Methods of forming an aluminum-free wire bond pad and the pad so formed are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an opening through a dielectric layer to a last metal of a chip; forming a tantalum nitride (TaN) layer over the chip and over the opening; removing the tantalum nitride (TaN) layer outside of the opening; forming a passivation mask layer over the chip including a passivation mask opening over the last metal; forming a titanium tungsten (TiW) layer and a copper (Cu) layer over the chip; forming a mask layer over the chip including a mask opening to the copper (Cu) layer over the last metal; forming a nickel (Ni) layer and a copper (Cu) layer and then a gold (Au) layer in the mask opening; and removing the mask.