and a periodic trusted-traveler credit. The actual financial value depends on how and where the points are redeemed, so consumers should not assign an arbitrary cash value to benefits they would not otherwise use. For a frequent Choice guest, however, the anniversary points and status can provide continuing value year after year instead of making the card dependent entirely on its introductory bonus.

Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Frequently Asked Questions

The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard has a $95 annual fee and currently offers 60,000 bonus points after $3,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months. It earns 10X points on qualifying Choice Hotels stays, 5X at eligible gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone-plan providers, and 1X on most other purchases. Cardholders also receive 30,000 anniversary points, 20 elite night credits per calendar year, automatic elevated Choice Privileges status, up to $120 toward an eligible Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee every four years, cell phone protection, and no foreign transaction fees. Reward nights can begin at relatively low point levels at select hotels, but exact redemption requirements and availability vary by property and travel dates.

Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Have an Annual Fee?

Yes. The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard currently charges a $95 annual fee. The card differs from the standard no-annual-fee Choice Privileges Mastercard by providing stronger earning rates, twice as many annual elite night credits, and a 30,000-point anniversary bonus.

How Many Points Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Earn?

The card earns 10X Choice Privileges® points on eligible stays at participating Choice Hotels, 5X points at qualifying gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement merchants, and telephone-plan providers, and 1X point on most other qualifying purchases. Actual bonus eligibility depends on how the merchant categorizes and processes the transaction.

Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Give Free Hotel Nights?

The card does not provide a fixed free-night certificate each year; instead, it currently provides 30,000 Choice Privileges® bonus points every account anniversary. Those points can be redeemed toward eligible Reward Nights, with the actual number of nights depending on the point requirement of the chosen property, travel date, and availability.

Do Choice Privileges® Points Expire?

Choice Privileges points are governed by the current Choice Privileges program rules, and members should maintain qualifying account activity and review the latest expiration requirements because loyalty-program rules can change. Regular card spending that generates Choice Privileges points may help maintain active participation, but cardholders should always rely on their Choice account and current program rules for the applicable expiration date.

Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?

No. The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard currently has no foreign transaction fee, making it suitable for purchases abroad when Mastercard is accepted.

Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Include TSA PreCheck®?

The card can reimburse up to $120 toward an eligible Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee once every four years when the qualifying charge is made with the card. This is a statement-credit benefit rather than automatic membership, meaning the traveler must apply for and satisfy the eligibility requirements of the applicable government program.

Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Have Cell Phone Insurance?

Yes. The card currently includes cellular telephone protection of up to $800 per qualifying claim for eligible damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible, coverage limits, exclusions, and payment requirements. Cardholders should review the current benefit guide before relying on the coverage for a particular loss.

Does the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Have a 0% Intro APR?

No standard 0% introductory purchase APR is currently advertised for the Select Mastercard. Consumers who need to finance purchases for an extended period without interest should compare cards designed specifically around promotional introductory APR offers.

What Credit Score Is Needed for the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard?

Wells Fargo does not guarantee approval at a specific credit score, but the Select Mastercard is generally marketed toward applicants with good to excellent credit. Credit score is only one part of underwriting, and Wells Fargo can also consider income, debt, payment history, utilization, recent applications, and other credit and financial information.

Is the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard Good for Everyday Spending?

The card can be particularly useful for everyday spending in its 5X categories, including eligible groceries, gas, home improvement purchases, and phone plans. It is considerably less competitive for purchases outside those categories because general purchases earn only 1X Choice Privileges® point, making a complementary general-purpose rewards card potentially useful for nonbonus spending.

Final Verdict

The Wells Fargo Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® Credit Card is a feature-rich hotel rewards credit card for consumers who regularly stay with Choice Hotels and want ongoing benefits rather than merely an introductory bonus. The card currently combines a 60,000-point welcome offer after $3,000 in purchases during the first three months with 10X points on qualifying Choice Hotels stays, 5X points on eligible gas, grocery, home improvement, and phone-plan purchases, 1X on most other transactions, 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary, 20 annual elite night credits, automatic elevated Choice Privileges status, up to $120 toward an eligible Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee every four years, cellular telephone protection, and no foreign transaction fees. Its main tradeoffs are the $95 annual fee, the limited flexibility of a hotel-specific rewards currency, the absence of a 0% introductory APR, and the relatively weak 1X return on general purchases. For travelers who consistently redeem Choice Privileges® points and stay within the Choice Hotels portfolio, the anniversary bonus and elite benefits can make the Select Mastercard a useful long-term hotel card, while travelers without meaningful Choice loyalty may receive greater flexibility from a general travel or cash-back credit card.