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Wells Fargo Unauthorized Accounts Settlement

Last verified September 18, 2026Source: law-firm:keller-rohrbackHow ClaimWatch verifies cases

Closed to new claims. Browse open settlements →

Where this case stands

Final approval granted January 25, 2022

Claims closed. Once the time to appeal has run, the administrator pays valid claims; that usually takes three to twelve months after approval.

Before Judge Timothy S. Black, United States District Court for the Northern District of California (No. 3:15-cv-02159-VC).

  1. June 14, 2018
    Final approval hearing

    The court hears any objections and decides whether to approve the settlement.

  2. August 2, 2019
    Case filed
  3. January 25, 2022
    Final approval granted
  4. January 25, 2022
    Case closed by the court

What happened

Wells Fargo used illegal, fraudulent, and deceptive tactics to boost sales of its banking and financial products by opening unauthorized accounts on behalf of customers without their consent, happening on a nearly daily basis according to a bank employee source.

Do you qualify?

Any person for whom Wells Fargo or its subsidiaries opened an unauthorized account, submitted an unauthorized application, or who obtained identity theft protection services from Wells Fargo between May 1, 2002 and April 20, 2017. Excludes defendants' officers, directors, employees, and judges assigned to the case and their families.

How to file

Distribution of settlement benefits to approved claimants occurred from mid-October through December 2020. Class members with valid claims received: refunds for fees charged to unauthorized accounts, payment for added borrowing costs, and a per-account share of any remaining fund. Contact the Settlement Administrator at 866-431-8549 or [email protected] for claim status.

Common questions

What is the status of the Wells Fargo Unauthorized Accounts Settlement?
Final approval granted January 25, 2022. Claims closed. Once the time to appeal has run, the administrator pays valid claims; that usually takes three to twelve months after approval.
Is the Wells Fargo Unauthorized Accounts Settlement notice real, or a scam?
Claims are filed only at kellerrohrback.com. Filing is always free, and no administrator asks for payment or a full Social Security number by email or text.How to tell a real settlement notice from a scam →
Who are the attorneys in the Wells Fargo Unauthorized Accounts Settlement?
For the plaintiffs: Zachary Schaengold (Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker, LPA); Daniel Martin Solar (DannLaw); Richard M. Paul , III (Paul LLP); Michael L. Schrag (Gibbs Law Group LLP). For Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.: Kobi Kennedy Brinson (Winston & Strawn LLP); Jessica E Salisbury-Copper (Thompson Hine LLP); Amanda L. Groves (Winston & Strawn LLP); Scott Allen King (Thompson Hine - 3). From the public court docket.

Who's involved

Plaintiffs

  • Elizabeth Manley
  • Jose Aguilar
  • Kimberly Duncan
  • Maureen Mann
  • Viola Thomas
  • James L. Chambers Jr.
  • Diane Hawkins
  • Ethan Ryder

Defendants

  • Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

Counsel for plaintiffs

Counsel for defendants

Other cases these firms appear in

From the public court docket, contact details as filed; not an endorsement.

Guides:Why is my settlement check so small?How long a settlement takes to pay outIs this settlement notice real, or a scam?

Summarised from public settlement documents; confirm terms on the official settlement website. ClaimWatch is not a law firm, and filing a claim is free.

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