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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


ý

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003

OR


o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-2979

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   41-0449260
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94104
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 1-800-411-4932

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  ý     No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

Yes  ý     No  o

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 
  Shares Outstanding
April 30, 2003

Common stock, $1—2/3 par value   1,675,110,108




FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
PART I   Financial Information    
Item 1.   Financial Statements    
    Consolidated Statement of Income   2
    Consolidated Balance Sheet   3
    Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income   4
    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows   5
    Notes to Financial Statements   6

Item 2.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A)

 

 
    Summary Financial Data   28
    Overview   29
    Critical Accounting Policies   31
    Earnings Performance   31
        Net Interest Income   31
        Noninterest Income   34
        Noninterest Expense   36
        Operating Segment Results   37
    Balance Sheet Analysis   38
        Securities Available for Sale   38
        Loan Portfolio   40
        Nonaccrual Loans and Other Assets   41
            Loans 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing   42
        Allowance for Loan Losses   43
        Other Assets   44
        Deposits   45
        Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements   45
    Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations   46
    Asset/Liability and Market Risk Management   47
    Capital Management   51
    Factors that May Affect Future Results   51

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

47

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

 
        Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures   58
        Changes in Internal Controls   58

PART II

 

Other Information

 

 
Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K   59

Signature

 

62
Certifications   63

1



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME


 
 
  Quarter
ended March 31,

 
(in millions, except per share amounts)

  2003

  2002

 

 
INTEREST INCOME              
Securities available for sale   $ 453   $ 656  
Mortgages held for sale     814     591  
Loans held for sale     67     69  
Loans     3,410     3,292  
Other interest income     62     73  
   
 
 
    Total interest income     4,806     4,681  
   
 
 
INTEREST EXPENSE              
Deposits     427     494  
Short-term borrowings     95     174  
Long-term debt     330     331  
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures     27     27  
   
 
 
    Total interest expense     879     1,026  
   
 
 
NET INTEREST INCOME     3,927     3,655  
Provision for loan losses     425     490  
   
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     3,502     3,165  
   
 
 
NONINTEREST INCOME              
Service charges on deposit accounts     553     505  
Trust and investment fees     422     439  
Credit card fees     243     201  
Other fees     368     311  
Mortgage banking     561     359  
Insurance     266     263  
Net gains on debt securities available for sale     18     37  
Net losses from equity investments     (98 )   (19 )
Other     249     205  
   
 
 
    Total noninterest income     2,582     2,301  
   
 
 
NONINTEREST EXPENSE              
Salaries     1,141     1,076  
Incentive compensation     447     357  
Employee benefits     419     329  
Equipment     269     236  
Net occupancy     296     269  
Net gains on dispositions of premises and equipment     (4 )   (2 )
Other     1,202     1,063  
   
 
 
    Total noninterest expense     3,770     3,328  
   
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE AND EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE     2,314     2,138  
Income tax expense     822     759  
   
 
 
NET INCOME BEFORE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE     1,492     1,379  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle         (276 )
   
 
 
NET INCOME   $ 1,492   $ 1,103  
   
 
 
NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK   $ 1,491   $ 1,102  
   
 
 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE BEFORE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE              
  Earnings per common share   $ .89   $ .81  
   
 
 
  Diluted earnings per common share   $ .88   $ .80  
   
 
 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE              
  Earnings per common share   $ .89   $ .65  
   
 
 
  Diluted earnings per common share   $ .88   $ .64  
   
 
 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE   $ .30   $ .26  
   
 
 
Average common shares outstanding     1,681.5     1,703.0  
   
 
 
Diluted average common shares outstanding     1,694.1     1,718.9  
   
 
 

2


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET


 
(in millions, except shares)

  March 31,
2003

  December 31,
2002

  March 31,
2002

 

 
ASSETS                    
Cash and due from banks   $ 16,011   $ 17,820   $ 14,559  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements     4,982     3,174     2,788  
Securities available for sale     26,168     27,947     40,085  
Mortgages held for sale     62,610     51,154     26,266  
Loans held for sale     7,075     6,665     5,315  

Loans

 

 

205,954

 

 

196,634

 

 

178,447

 
Allowance for loan losses     3,887     3,862     3,842  
   
 
 
 
  Net loans     202,067     192,772     174,605  
   
 
 
 
Mortgage servicing rights, net     4,183     4,489     7,138  
Premises and equipment, net     3,680     3,688     3,660  
Goodwill     9,799     9,753     9,733  
Other assets     33,094     31,797     27,360  
   
 
 
 
  Total assets   $ 369,669   $ 349,259   $ 311,509  
   
 
 
 
LIABILITIES                    
Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 75,330   $ 74,094   $ 60,728  
Interest-bearing deposits     160,544     142,822     128,840  
   
 
 
 
  Total deposits     235,874     216,916     189,568  
Short-term borrowings     33,196     33,446     33,408  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     19,961     18,334     16,482  
Long-term debt     46,982     47,320     40,839  
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures     2,885     2,885     2,885  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                    
Preferred stock     430     251     389  
Unearned ESOP shares     (382 )   (190 )   (338 )
   
 
 
 
  Total preferred stock     48     61     51  
Common stock—$1—2/3 par value, authorized 6,000,000,000 shares; issued 1,736,381,025 shares     2,894     2,894     2,894  
Additional paid-in capital     9,514     9,498     9,472  
Retained earnings     20,349     19,394     16,609  
Cumulative other comprehensive income     913     976     676  
Treasury stock—61,454,942 shares, 50,474,518 shares and 27,844,043 shares     (2,947 )   (2,465 )   (1,375 )
   
 
 
 
  Total stockholders' equity     30,771     30,358     28,327  
   
 
 
 
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 369,669   $ 349,259   $ 311,509  
   
 
 
 

3


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


 
(in millions, except shares)

  Number of
shares

  Preferred
stock

  Unearned
ESOP
shares

  Common
stock

  Additional
paid-in
capital

  Retained
earnings

  Treasury
stock

  Cumulative
other
comprehensive
income

  Total
stockholders'
equity

 

 
BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2001       $ 218   $ (154 ) $ 2,894   $ 9,436   $ 16,005   $ (1,937 ) $ 752   $ 27,214  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income                                                      
  Net income                                 1,103                 1,103  
  Other comprehensive income, net of tax:                                                      
    Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale and other retained interests, net of reclassification of $26 million of net gains included in net income                                             (137 )   (137 )
    Net unrealized gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net of reclassification of $68 million of net losses on cash flow hedges included in net income                                             61     61  
                                                 
 
Total comprehensive income                                                   1,027  
Common stock issued   4,100,927                       22     (54 )   175           143  
Common stock issued for acquisitions   10,373,249                       (5 )         458           453  
Common stock repurchased   2,781,496                                   (131 )         (131 )
Preferred stock (238,000) issued to ESOP         238     (255 )         17                        
Preferred stock released to ESOP               71           (5 )                     66  
Preferred stock (66,611) converted to common shares   1,349,305     (67 )               7           60            
Preferred stock dividends                                 (1 )               (1 )
Common stock dividends                                 (444 )               (444 )
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change         171     (184 )       36     604     562     (76 )   1,113  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE MARCH 31, 2002       $ 389   $ (338 ) $ 2,894   $ 9,472   $ 16,609   $ (1,375 ) $ 676   $ 28,327  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2002       $ 251   $ (190 ) $ 2,894   $ 9,498   $ 19,394   $ (2,465 ) $ 976   $ 30,358  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income                                                      
  Net income                                 1,492                 1,492  
  Other comprehensive income, net of tax:                                                      
    Translation adjustments                                             8     8  
    Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale and other retained interests, net of reclassification of $8 million of net gains included in net income                                             (113 )   (113 )
    Net unrealized gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net of reclassification of $23 million of net losses on cash flow hedges included in net income                                             42     42  
                                                 
 
Total comprehensive income                                                   1,429  
Common stock issued   3,588,368                       5     (30 )   171           146  
Common stock repurchased   16,359,432                                   (744 )         (744 )
Preferred stock (260,200) issued to ESOP         260     (279 )         19                        
Preferred stock released to ESOP               87           (6 )                     81  
Preferred stock (80,585) converted to common shares   1,790,640     (81 )               (2 )         83            
Preferred stock dividends                                 (1 )               (1 )
Common stock dividends                                 (506 )               (506 )
Change in Rabbi trust assets and similar arrangements (classified as treasury stock)                                       8           8  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change         179     (192 )       16     955     (482 )   (63 )   413  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE MARCH 31, 2003       $ 430   $ (382 ) $ 2,894   $ 9,514   $ 20,349   $ (2,947 ) $ 913   $ 30,771  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31,

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Cash flows from operating activities:              
  Net income   $ 1,492   $ 1,103  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:              
    Provision for loan losses     425     490  
    Depreciation and amortization     1,063     935  
    Net gains on securities available for sale     (13 )   (41 )
    Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities     (637 )   (120 )
    Net losses (gains) on sales of loans     1     (6 )
    Net gains on dispositions of premises and equipment     (4 )   (2 )
    Net gains on dispositions of operations     (27 )   (3 )
    Release of preferred shares to ESOP     81     66  
    Net decrease in trading assets     1,923      
    Deferred income tax expense     28     420  
    Net increase in accrued interest receivable     (46 )   (57 )
    Net (decrease) increase in accrued interest payable     (9 )   3  
    Originations of mortgages held for sale     (90,520 )   (60,314 )
    Proceeds from sales of mortgages held for sale     77,989     65,811  
    Principal collected on mortgages held for sale     824     276  
    Net increase in loans held for sale     (410 )   (570 )
    Other assets, net     (547 )   (2,168 )
    Other accrued expenses and liabilities, net     1,486     (657 )
   
 
 
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities     (6,901 )   5,166  
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:              
  Securities available for sale:              
    Proceeds from sales     818     2,084  
    Proceeds from prepayments and maturities     2,713     2,176  
    Purchases     (2,109 )   (3,050 )
  Net cash paid for acquisitions     (763 )   (553 )
  Net decrease (increase) in banking subsidiaries' loans resulting from collections and originations     1,402     (3,914 )
  Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries     599     355  
  Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries     (9,869 )   (250 )
  Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans     6,804     2,843  
  Loans originated by nonbank entities     (4,281 )   (3,175 )
  Purchases of loans by nonbank entities     (3,682 )    
  Proceeds from dispositions of operations     30     3  
  Proceeds from sales of foreclosed assets     74     145  
  Net increase in federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements     (1,808 )   (116 )
  Net increase in mortgage servicing rights     (871 )   (1,609 )
  Other, net     (1,191 )   412  
   
 
 
Net cash used by investing activities     (12,134 )   (4,649 )
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:              
  Net increase (decrease) in deposits     18,958     (2,013 )
  Net decrease in short-term borrowings     (250 )   (5,261 )
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt     7,364     7,489  
  Repayment of long-term debt     (7,769 )   (3,092 )
  Proceeds from issuance of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures         450  
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock     137     114  
  Repurchase of common stock     (744 )   (131 )
  Payment of cash dividends on preferred and common stock     (507 )   (445 )
  Other, net     37     (37 )
   
 
 
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities     17,226     (2,926 )
   
 
 
  Net change in cash and due from banks     (1,809 )   (2,409 )
Cash and due from banks at beginning of quarter     17,820     16,968  
   
 
 
Cash and due from banks at end of quarter   $ 16,011   $ 14,559  
   
 
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:              
  Cash paid during the quarter for:              
    Interest   $ 870   $ 1,029  
    Income taxes     528     422  
  Noncash investing and financing activities:              
    Transfers from loans to foreclosed assets   $ 135   $ 162  
    Net transfers between loans and mortgages held for sale     43     1,232  

5


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated) (the Company) is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage banking and consumer finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, commercial businesses and financial institutions in all 50 states of the U.S. and in other countries. Wells Fargo & Company (the Parent) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company.

        The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and prevailing practices in the financial services industry. Preparing the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and income and expenses during the reporting period. Certain amounts in the financial statements for prior years have been reclassified to conform with the current financial statement presentation.

        The information furnished in these unaudited interim statements reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q. The results of operations in the interim statements do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the full year. The interim financial information should be read in conjunction with the Company's 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K (2002 Form 10-K).

        Descriptions of the significant accounting policies of the Company are included in Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K. There have been no significant changes to these policies.

Stock-based Compensation

        The Company has several stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 14 (Common Stock and Stock Plans) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K. As permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 123 (FAS 123), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation , the Company uses the intrinsic value method of Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees , to account for its stock-based employee compensation plans. As required by FASB Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure, an amendment to FASB Statement 123 , pro forma net income and earnings per common share information is provided, as if the Company accounted for its employee stock option plans under the fair value method of FAS 123. The fair value of options was estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which was developed to estimate the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Because the Company's stock options have characteristics significantly more restrictive than those of traded or other freely

6


transferable options, in management's opinion, existing valuation models, including the Black-Scholes model, do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of stock options.


 
  Quarter ended March 31,

(in millions, except per share amounts)

  2003

  2002


Net income, as reported   $ 1,492   $ 1,103
  Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of tax     1     1
  Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense under the fair value method for all awards, net of tax     46     45
   
 
Net income, pro forma   $ 1,447   $ 1,059
   
 
Earnings per common share            
  As reported   $ .89   $ .65
  Pro forma     .86     .62
Diluted earnings per common share            
  As reported   $ .88   $ .64
  Pro forma     .85     .61

7


2.      Business Combinations

        The Company regularly explores opportunities to acquire financial institutions and related financial services businesses. Generally, the Company does not make a public announcement about an acquisition opportunity until a definitive agreement has been signed.

        Transactions completed in the three months ended March 31, 2003 include:


(in millions)

  Date

  Assets


Certain assets of Towle Financial Services/Midwest, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota   January 1   $ 5
Certain assets of Wraith, Scarlett & Randolph Insurance Services, Inc., Woodland, California   January 1     1
Pate Insurance Agency, Homer, Alaska   January 1     1
Certain assets of Montgomery Asset Management, LLC, San Francisco, California   January 18     36
Certain assets of Telmark, LLC, Syracuse, New York   February 28     660
       
        $ 703
       

8


3.      Intangible Assets

        The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for intangible assets are presented in the following table.


 
  March 31, 2003

  March 31, 2002

(in millions)

  Gross
carrying amount

  Accumulated amortization

  Gross
carrying amount

  Accumulated amortization


Amortized intangible assets:                        
  Mortgage servicing rights, before valuation allowance(1)   $ 12,306   $ 5,654   $ 11,861   $ 3,257
  Core deposit intangibles     2,415     1,584     2,414     1,433
  Other     380     261     294     191
   
 
 
 
  Total   $ 15,101   $ 7,499   $ 14,569   $ 4,881
   
 
 
 
Unamortized intangible asset (trademark)   $ 14         $ 14      
   
       
     

(1)
The valuation allowance was $2,469 million at March 31, 2003 and $1,466 million at March 31, 2002. The carrying value of mortgage servicing rights was $4,183 million at March 31, 2003 and $7,138 million at March 31, 2002.

        The following table shows the current period and estimated future amortization expense for amortized intangible assets:


(in millions)

  Mortgage
servicing
rights

  Core
deposit
intangibles

  Other

  Total


Quarter ended March 31, 2003 (actual)   $ 803   $ 37   $ 6   $ 846

Nine months ended December 31, 2003 (estimate)

 

 

1,871

 

 

105

 

 

16

 

 

1,992

Estimate for year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2004     1,743     131     20     1,894
2005     1,104     120     16     1,240
2006     686     108     13     807
2007     442     99     11     552
2008     286     91     10     387

        The projections of amortization expense shown above for mortgage servicing rights are based on existing asset balances and the existing interest rate environment as of March 31, 2003. Future amortization expense may be significantly different depending upon changes in the mortgage servicing portfolio, mortgage interest rates and market conditions.

9



4.
Goodwill

        The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of goodwill as allocated to the Company's operating segments for the purpose of goodwill impairment analysis.


 
(in millions)

  Community
Banking

  Wholesale
Banking

  Wells Fargo
Financial

  Consolidated
Company

 

 
Balance December 31, 2001   $ 6,265   $ 2,655   $ 607   $ 9,527  
  Goodwill from business combinations     586     17     7     610  
  Transitional goodwill impairment charge         (133 )   (271 )   (404 )
   
 
 
 
 
Balance March 31, 2002   $ 6,851   $ 2,539   $ 343   $ 9,733  
   
 
 
 
 

Balance December 31, 2002

 

$

6,869

 

$

2,541

 

$

343

 

$

9,753

 
 
Goodwill from business combinations

 

 


 

 

43

 

 


 

 

43

 
  Foreign currency translation adjustments             3     3  
   
 
 
 
 
Balance March 31, 2003   $ 6,869   $ 2,584   $ 346   $ 9,799  
   
 
 
 
 

 

        Goodwill amounts allocated to the operating segments for goodwill impairment analysis differ from amounts allocated to the Company's operating segments for management reporting discussed in Note 7 (Operating Segments). At March 31, 2003, the balance of goodwill for management reporting for Community Banking, Wholesale Banking and Wells Fargo Financial was $2.89 billion, $634 million and $346 million, respectively, with $5.93 billion recorded at the enterprise level. At March 31, 2002, the balance of goodwill for management reporting for Community Banking, Wholesale Banking and Wells Fargo Financial was $2.87 billion, $589 million and $343 million, respectively, with $5.93 billion recorded at the enterprise level.

10


5.
Preferred Stock

        The Company is authorized to issue 20 million shares of preferred stock and 4 million shares of preference stock, both without par value. All preferred shares outstanding rank senior to common shares both as to dividends and liquidation preference but have no general voting rights. No preference shares have been issued under this authorization.

        The table below is a summary of the Company's preferred stock. A detailed description of the Company's preferred stock is provided in Note 13 (Preferred Stock) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.


 
 
  Shares issued and outstanding

  Carrying amount
(in millions)

  Adjustable
dividends rate

 
 
  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

  Minimum

  Maximum

 

 
Adjustable-Rate Cumulative, Series B (1)   1,460,000   1,460,000   1,460,000   $ 73   $ 73   $ 73   5.50 % 10.50 %

2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

183,143

 


 


 

 

183

 

 


 

 


 

8.50

 

9.50

 

2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

60,521

 

64,049

 

174,913

 

 

60

 

 

64

 

 

175

 

10.50

 

11.50

 

2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

46,126

 

46,126

 

58,426

 

 

46

 

 

46

 

 

58

 

10.50

 

11.50

 

2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

34,742

 

34,742

 

39,812

 

 

35

 

 

35

 

 

40

 

11.50

 

12.50

 

1999 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

13,222

 

13,222

 

15,552

 

 

13

 

 

13

 

 

15

 

10.30

 

11.30

 

1998 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

5,095

 

5,095

 

6,145

 

 

5

 

 

5

 

 

6

 

10.75

 

11.75

 

1997 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

5,876

 

5,876

 

7,576

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

8

 

9.50

 

10.50

 

1996 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

5,407

 

5,407

 

7,707

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

 

8

 

8.50

 

9.50

 

1995 ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 

3,043

 

3,043

 

5,543

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

5

 

10.00

 

10.00

 

ESOP Cumulative Convertible (2)

 


 


 

1,002

 

 


 

 


 

 

1

 

9.00

 

9.00

 

Unearned ESOP shares (3)

 


 


 


 

 

(382

)

 

(190

)

 

(338

)


 


 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 
 
Total

 

1,817,175

 

1,637,560

 

1,776,676

 

$

48

 

$

61

 

$

51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 



 
(1)
Liquidation preference $50.

(2)
Liquidation preference $1,000.

(3)
In accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position 93-6, Employers' Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans , the Company recorded a corresponding charge to unearned ESOP shares in connection with the issuance of the ESOP Preferred Stock. The unearned ESOP shares are reduced as shares of the ESOP Preferred Stock are committed to be released.

11


6.
Earnings Per Common Share

        The table below shows earnings per common share, diluted earnings per common share and a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of both earnings per common share calculations.


 
 
   
  Quarter ended March 31,

 
(in millions, except per share amounts)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Net income before effect of change in accounting principle   $ 1,492   $ 1,379  
Less: Preferred stock dividends     1     1  
       
 
 
Net income applicable to common stock before effect of change in accounting principle (numerator)     1,491     1,378  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (numerator)         (276 )
       
 
 
Net income applicable to common stock (numerator)   $ 1,491   $ 1,102  
       
 
 

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Average common shares outstanding (denominator)     1,681.5     1,703.0  
       
 
 

Per share before effect of change in accounting principle

 

$

.89

 

$

.81

 
Per share effect of change in accounting principle         (.16 )
       
 
 
Per share   $ .89   $ .65  
       
 
 

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Average common shares outstanding     1,681.5     1,703.0  
Add:   Stock options     12.1     15.6  
    Restricted share rights     .5     .3  
       
 
 
Diluted average common shares outstanding (denominator)     1,694.1     1,718.9  
       
 
 
Per share before effect of change in accounting principle   $ .88   $ .80  
Per share effect of change in accounting principle         (.16 )
       
 
 

Per share

 

$

.88

 

$

.64

 
       
 
 

 

        At March 31, 2003 and 2002, options to purchase 73.2 million and 38.5 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of earnings per share. The exercise price was higher than the market price, and the options were therefore antidilutive.

12


7.
Operating Segments

        The Company has three lines of business for management reporting: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking and Wells Fargo Financial. The results for those lines of business are based on the Company's management accounting process, which assigns balance sheet and income statement items to each responsible operating segment. This process is dynamic and, unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management accounting equivalent to GAAP. The management accounting process measures the performance of the operating segments based on the Company's management structure and is not necessarily comparable with similar information for other financial services companies. The Company's operating segments are defined by product type and customer segments. Changes in management structure and/or the allocation process may result in changes in allocations, transfers and assignments. In that case, results for prior periods would be (and have been) restated to allow comparability.

         The Community Banking Group offers a complete line of diversified financial products and services to individual consumers and small businesses with annual sales predominantly up to $10 million in which the owner generally is the financial decision maker. Community Banking also offers investment management and other services to retail customers and high net worth individuals, insurance and securities brokerage through affiliates and venture capital financing. These products and services include Wells Fargo Funds ®, a family of mutual funds, as well as personal trust, employee benefit trust and agency assets. Loan products include lines of credit, equity lines and loans, equipment and transportation (auto, recreational vehicle and marine) loans, education loans, origination and purchase of residential mortgage loans for sale to investors and servicing of mortgage loans. Other credit products and financial services available to small businesses and their owners include receivables and inventory financing, equipment leases, real estate financing, Small Business Administration financing, venture capital financing, cash management, payroll services, retirement plans, medical savings accounts and credit and debit card processing. Consumer and business deposit products include checking accounts, savings deposits, market rate accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and time deposits.

        Community Banking provides access for customers through a wide range of channels, which encompass a network of traditional banking stores, banking centers, in-store banking centers, business centers and ATMs. Additionally, PhoneBank SM centers and the National Business Banking Center provide 24-hour telephone service. Online banking services include single sign-on to online banking, bill pay and brokerage, as well as online banking for small business.

         The Wholesale Banking Group serves businesses across the United States with annual sales predominantly in excess of $10 million. Wholesale Banking provides a complete line of commercial, corporate and real estate banking products and services. These include traditional commercial loans and lines of credit, letters of credit, asset-based lending, equipment leasing, mezzanine financing, high yield debt, international trade facilities, foreign exchange services, treasury management, investment management, institutional fixed income and equity sales, online/electronic products, insurance and insurance brokerage services, and investment banking services. Wholesale Banking includes the majority ownership interest in the Wells Fargo HSBC

13


Trade Bank, which provides trade financing, letters of credit and collection services and is sometimes supported by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (a public agency of the United States offering export finance support for American-made products). Wholesale Banking also supports the commercial real estate market with products and services such as construction loans for commercial and residential development, land acquisition and development loans, secured and unsecured lines of credit, interim financing arrangements for completed structures, rehabilitation loans, affordable housing loans and letters of credit, permanent loans for securitization, commercial real estate loan servicing and real estate and mortgage brokerage services.

         Wells Fargo Financial includes consumer finance and auto finance operations. Consumer finance operations make direct loans to consumers and purchase sales finance contracts from retail merchants from offices throughout the United States and Canada and in the Caribbean. Automobile finance operations specialize in purchasing sales finance contracts directly from automobile dealers and making loans secured by automobiles in the United States and Puerto Rico. Wells Fargo Financial also provides credit cards, and lease and other commercial financing.

         The Reconciliation Column consists of Treasury equity investment activities and balances and unallocated goodwill balances held at the enterprise level.

14


        The following table provides the results for the Company's three major operating segments.


 
 
  Community
Banking

  Wholesale
Banking

  Wells Fargo
Financial

  Reconciliation
column (2)

  Consolidated
Company

 
(income/expense in millions, average balances in billions)

 
  2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

  2003

  2002

 

 
Quarter ended March 31,                                                              

Net interest income (1)

 

$

2,852

 

$

2,647

 

$

555

 

$

570

 

$

523

 

$

441

 

$

(3

)

$

(3

)

$

3,927

 

$

3,655

 
Provision for loan losses     231     276     53     85     141     129             425     490  
Noninterest income     1,794     1,535     716     657     91     91     (19 )   18     2,582     2,301  
Noninterest expense     2,777     2,397     684     660     308     270     1     1     3,770     3,328  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) and effect of change in accounting principle     1,638     1,509     534     482     165     133     (23 )   14     2,314     2,138  
Income tax expense (benefit)     583     532     184     173     63     49     (8 )   5     822     759  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) before effect of change in accounting principle     1,055     977     350     309     102     84     (15 )   9     1,492     1,379  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle                 (98 )       (178 )               (276 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)   $ 1,055   $ 977   $ 350   $ 211   $ 102   $ (94 ) $ (15 ) $ 9   $ 1,492   $ 1,103  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Average loans

 

$

132

 

$

108

 

$

49

 

$

50

 

$

18

 

$

14

 

$


 

$


 

$

199

 

$

172

 
Average assets     255     222     75     70     19     16     6     6     355     314  
Average core deposits     176     160     21     18                     197     178  

 
(1)
Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on assets and the cost of liabilities to fund those assets. Interest earned includes actual interest earned on segment assets and, if the segment has excess liabilities, interest credits for providing funding to other segments. The cost of liabilities includes actual interest expense on segment liabilities and, if the segment does not have enough liabilities to fund its assets, a funding charge based on the cost of excess liabilities from another segment. In general, Community Banking has excess liabilities and receives interest credits for the funding it provides the other segments.

(2)
The reconciling items for revenue (i.e., net interest income plus noninterest income) and net income are Treasury equity investment activities. The material item in the reconciliation column for average assets is unallocated goodwill held at the enterprise level.

15


8.
Mortgage Banking Activities

        Mortgage banking activities, included in the Community Banking and Wholesale Banking operating segments, consist of residential and commercial mortgage originations and servicing.

        The components of mortgage banking noninterest income are presented below:


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31,

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Origination and other closing fees   $ 276   $ 220  
Servicing fees, net of amortization and provision for impairment (1)     (443 )   (73 )
Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities     637     120  
All other     91     92  
   
 
 
  Total mortgage banking noninterest income   $ 561   $ 359  
   
 
 

 
(1)
Includes impairment write-downs on other retained interests of $39 million and $308 million for the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        The managed mortgage servicing portfolio totaled $635 billion at March 31, 2003, $613 billion at December 31, 2002 and $551 billion at March 31, 2002, and included loans subserviced for others of $29 billion, $36 billion and $56 billion, respectively.

        Net of valuation allowance, mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) totaled $4.2 billion (.84% of the total mortgage servicing portfolio) at March 31, 2003, compared with $7.1 billion (1.63%) at March 31, 2002.

        Each quarter, the Company evaluates mortgage servicing rights for possible impairment based on the difference between the carrying amount and current fair value of the mortgage servicing rights, in accordance with FAS 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities . If a temporary impairment exists, a valuation allowance is established for any excess of amortized cost, as adjusted for hedge accounting, over the current fair value through a charge to income. The Company has a policy of reviewing mortgage servicing rights for other-than-temporary impairment each quarter and recognizes a direct write-down when the recoverability of a recorded valuation allowance is determined to be remote. Unlike a valuation allowance, a direct write-down permanently reduces the carrying value of the mortgage servicing rights asset and the valuation allowance, precluding subsequent reversals. (See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Transfer and Servicing of Financial Assets) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K for additional discussion of the Company's policy for valuation of mortgage servicing rights.) In first quarter 2003, the Company determined that a portion of the asset was not recoverable and reduced both the asset and the previously designated valuation allowance by a $311 million write-down.

16


        The following table summarizes the changes in mortgage servicing rights:


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31,

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Balance, beginning of quarter   $ 6,677   $ 7,365  
  Originations (1)     603     662  
  Purchases (1)     394     402  
  Amortization     (803 )   (370 )
  Write-down     (311 )    
  Other (includes changes in mortgage servicing rights due to hedging)     92     545  
   
 
 
Balance before valuation allowance, end of quarter     6,652     8,604  
  Less: Valuation allowance     2,469     1,466  
   
 
 
Balance, end of quarter   $ 4,183   $ 7,138  
   
 
 

 
(1)
Based on March 31, 2003 assumptions, the weighted-average amortization period for mortgage servicing rights added during the first quarter of 2003 was 5.1 years.

        The following table summarizes the changes in the valuation allowance for mortgage servicing rights:


 
  Quarter ended March 31,

(in millions)

  2003

  2002


Balance, beginning of quarter   $ 2,188   $ 1,124
  Provision for mortgage servicing rights in excess of fair value     592     342
  Write-down of mortgage servicing rights     (311 )  
   
 
Balance, end of quarter   $ 2,469   $ 1,466
   
 

17


9.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (WFFI)

        On October 22, 2002, the Parent issued a full and unconditional guarantee of all outstanding term debt securities and commercial paper of its wholly owned subsidiary, WFFI. WFFI ceased filing periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is no longer a separately rated company. The Parent has also guaranteed all outstanding term debt and commercial paper of Wells Fargo Financial Canada Corporation (WFFC), WFFI's wholly owned Canadian subsidiary. Presented below are the Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements:

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income


 
  Quarter ended March 31, 2003

(in millions)

  Parent

  WFFI

  Other
consolidating
subsidiaries

  Eliminations

  Consolidated
Company


Dividends from subsidiaries:                              
  Bank   $ 993   $   $   $ (993 ) $
  Nonbank     45             (45 )  
Interest income from loans     2     634     2,774         3,410
Interest income from subsidiaries     109             (109 )  
Other interest income     16     19     1,361         1,396
   
 
 
 
 
    Total interest income     1,165     653     4,135     (1,147 )   4,806

Short-term borrowings

 

 

23

 

 

22

 

 

66

 

 

(16

)

 

95
Long-term debt     122     146     122     (60 )   330
Other interest expense             454         454
   
 
 
 
 
    Total interest expense     145     168     642     (76 )   879
   
 
 
 
 

NET INTEREST INCOME

 

 

1,020

 

 

485

 

 

3,493

 

 

(1,071

)

 

3,927
Provision for loan losses         144     281         425
   
 
 
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     1,020     341     3,212     (1,071 )   3,502
   
 
 
 
 

NONINTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Fee income—non-affiliates         52     1,534         1,586
Other     30     49     939     (22 )   996
   
 
 
 
 
    Total noninterest income     30     101     2,473     (22 )   2,582
   
 
 
 
 

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Salaries and benefits     42     165     1,800         2,007
Other     10     129     1,635     (11 )   1,763
   
 
 
 
 
    Total noninterest expense     52     294     3,435     (11 )   3,770
   
 
 
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) EXPENSE AND EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES     998     148     2,250     (1,082 )   2,314
Income tax (benefit) expense     (38 )   56     804         822
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries     456             (456 )  
   
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME   $ 1,492   $ 92   $ 1,446   $ (1,538 ) $ 1,492
   
 
 
 
 

18


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31, 2002

 
(in millions)

  Parent

  WFFI

  Other
consolidating
subsidiaries

  Eliminations

  Consolidated
Company

 

 
Dividends from subsidiaries:                                
  Bank   $ 293   $   $   $ (293 ) $  
  Nonbank     26             (26 )    
Interest income from loans         539     2,753         3,292  
Interest income from subsidiaries     87             (87 )    
Other interest income     24     19     1,346         1,389  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total interest income     430     558     4,099     (406 )   4,681  

Short-term borrowings

 

 

39

 

 

15

 

 

130

 

 

(10

)

 

174

 
Long-term debt     106     128     132     (35 )   331  
Other interest expense             521         521  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total interest expense     145     143     783     (45 )   1,026  
   
 
 
 
 
 

NET INTEREST INCOME

 

 

285

 

 

415

 

 

3,316

 

 

(361

)

 

3,655

 
Provision for loan losses         140     350         490  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     285     275     2,966     (361 )   3,165  
   
 
 
 
 
 
NONINTEREST INCOME                                
Fee income—non-affiliates         49     1,407         1,456  
Other     73     50     734     (12 )   845  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total noninterest income     73     99     2,141     (12 )   2,301  
   
 
 
 
 
 

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Salaries and benefits     27     140     1,595         1,762  
Other     7     110     1,455     (6 )   1,566  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total noninterest expense     34     250     3,050     (6 )   3,328  
   
 
 
 
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) EXPENSE,
EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES AND EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
    324     124     2,057     (367 )   2,138  
Income tax (benefit) expense     (44 )   45     758         759  
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries     754             (754 )    
   
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME BEFORE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE     1,122     79     1,299     (1,121 )   1,379  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     (19 )       (257 )       (276 )
   
 
 
 
 
 

NET INCOME

 

$

1,103

 

$

79

 

$

1,042

 

$

(1,121

)

$

1,103

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

 

19


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet


 
  March 31, 2003

(in millions)

  Parent

  WFFI

  Other
consolidating
subsidiaries

  Eliminations

  Consolidated
Company


ASSETS                              
Cash and cash equivalents due from:                              
  Subsidiary banks   $ 1,700   $ 60   $   $ (1,760 ) $
  Non-affiliates     279     183     20,531         20,993
Securities available for sale     952     1,609     23,613     (6 )   26,168
Mortgages and loans held for sale             69,685         69,685

Loans

 

 

2

 

 

17,918

 

 

188,034

 

 


 

 

205,954
Loans to nonbank subsidiaries     18,270     745         (19,015 )  
Allowance for loan losses         634     3,253         3,887
   
 
 
 
 
    Net loans     18,272     18,029     184,781     (19,015 )   202,067
   
 
 
 
 
Investments in subsidiaries:                              
  Bank     32,040             (32,040 )  
  Nonbank     4,415             (4,415 )  
Other assets     3,590     729     47,713     (1,276 )   50,756
   
 
 
 
 
    Total assets   $ 61,248   $ 20,610   $ 346,323   $ (58,512 ) $ 369,669
   
 
 
 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Deposits   $   $ 96   $ 237,545   $ (1,767 ) $ 235,874
Short-term borrowings     3,718     4,800     36,409     (11,731 )   33,196
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     1,389     880     19,971     (2,279 )   19,961
Long-term debt     22,698     12,282     17,958     (5,956 )   46,982
Indebtedness to subsidiaries     722             (722 )  
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures     1,950         935         2,885
Stockholders' equity     30,771     2,552     33,505     (36,057 )   30,771
   
 
 
 
 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 61,248   $ 20,610   $ 346,323   $ (58,512 ) $ 369,669
   
 
 
 
 

20


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet


 
  March 31, 2002

(in millions)

  Parent

  WFFI

  Other
consolidating
subsidiaries

  Eliminations

  Consolidated
Company


ASSETS                              
Cash and cash equivalents due from:                              
  Subsidiary banks   $ 4,432   $ 55   $   $ (4,487 ) $
  Non-affiliates     110     166     17,071         17,347
Securities available for sale     1,192     1,422     37,476     (5 )   40,085
Mortgages and loans held for sale             31,581         31,581

Loans

 

 

2

 

 

13,966

 

 

164,479

 

 


 

 

178,447
Loans to nonbank subsidiaries     10,288     604         (10,892 )  
Allowance for loan losses         534     3,308         3,842
   
 
 
 
 
    Net loans     10,290     14,036     161,171     (10,892 )   174,605
   
 
 
 
 
Investments in subsidiaries:                              
  Bank     30,657             (30,657 )  
  Nonbank     4,620             (4,620 )  
Other assets     3,572     658     45,540     (1,879 )   47,891
   
 
 
 
 
    Total assets   $ 54,873   $ 16,337   $ 292,839   $ (52,540 ) $ 311,509
   
 
 
 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Deposits   $   $ 84   $ 193,975   $ (4,491 ) $ 189,568
Short-term borrowings     5,686     4,138     30,063     (6,479 )   33,408
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     1,197     696     17,593     (3,004 )   16,482
Long-term debt     15,832     9,268     17,542     (1,803 )   40,839
Indebtedness to subsidiaries     1,881             (1,881 )  
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures     1,950         935         2,885
Stockholders' equity     28,327     2,151     32,731     (34,882 )   28,327
   
 
 
 
 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 54,873   $ 16,337   $ 292,839   $ (52,540 ) $ 311,509
   
 
 
 
 

21


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31, 2003

 
(in millions)

  Parent

  WFFI

  Other
consolidating
subsidiaries/
eliminations

  Consolidated
Company

 

 
Cash flows from operating activities:                          
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities   $ 48   $ 404   $ (7,353 ) $ (6,901 )
   
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:                          
    Securities available for sale:                          
      Proceeds from sales     13     47     758     818  
      Proceeds from prepayments and maturities     40     52     2,621     2,713  
      Purchases         (175 )   (1,934 )   (2,109 )
    Net cash paid for acquisitions         (600 )   (163 )   (763 )
    Net decrease in banking subsidiaries' loans resulting from collections and originations             1,402     1,402  
    Proceeds from sales (including participations) of banking subsidiaries' loans             599     599  
    Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries             (9,869 )   (9,869 )
    Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans     3,682     2,977     145     6,804  
    Loans originated by nonbank entities         (4,105 )   (176 )   (4,281 )
    Purchases of loans by nonbank entities     (3,682 )           (3,682 )
    Net advances to nonbank entities     (1,224 )       1,224      
    Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries     (1,891 )       1,891      
    Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries     17         (17 )    
    Net increase in investment in subsidiaries     (41 )       41      
    Other, net         62     (3,828 )   (3,766 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash used by investing activities     (3,086 )   (1,742 )   (7,306 )   (12,134 )
   
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:                          
    Net increase in deposits         8     18,950     18,958  
    Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings     198     324     (772 )   (250 )
    Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt     4,373     1,736     1,255     7,364  
    Repayment of long-term debt     (1,600 )   (782 )   (5,387 )   (7,769 )
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock     137             137  
    Repurchase of common stock     (744 )           (744 )
    Payment of cash dividends on preferred and common stock     (507 )           (507 )
    Other, net             37     37  
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by financing activities     1,857     1,286     14,083     17,226  
   
 
 
 
 
  Net change in cash and due from banks     (1,181 )   (52 )   (576 )   (1,809 )
Cash and due from banks at beginning of quarter     3,160     295     14,365     17,820  
   
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks at end of quarter   $ 1,979   $ 243   $ 13,789   $ 16,011  
   
 
 
 
 

 

22


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31, 2002

 
(in millions)

  Parent

  WFFI

  Other
consolidating
subsidiaries/
eliminations

  Consolidated
Company

 

 
Cash flows from operating activities:                          
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities   $ (704 ) $ 271   $ 5,599   $ 5,166  
   
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:                          
    Securities available for sale:                          
      Proceeds from sales     255     159     1,670     2,084  
      Proceeds from prepayments and maturities     30     28     2,118     2,176  
      Purchases     (24 )   (249 )   (2,777 )   (3,050 )
    Net cash (paid for) acquired from acquisitions     (455 )   (281 )   183     (553 )
    Net increase in banking subsidiaries' loans resulting from collections and originations             (3,914 )   (3,914 )
    Proceeds from sales (including participations) of banking subsidiaries' loans             355     355  
    Purchases (including participations) of loans by banking subsidiaries             (250 )   (250 )
    Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans         2,697     146     2,843  
    Loans originated by nonbank entities         (3,070 )   (105 )   (3,175 )
    Net advances to nonbank entities     137         (137 )    
    Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries     214         (214 )    
    Net increase in investment in subsidiaries     (79 )       79      
    Other, net         64     (1,229 )   (1,165 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities     78     (652 )   (4,075 )   (4,649 )
   
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:                          
    Net increase (decrease) in deposits         6     (2,019 )   (2,013 )
    Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings     895     (10 )   (6,146 )   (5,261 )
    Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt     1,500     900     5,089     7,489  
    Repayment of long-term debt     (125 )   (524 )   (2,443 )   (3,092 )
    Proceeds from issuance of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures     450             450  
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock     114             114  
    Repurchase of common stock     (131 )           (131 )
    Payment of cash dividends on preferred and common stock     (445 )   (25 )   25     (445 )
    Other, net             (37 )   (37 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities     2,258     347     (5,531 )   (2,926 )
   
 
 
 
 
  Net change in cash and due from banks     1,632     (34 )   (4,007 )   (2,409 )
Cash and due from banks at beginning of quarter     2,910     255     13,803     16,968  
   
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks at end of quarter   $ 4,542   $ 221   $ 9,796   $ 14,559  
   
 
 
 
 

 

23


10.    Guarantees

        In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others . FIN 45 describes the disclosures to be made by a guarantor about obligations under certain guarantees the guarantor has issued. It also clarifies that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee.

        Significant guarantees that the Company provides to third parties include standby letters of credit, various indemnification agreements, guarantees accounted for as derivatives, contingent consideration related to business combinations and contingent performance guarantees.

        The Company issues standby letters of credit on behalf of customers in connection with contracts between the customers and third parties whereby the Company assures that the third parties will receive specified funds if customers fail to meet their contractual obligations. Standby letters of credit totaled $7.1 billion at March 31, 2003. Certain of these standby letters of credit back financial instruments and are considered financial guarantees. The Company had issued or purchased participations in these financial guarantees of approximately $3.6 billion at March 31, 2003. Substantially all fees received from the issuance of standby letters of credit are deferred and, at March 31, 2003, were immaterial to the Company's financial statements.

        The Company enters into indemnification agreements in the ordinary course of business under which the Company agrees to indemnify third parties against any damages, losses and expenses incurred in connection with legal and other proceedings arising from relationships or transactions with the Company. These relationships or transactions include those arising from service as a director or officer of the Company, underwriting agreements relating to the Company's securities, securities lending, acquisition agreements, and various other business transactions or arrangements. Because the extent of the Company's obligations under these indemnification agreements depends entirely upon the occurrence of future events, the Company cannot estimate its potential future liability under these agreements.

        The Company enters into written options with its customers and to hedge the Company's servicing assets and mortgage loan commitments. These options are exercisable by the option holder based on favorable market conditions. Additionally, the Company enters into written floors and caps with its customers. Periodic settlements can occur with customers based on market conditions. At March 31, 2003, the gross carrying amount of the written options liability was $202 million and the written floors and caps liability was $252 million. Because the Company's ultimate obligation under written options, floors and caps is based on future market conditions, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of maximum exposure it has related to written options, floors and caps. As part of its risk management strategy, the Company purchases offsetting positions to minimize its obligations associated with its written options, floors and caps.

        The Company also enters into credit default swaps under which it buys protection from or sells protection to a counterparty in the event of default of a reference obligation. At March 31, 2003,

24


the gross carrying amount of the contracts sold was a $51 million liability. The maximum amount the Company would be required to pay under those swaps in which it sold protection, assuming all reference obligations default at a total loss, without recoveries, was $2.4 billion. The Company has bought protection of $2.3 billion of notional exposure. Almost all of the protection purchases offset (i.e., use the same reference obligation and maturity) the contracts in which the Company is providing protection to a counterparty.

        In connection with certain brokerage, asset management and insurance agency acquisitions made by the Company, the terms of the acquisition agreement provide for deferred payments or additional consideration based on certain performance targets. At March 31, 2003, the amount of contingent consideration expected to be paid was not material to the Company's financial statements.

        The Company has entered into various contingent performance guarantees through credit risk participation arrangements with terms ranging from 1 to 30 years. The Company will be required to make payments under these guarantees if a customer defaults on its obligation to perform under certain credit agreements with third parties. Because the extent of the Company's obligations under these contingent performance guarantees depends entirely upon future events, the Company cannot estimate its potential future liability under these agreements.

25


11.     Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities     

Fair Value Hedges

        The Company uses derivative contracts to manage the risk associated with changes in the fair value of mortgage servicing rights and other retained interests. Changes in options valuations caused by market conditions (volatility) and the spread between spot and forward rates priced into the derivative contracts (the passage of time) are excluded from the overall evaluation of hedge effectiveness, but are still reflected in earnings. The change in value of derivatives excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness was a net gain of $348 million in the first quarter of 2003 and $275 million in the same period of 2002. Also, the Company recognized a net gain from ineffectiveness in these hedging relationships of $202 million in the first quarter of 2003 and $297 million in the first quarter of 2002. The gains were more than offset by higher valuation provision for impairment and amortization expense on mortgage servicing rights and other retained interests of $1,482 million in the first quarter of 2003 and $1,107 million in the first quarter of 2002. The total gains on the mortgage-related derivative contracts, amortization expense and valuation provision for impairment are included in mortgage banking noninterest income. (See Note 8 (Mortgage Banking Activities).)

        In the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company began using derivative contracts to hedge changes in fair value of its commercial real estate mortgages and franchise loans due to changes in LIBOR interest rates. The Company originates these loans with the intent to sell them. The ineffective portion of these fair value hedges was a net loss of $6 million for the first quarter of 2003, recorded in mortgage banking noninterest income. All components of gain or loss on these derivative contracts are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

        The Company also enters into interest rate swaps, designated as fair value hedges, to convert certain of its fixed-rate long-term debt to floating-rate debt. The ineffective portion of these fair value hedges was not material in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002.

        As of March 31, 2003, all designated fair value hedges continued to qualify as fair value hedges.

Cash Flow Hedges

        The Company uses derivative contracts to convert commercial floating-rate loans to fixed rates and to hedge forecasted sales of its mortgage loans. The Company recognized a net loss of $38 million in the first quarter of 2003, which represents the total ineffectiveness of cash flow hedges, compared with a net loss of $108 million in the first quarter of 2002. All components of gain or loss on these derivative contracts are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness, except for volatility and the passage of time related to options hedging commercial loans indexed to LIBOR. As of March 31, 2003, all designated cash flow hedges continued to qualify as cash flow hedges.

        At March 31, 2003, the Company expected that $43 million of deferred net losses on derivative instruments included in other comprehensive income will be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months, compared with $191 million of deferred net gains at March 31, 2002. The change was primarily due to growth in mortgages held for sale and changes in interest rates, causing greater losses deferred to cumulative other comprehensive income at March 31, 2003.

26


These deferred losses will be reclassified to earnings in the period the gains on the hedged item affect earnings. Gains and losses on derivative contracts that are reclassified from cumulative other comprehensive income to current period earnings are included in the same line item in which the hedged item's effect in earnings is recorded. The Company is hedging its exposure to the variability of future cash flows for all forecasted transactions for a maximum of two years for hedges converting floating-rate loans to fixed and one year for hedges of forecasted sales of mortgage loans.

Derivative Financial Instruments—Summary Information

        The following table summarizes the credit risk amount and estimated net fair value for the Company's derivative financial instruments.


 
 
  March 31, 2003

  December 31, 2002

 
(in millions)

  Credit
risk
amount (2)

  Estimated
net fair
value

  Credit
risk
amount (2)

  Estimated
net fair
value

 

 
ASSET/LIABILITY MANAGEMENT HEDGES (1)                          
Interest rate contracts   $ 2,795   $ 2,456   $ 3,438   $ 2,631  

CUSTOMER ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRADING (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Interest rate contracts     3,190     259     3,343     31  
Commodity contracts     45     (6 )   28     4  
Equity contracts     52     13     29     (20 )
Foreign exchange contracts     272     41     271     30  
Credit contracts     44     (13 )   52     (11 )

(1)
The Company anticipates that substantially all of the counterparties will perform in accordance with these contracts or the underlying financial instruments.

(2)
Credit risk amounts reflect the replacement cost for those contracts in a gain position in the event of nonperformance by all counterparties.

27



FINANCIAL REVIEW

SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA


 
 
  Quarter ended

  % Change
Mar. 31, 2003 from

 
(in millions, except per share amounts)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

 

 
For the Period                            
Before effect of change in accounting principle  (1)                            
Net income   $ 1,492   $ 1,466   $ 1,379   2 % 8 %
Diluted earnings per common share     .88     .86     .80   2   10  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Profitability ratios (annualized)                            
  Net income to average total assets (ROA)     1.70 %   1.71 %   1.78 % (1 ) (4 )
  Net income applicable to common stock to average common stockholders' equity (ROE)     19.77     19.34     20.01   2   (1 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
After effect of change in accounting principle                            
Net income   $ 1,492   $ 1,466   $ 1,103   2   35  
Diluted earnings per common share     .88     .86     .64   2   38  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Profitability ratios (annualized)                            
  ROA     1.70 %   1.71 %   1.42 % (1 ) 20  
  ROE     19.77     19.34     16.00   2   24  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Efficiency ratio (2)     57.9     58.1     55.9     4  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Total revenue   $ 6,509   $ 6,484   $ 5,956     9  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Dividends declared per common share     .30     .28     .26   7   15  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Average common shares outstanding     1,681.5     1,690.4     1,703.0   (1 ) (1 )
Diluted average common shares outstanding     1,694.1     1,704.0     1,718.9   (1 ) (1 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Average loans   $ 199,194   $ 183,827   $ 172,128   8   16  
Average assets     355,171     340,258     314,336   4   13  
Average core deposits     196,802     194,850     177,646   1   11  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Net interest margin     5.31 %   5.44 %   5.67 % (2 ) (6 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
At Period End                            
Securities available for sale   $ 26,168   $ 27,947   $ 40,085   (6 ) (35 )
Loans     205,954     196,634     178,447   5   15  
Allowance for loan losses     3,887     3,862     3,842   1   1  
Goodwill     9,799     9,753     9,733     1  
Assets     369,669     349,259     311,509   6   19  
Core deposits     203,185     198,234     181,659   2   12  
Common stockholders' equity     30,723     30,297     28,276   1   9  
Stockholders' equity     30,771     30,358     28,327   1   9  
Tier 1 capital (3)     21,990     21,512     19,652   2   12  
Total capital (3)     32,641     31,998     28,489   2   15  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Capital ratios                            
  Common stockholders' equity to assets     8.31 %   8.67 %   9.08 % (4 ) (8 )
  Stockholders' equity to assets     8.32     8.69     9.09   (4 ) (8 )
  Risk-based capital (3)                            
    Tier 1 capital     7.34     7.60     7.68   (3 ) (4 )
    Total capital     10.89     11.31     11.13   (4 ) (2 )
  Tier 1 leverage (3)     6.43     6.58     6.50   (2 ) (1 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Book value per common share   $ 18.34   $ 17.97   $ 16.55   2   11  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Staff (active, full-time equivalent)     131,600     127,500     123,200   3   7  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Common Stock Price                            
High   $ 49.13   $ 51.60   $ 50.75   (5 ) (3 )
Low     43.27     43.30     42.90     1  
Period end     44.99     46.87     49.40   (4 ) (9 )

(1)
Change in accounting principle relates to transitional goodwill impairment charge recorded in first quarter 2002 related to the adoption of FAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets .

(2)
The efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expense divided by the total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income).

(3)
See the Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements section for additional information.

28


This report, including the Financial Statements and related Notes and the information in response to Items 2, 3 and 4 of Form 10-Q, contains forward-looking statements about the Company. Broadly speaking, forward-looking statements include forecasts of future financial results and condition, expectations for future operations and business, and any assumptions underlying those forecasts and expectations. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results might differ significantly from forecasts and expectations. Please refer to "Factors that May Affect Future Results" for a discussion of some of the factors that may cause results to differ.

OVERVIEW

        Wells Fargo & Company is a $370 billion diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage banking and consumer finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, commercial businesses and financial institutions in all 50 states of the U.S. and in other countries. It ranked fourth in assets and third in market capitalization among U.S. bank holding companies at March 31, 2003. In this Form 10-Q, Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated) is referred to as the Company and Wells Fargo & Company alone is referred to as the Parent.

        Certain amounts in the Financial Review for prior quarters have been reclassified to conform with the current financial statement presentation.

        Net income for the first quarter of 2003 increased 8% to $1.49 billion, from $1.38 billion before the effect of an accounting change related to FAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets , for the first quarter of 2002. On the same basis, diluted earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2003 were $.88, compared with $.80 for the first quarter of 2002, up 10%. On the same basis, return on average assets (ROA) and return on average common equity (ROE) for the first quarter of 2003 were 1.70% and 19.77%, respectively, compared with 1.78% and 20.01%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2002.

        Net income for the first quarter of 2003 was $1.49 billion, compared with $1.10 billion for the first quarter of 2002. Diluted earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2003 were $.88, compared with $.64 for the first quarter of 2002. ROA was 1.70% and ROE was 19.77% for the first quarter of 2003, compared with 1.42% and 16.00%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2002.

        Net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis was $3.95 billion for the first quarter of 2003, compared with $3.68 billion for the first quarter of 2002, up 7%. The Company's net interest margin was 5.31% for the first quarter of 2003, compared with 5.67% for the first quarter of 2002.

        Noninterest income was $2.58 billion for the first quarter of 2003, compared with $2.30 billion for the first quarter of 2002.

        Revenue, the sum of net interest income and noninterest income, increased 9% to $6.51 billion in the first quarter of 2003 from $5.96 billion in the first quarter of 2002.

29


        Noninterest expense totaled $3.77 billion for the first quarter of 2003, compared with $3.33 billion for the first quarter of 2002, an increase of 13%.

        During the first quarter of 2003, net charge-offs were $425 million, or .87% of average total loans (annualized), compared with $487 million, or 1.15%, during the first quarter of 2002. The provision for loan losses was $425 million in the first quarter of 2003, compared with $490 million in the first quarter of 2002. The allowance for loan losses was $3.89 billion, or 1.89% of total loans, at March 31, 2003, compared with $3.86 billion, or 1.96%, at December 31, 2002 and $3.84 billion, or 2.15%, at March 31, 2002.

        At March 31, 2003, total nonaccrual loans were $1.56 billion, or .8% of total loans, compared with $1.49 billion, or .8%, at December 31, 2002 and $1.62 billion, or .9%, at March 31, 2002. Foreclosed assets were $200 million at March 31, 2003, compared with $201 million at December 31, 2002 and $187 million at March 31, 2002.

        The ratio of common stockholders' equity to total assets was 8.31% at March 31, 2003, compared with 8.67% at December 31, 2002 and 9.08% at March 31, 2002. The Company's total risk-based capital (RBC) ratio at March 31, 2003 was 10.89% and its Tier 1 RBC ratio was 7.34%, exceeding the minimum regulatory guidelines of 8% and 4%, respectively, for bank holding companies. The Company's RBC ratios at March 31, 2002 were 11.13% and 7.68%, respectively. The Company's Tier 1 leverage ratios were 6.43% and 6.50% at March 31, 2003 and March 31, 2002, respectively, exceeding the minimum regulatory guideline of 3% for bank holding companies.

Recent Accounting Standards

        In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities . FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements , to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The recognition and measurement provisions of this Interpretation are effective for newly created variable interest entities formed after January 31, 2003, and for existing variable interest entities, on the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted the disclosure provisions of FIN 46 effective December 31, 2002. The Company adopted the recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 46 for newly formed variable interest entities effective February 1, 2003, which did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements. The Company will adopt the recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 46 for existing variable interest entities on July 1, 2003. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that it could be a significant or majority variable interest holder in certain special-purpose entities formed to securitize high-yield corporate debt, commercial mortgage-backed and real estate investment trust securities. The Company does not expect that the adoption of FIN 46 will have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

30


        In April 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 149 (FAS 149), Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to provide clarification on the meaning of an underlying, the characteristics of a derivative that contains financing components and the meaning of an initial net investment that is smaller than would be required for other types of contracts that would be expected to have a similar response to changes in market factors. This statement will be applied prospectively and is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. The statement will be applicable to existing contracts and new contracts entered into after June 30, 2003 if those contracts relate to forward purchases or sales of when-issued securities or other securities that do not yet exist. The Company does not expect that the adoption of FAS 149 will have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        The Company's accounting policies are fundamental to understanding management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition. The Company has identified three policies as being critical because they require management to make particularly difficult, subjective and/or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. These policies relate to the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of mortgage servicing rights and pension accounting. The Company, in consultation with the Audit and Examination Committee of the Board of Directors, has reviewed and approved these critical accounting policies, which are further described in "Financial Review—Critical Accounting Policies" and Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.

EARNINGS PERFORMANCE

NET INTEREST INCOME

        Net interest income is the difference between interest income (which includes yield-related loan fees) and interest expense. Net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis increased to $3.95 billion in first quarter 2003 from $3.68 billion in first quarter 2002, an increase of 7%. The increase was primarily due to strong growth in mortgages held for sale and loans. In addition, lower funding costs were also a significant factor, due in large part to lower rates on interest-bearing deposits and short- and long-term borrowings. These factors were partially offset by a decline in investment portfolio income following the sale and prepayment of mortgage-backed securities.

        Net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis expressed as a percentage of average total earning assets is referred to as the net interest margin, which represents the average net effective yield on earning assets. The net interest margin decreased to 5.31% in first quarter 2003 from 5.67% in first quarter 2002. During the past several quarters, the Company has shortened the duration of its investment portfolio through sales and prepayments of long-term mortgage-backed securities. While this has had a modest adverse impact on net interest margin, it will provide flexibility to add securities in the event that interest rates rise and mortgages held for sale begin to decline.

31


        Individual components of net interest income and the net interest margin are presented in the rate/yield table on page 33.

        Earning assets increased $38.9 billion due to increases in average loans and mortgages held for sale, offset by a decrease in debt securities available for sale. Loans averaged $199.2 billion in the first quarter of 2003, compared with $172.1 billion in the first quarter of 2002. Average mortgages held for sale increased to $58.4 billion from $37.1 billion due to increased originations, including refinancing activity. Debt securities available for sale averaged $26.1 billion during the first quarter of 2003 and $39.2 billion in the first quarter of 2002.

        An important contributor to the growth in net interest income and net interest margin was an 11% increase in core deposits, the Company's low-cost source of funding. Average core deposits were $196.8 billion and $177.6 billion and funded 55.4% and 56.5% of the Company's average total assets in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively. While savings certificates of deposit declined on average to $22.0 billion in first quarter 2003 from $25.7 billion in first quarter 2002, noninterest-bearing checking accounts and other core deposit categories increased on average from $151.9 billion in first quarter 2002 to $174.8 billion in first quarter 2003 reflecting a combination of growth in mortgage escrow deposits, resulting from higher origination volume, and growth in primary account relationships. Total average interest-bearing deposits increased to $152.1 billion in first quarter 2003 from $129.6 billion in the first quarter of 2002. For the same periods, total average noninterest-bearing deposits increased to $71.6 billion from $59.5 billion.

32



AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS AND RATES PAID (TAXABLE-EQUIVALENT BASIS) (1) (2)


 
  Quarter ended March 31,

 
  2003

  2002

(in millions)

  Average
balance

  Yields/
rates

  Interest
income/
expense

  Average
balance

  Yields/
rates

  Interest
income/
expense


EARNING ASSETS                                
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements   $ 3,101   1.32 % $ 10   $ 2,391   1.88 % $ 11
Debt securities available for sale (3):                                
  Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies     1,294   5.31     16     2,044   5.85     29
  Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions     2,040   8.76     42     2,080   8.31     41
  Mortgage-backed securities:                                
    Federal agencies     17,709   7.82     321     29,146   7.09     504
    Private collateralized mortgage obligations     2,025   7.27     35     2,692   6.91     46
   
     
 
     
      Total mortgage-backed securities     19,734   7.76     356     31,838   7.08     550
  Other debt securities (4)     3,013   7.56     56     3,198   7.69     58
   
     
 
     
        Total debt securities available for sale (4)     26,081   7.69     470     39,160   7.13     678
Mortgages held for sale (3)     58,422   5.57     814     37,149   6.34     591
Loans held for sale (3)     7,002   3.88     67     5,084   5.51     69
Loans:                                
  Commercial     47,007   6.26     727     46,667   7.04     810
  Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage     41,713   5.33     554     26,629   6.46     430
  Other real estate mortgage     25,385   5.68     357     25,286   6.40     400
  Real estate construction     7,908   5.27     103     8,032   5.73     113
  Consumer:                                
    Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage     32,076   6.99     553     24,449   7.95     481
    Credit card     7,400   12.44     230     6,572   12.24     202
    Other revolving credit and monthly payment     27,383   9.69     656     23,548   10.49     611
   
     
 
     
      Total consumer     66,859   8.70     1,439     54,569   9.56     1,294
  Lease financing     8,371   6.83     142     9,362   7.27     170
  Foreign     1,951   18.60     91     1,583   19.76     78
   
     
 
     
        Total loans (5)     199,194   6.92     3,413     172,128   7.73     3,295
Other     7,115   2.92     52     6,104   4.17     62
   
     
 
     
          Total earning assets   $ 300,915   6.49     4,826   $ 262,016   7.26     4,706
   
     
 
     
FUNDING SOURCES                                
Deposits:                                
  Interest-bearing checking   $ 2,406   .36     2   $ 2,399   .83     5
  Market rate and other savings     100,816   .75     187     90,091   .95     211
  Savings certificates     22,004   2.76     150     25,700   3.58     227
  Other time deposits     20,531   1.36     69     4,691   2.04     24
  Deposits in foreign offices     6,337   1.22     19     6,712   1.65     27
   
     
 
     
      Total interest-bearing deposits     152,094   1.14     427     129,593   1.54     494
Short-term borrowings     31,473   1.22     95     41,627   1.69     174
Long-term debt     46,662   2.84     330     37,661   3.53     331
Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in Company's subordinated debentures     2,885   3.83     27     2,460   4.52     27
   
     
 
     
      Total interest-bearing liabilities     233,114   1.52     879     211,341   1.96     1,026
Portion of noninterest-bearing funding sources     67,801           50,675      
   
     
 
     
          Total funding sources   $ 300,915   1.18     879   $ 262,016   1.59     1,026
   
     
 
     
Net interest margin and net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis  (6)         5.31 % $ 3,947         5.67 % $ 3,680
         
 
       
 
NONINTEREST-EARNING ASSETS                                
Cash and due from banks   $ 13,691             $ 14,559          
Goodwill     9,789               9,732          
Other     30,776               28,029          
   
           
         
          Total noninterest-earning assets   $ 54,256             $ 52,320          
   
           
         
NONINTEREST-BEARING FUNDING SOURCES                                
Deposits   $ 71,576             $ 59,456          
Other liabilities     19,834               15,548          
Preferred stockholders' equity     60               61          
Common stockholders' equity     30,587               27,930          
Noninterest-bearing funding sources used to fund earning assets     (67,801 )             (50,675 )        
   
           
         
          Net noninterest-bearing funding sources   $ 54,256             $ 52,320          
   
           
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 355,171             $ 314,336          
   
           
         

(1)
The average prime rate of the Company was 4.25% and 4.75% for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The average three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) was 1.33% and 1.91% for the same quarters, respectively.

(2)
Interest rates and amounts include the effects of hedge and risk management activities associated with the respective asset and liability categories.

(3)
Yields are based on amortized cost balances computed on a settlement date basis.

(4)
Includes certain preferred securities.

(5)
Nonaccrual loans and related income are included in their respective loan categories.

(6)
Includes taxable-equivalent adjustments primarily related to tax-exempt income on certain loans and securities. The federal statutory tax rate was 35% for both quarters presented.

33


NONINTEREST INCOME


 
 
  Quarter
ended March 31,

   
 
 
  %
Change

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Service charges on deposit accounts   $ 553   $ 505   10 %
Trust and investment fees:                  
  Asset management and custody fees     178     179   (1 )
  Mutual fund and commission fees     238     255   (7 )
  All other     6     5   20  
   
 
     
    Total trust and investment fees     422     439   (4 )

Credit card fees

 

 

243

 

 

201

 

21

 

Other fees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Cash network fees     42     48   (13 )
  Charges and fees on loans     180     133   35  
  All other     146     130   12  
   
 
     
    Total other fees     368     311   18  

Mortgage banking:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Origination and other closing fees     276     220   25  
  Servicing fees, net of amortization and provision for impairment     (443 )   (73 ) 507  
  Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities     637     120   431  
  All other     91     92   (1 )
   
 
     
    Total mortgage banking     561     359   56  

Insurance

 

 

266

 

 

263

 

1

 
Net gains on debt securities available for sale     18     37   (51 )
Net losses from equity investments     (98 )   (19 ) 416  
Net (losses) gains on sales of loans     (1 )   6    
Net gains on dispositions of operations     27     3   800  
All other     223     196   14  
   
 
     
    Total   $ 2,582   $ 2,301   12 %
   
 
 
 

        Service charges on deposit accounts increased 10% due to growth in primary accounts and increased activity.

        Mutual funds and commission fees decreased 7% in first quarter 2003 predominantly due to a decrease in managed mutual fund balances. The Company managed mutual funds with $73 billion of assets at March 31, 2003, compared with $78 billion at March 31, 2002. The Company also administered corporate trust, personal trust, employee benefit trust and agency assets of approximately $416 billion and $434 billion at March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and actively managed corporate trust, personal trust, employee benefit trust and agency assets of approximately $110 billion and $100 billion at March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        Credit card fees increased 21% predominantly due to an increase in credit card accounts and credit and debit card transaction volume.

        Mortgage banking noninterest income was $561 million in first quarter 2003, compared with $359 million in first quarter 2002. Origination and other closing fees increased to $276 million and net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities increased to $637 million in first quarter 2003 from first quarter 2002. A major portion of the increase was due to higher mortgage origination volume. Originations during the first quarter of 2003 grew to $103 billion from

34


$70 billion during the same period of 2002. Mortgages held for sale increased to $62.6 billion at March 31, 2003 from $51.2 billion at December 31, 2002 and $26.3 billion at March 31, 2002.

        Net servicing fees were a loss of $443 million and $73 million in first quarter 2003 and 2002, respectively, reflecting increased amortization and valuation provision for impairment of mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) offset by an increase in gross servicing fees due to portfolio growth and lower amortization relating to declining balances of other retained interests.

        At March 31, 2003, the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Current Coupon rate (i.e., the secondary market par mortgage yield for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages) was 4.97%, compared with 6.59% at March 31, 2002. Consequently, assumed prepayment speeds, an important element in determining the fair value of MSRs, increased in the first quarter of 2003 resulting in higher amortization and valuation provision for impairment of $803 million and $592 million, respectively, compared with $370 million and $342 million, respectively, in the first quarter of 2002.

        During first quarter 2003, the Company recognized a direct write-down of the mortgage servicing asset of $311 million. See "Financial Review—Critical Accounting Policies—Mortgage Servicing Rights Valuation" in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K for the method used to evaluate MSRs for impairment and to determine if such impairment is other-than-temporary. Key assumptions, including the sensitivity of those assumptions, used to determine the value of MSRs are disclosed in Notes 1 and 21 (Securitizations) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.

        Net losses from equity investments during the first quarter of 2003 were $98 million, reflecting other-than-temporary impairment in the valuation of publicly-traded and private equity securities, compared with $19 million for the same period of 2002.

        The Company routinely reviews its investment portfolios for impairment. Such write-downs are based primarily on issuer-specific factors and results. General economic and market conditions, including those events occurring in the technology and telecommunications industries and adverse changes impacting the availability of venture capital financing are also taken into account. While the determination of impairment is based on all of the information available at the time of the assessment, new information or economic developments in the future could lead to additional impairment.

35


NONINTEREST EXPENSE


 
 
  Quarter
ended March 31,

   
 
 
  %
Change

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Salaries   $ 1,141   $ 1,076   6 %
Incentive compensation     447     357   25  
Employee benefits     419     329   27  
Equipment     269     236   14  
Net occupancy     296     269   10  
Net gains on dispositions of premises                  
and equipment     (4 )   (2 ) 100  
Outside professional services     112     99   13  
Contract services     155     117   32  
Outside data processing     98     84   17  
Telecommunications     78     92   (15 )
Travel and entertainment     85     75   13  
Advertising and promotion     81     65   25  
Postage     84     65   29  
Stationery and supplies     54     57   (5 )
Insurance     50     52   (4 )
Operating losses     57     45   27  
Security     42     40   5  
Core deposit intangibles     37     41   (10 )
All other     269     231   16  
   
 
     
  Total   $ 3,770   $ 3,328   13 %
   
 
 
 

        The increase in salaries resulted from additional active, full-time equivalent team members. Incentive compensation increased predominantly due to commission expense resulting from higher mortgage origination volume. Employee benefits expense increased mostly due to higher pension and healthcare costs.

        The increases in advertising and promotion, contract services and postage were mostly due to the increase in mortgage origination volume.

36


OPERATING SEGMENT RESULTS

         Community Banking's net income was $1,055 million in the first quarter, compared with $977 million for the same period in 2002, an increase of 8%. Net interest income increased by $205 million, or 8%, compared with first quarter 2002. The increase was primarily due to growth in consumer loans, mortgages held for sale and deposits. The provision for loan losses decreased by $45 million from 2002 due to the improved credit environment. Noninterest income was up $259 million in first quarter 2003 compared with 2002, primarily due to increased mortgage related business as well as service charges, credit card fees and other fees. Noninterest expense increased by $380 million over 2002 primarily due to increased mortgage originations.

         Wholesale Banking's net income was $350 million in the first quarter of 2003, compared with $309 million before the effect of change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2002. Net interest income decreased to $555 million from $570 million in the first quarter of 2002. Average outstanding loan balances were $49 billion in the first quarter of 2003, down 2% from $50 billion in the first quarter of 2002. Deposit balances grew to $21 billion in the first quarter of 2003 from $18 billion in the first quarter of 2002, an increase of 17%. Noninterest income increased to $716 million in 2003 from $657 million in 2002 due to higher income from asset-based lending, gains from commercial mortgage sales and securitizations, insurance and institutional brokerage. Noninterest expense was $684 million in the first quarter of 2003 and $660 million for the same period in 2002. The provision for loan losses decreased by $32 million to $53 million for the first quarter of 2003 compared with the first quarter of 2002.

         Wells Fargo Financial's net income was $102 million in the first quarter of 2003, compared with $84 million before the effect of change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2002, an increase of 21%. Net interest income increased $82 million, or 19%, due to lower funding costs combined with growth in average loans. The provision for loan losses increased $12 million, or 9%, due to the growth in average loans.

37


BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS

SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE

        The following table provides the cost and fair value for the major components of securities available for sale carried at fair value. There were no securities classified as held to maturity at the end of the periods presented.


 
  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

(in millions)

  Cost

  Estimated
fair
value

  Cost

  Estimated
fair
value

  Cost

  Estimated
fair
value


Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies   $ 1,138   $ 1,195   $ 1,315   $ 1,381   $ 1,856   $ 1,900
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions     2,192     2,330     2,232     2,382     2,391     2,454
Mortgage-backed securities:                                    
  Federal agencies     15,994     17,154     17,766     19,090     29,161     29,578
  Private collateralized mortgage obligations (1)     2,205     2,297     1,775     1,880     2,817     2,824
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total mortgage-backed securities     18,199     19,451     19,541     20,970     31,978     32,402
Other     2,584     2,667     2,608     2,658     2,558     2,588
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total debt securities     24,113     25,643     25,696     27,391     38,783     39,344
Marketable equity securities     569     525     598     556     684     741
   
 
 
 
 
 
      Total   $ 24,682   $ 26,168   $ 26,294   $ 27,947   $ 39,467   $ 40,085
   
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Substantially all private collateralized mortgage obligations are AAA-rated bonds collateralized by 1-4 family residential first mortgages.

        The decrease in federal agencies mortgage-backed securities was predominantly due to the prepayment of mortgage-backed securities held and sales of certain longer-maturity securities subject to prepayment risk.

        The following table provides the components of the estimated unrealized net gains on securities available for sale. The estimated unrealized net gains on securities available for sale are reported on an after-tax basis as a component of cumulative other comprehensive income.


 
(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

 

 
Estimated unrealized gross gains   $ 1,672   $ 1,851   $ 1,020  
Estimated unrealized gross losses     (186 )   (198 )   (402 )
   
 
 
 
Estimated unrealized net gains   $ 1,486   $ 1,653   $ 618  
   
 
 
 

 

38


        The following table provides the components of the realized net gains on the sales of securities from the securities available for sale portfolio, including those related to marketable equity securities.


 
 
  Quarter
ended March 31,

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Realized gross gains   $ 40   $ 177  
Realized gross losses (1)     (27 )   (136 )
   
 
 
Realized net gains   $ 13   $ 41  
   
 
 

 
(1)
Includes other-than-temporary impairment of $20 million and $50 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        The weighted average expected remaining maturity of the debt securities portion of the securities available for sale portfolio was 5 years and 2 months at March 31, 2003. Remaining maturities will differ from contractual maturities because mortgage debt issuers may have the right to prepay obligations prior to contractual maturity.

        The estimated effect of a 200 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates on the fair value and the expected remaining maturity of the mortgage-backed securities available for sale portfolio is indicated below.


(in billions)

  Fair
value

  Net unrealized
gain (loss)

  Remaining
maturity


At March 31, 2003   $ 19.5   $ 1.3   4 yrs., 7 mos.
At March 31, 2003, assuming a 200 basis point:                
  Increase in interest rates     17.5     (.7 ) 8 yrs., 9 mos.
  Decrease in interest rates     19.9     1.7   1 yr., 8 mos.

39


LOAN PORTFOLIO


 
 
   
   
   
  % Change
Mar. 31, 2003 from

 
(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

 

 
Commercial (1)   $ 48,147   $ 47,292   $ 47,388   2 % 2 %
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage     44,492     40,976     30,862   9   44  
Other real estate mortgage (2)     25,629     25,312     25,555   1    
Real estate construction     8,032     7,804     7,999   3    
Consumer:                            
  Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage     33,175     31,290     25,350   6   31  
  Credit card     7,359     7,455     6,497   (1 ) 13  
  Other revolving credit and monthly payment     28,361     26,353     23,953   8   18  
   
 
 
         
    Total consumer     68,895     65,098     55,800   6   23  
Lease financing     8,698     8,241     9,227   6   (6 )
Foreign     2,061     1,911     1,616   8   28  
   
 
 
         
    Total loans (net of unearned income, including net deferred loan fees, of $4,276, $4,276 and $4,143)   $ 205,954   $ 196,634   $ 178,447   5 % 15 %
   
 
 
 
 
 

 
(1)
Includes agricultural loans (loans to finance agricultural production and other loans to farmers) of $3,888 million, $4,473 million and $3,975 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

(2)
Includes agricultural loans that are secured by real estate of $1,113 million, $1,111 million and $1,255 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

40


NONACCRUAL LOANS AND OTHER ASSETS

        The table below presents comparative data for nonaccrual loans and other assets. A loan is placed on nonaccrual status (a) upon becoming 90 days past due as to interest or principal (unless both well-secured and in the process of collection), (b) when the full timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain or (c) when a portion of the principal balance has been charged off. Real estate 1-4 family loans (first and junior liens) are placed on nonaccrual status within 120 days of becoming past due as to interest or principal, regardless of security. Management's classification of a loan as nonaccrual does not necessarily indicate that the principal of the loan is uncollectible in whole or in part. The table below excludes certain loans that are 90 days or more past due and still accruing that are presented in the table on page 42.


 
(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

 

 
Nonaccrual loans:                    
  Commercial (1)   $ 836   $ 796   $ 804  
  Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage     216     214     225  
  Other real estate mortgage (2)     222     192     190  
  Real estate construction     72     93     163  
  Consumer:                    
    Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage     83     65     25  
    Other revolving credit and monthly payment     44     48     47  
   
 
 
 
      Total consumer     127     113     72  
  Lease financing     85     79     166  
  Foreign     5     5     3  
   
 
 
 
    Total nonaccrual loans (3)     1,563     1,492     1,623  
As a percentage of total loans     .8 %   .8 %   .9 %

Foreclosed assets

 

 

200

 

 

201

 

 

187

 
Real estate investments (4)     5     4     2  
   
 
 
 
Total nonaccrual loans and other assets   $ 1,768   $ 1,697   $ 1,812  
   
 
 
 

 
(1)
Includes commercial agricultural loans of $45 million, $48 million and $69 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

(2)
Includes agricultural loans secured by real estate of $30 million, $30 million and $18 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

(3)
Includes impaired loans of $671 million, $612 million and $742 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

(4)
Represents the amount of real estate investments (contingent interest loans accounted for as investments) that would be classified as nonaccrual if such assets were recorded as loans. Real estate investments totaled $9 million, $9 million and $23 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

        The Company generally identifies loans to be evaluated for impairment when such loans are over $1 million and on nonaccrual. However, not all nonaccrual loans are impaired. Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments. See Note 1 to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K for further discussion of impaired loans.

41


        The table below shows the recorded investment in impaired loans and the method used to measure impairment for the periods presented:


(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002


Impairment measurement based on:                  
  Collateral value method   $ 319   $ 309   $ 368
  Discounted cash flow method     352     303     374
   
 
 
    Total (1)   $ 671   $ 612   $ 742
   
 
 

(1)
Includes $142 million, $201 million and $411 million of impaired loans with a related allowance of $20 million, $52 million and $54 million at March 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.

        The average recorded investment in impaired loans was $645 million and $791 million during the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively. Total interest income recognized on impaired loans was $3 million for both the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, which was predominantly recorded using the cost recovery method. Under the cost recovery method, all payments received are applied to principal. This method is used when the ultimate collectibility of the total principal is in doubt.

Loans 90 Days or More Past Due and Still Accruing

        The following table shows loans contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal, but still accruing. All loans in this category are (a) both well-secured and in the process of collection or (b) real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans or consumer loans that are exempt under regulatory rules from being classified as nonaccrual. Real estate 1-4 family loans (first and junior liens) are placed on nonaccrual within 120 days of becoming past due and are excluded from the following table.


 
(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002

 

 
Commercial   $ 47   $ 92   $ 46  
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage     57     56     75 (1)
Other real estate mortgage     7     7     25  
Real estate construction     9     11     37  
Consumer:                    
  Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage     65     67     74  
  Credit card     133     131     122  
  Other revolving credit and monthly payment     308     308     297  
   
 
 
 
    Total consumer     506     506     493  
   
 
 
 
  Total   $ 626   $ 672   $ 676  
   
 
 
 

 
(1)
Prior period has been revised to exclude certain government guaranteed loans.

42


ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES


 
 
  Quarter ended March 31,

 
(in millions)

  2003

  2002

 

 
Balance, beginning of period   $ 3,862   $ 3,761  
Allowances related to business combinations/other     25     78  
Provision for loan losses     425     490  
Loan charge-offs:              
  Commercial     (153 )   (194 )
  Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage     (9 )   (7 )
  Other real estate mortgage     (2 )   (10 )
  Real estate construction     (3 )   (20 )
  Consumer:              
    Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage     (22 )   (12 )
    Credit card     (112 )   (103 )
    Other revolving credit and monthly payment     (198 )   (213 )
   
 
 
      Total consumer     (332 )   (328 )
  Lease financing     (26 )   (26 )
  Foreign     (20 )   (20 )
   
 
 
        Total loan charge-offs     (545 )   (605 )
   
 
 
Loan recoveries:              
  Commercial     36     31  
  Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage         1  
  Other real estate mortgage     2     4  
  Real estate construction     5     2  
  Consumer:              
    Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage     5     3  
    Credit card     12     11  
    Other revolving credit and monthly payment     51     56  
   
 
 
      Total consumer     68     70  
  Lease financing     6     7  
  Foreign     3     3  
   
 
 
        Total loan recoveries     120     118  
   
 
 
          Net loan charge-offs     (425 )   (487 )
   
 
 
Balance, end of period   $ 3,887   $ 3,842  
   
 
 
Net loan charge-offs (annualized) as a percentage of average total loans     .87 %   1.15 %
   
 
 
Allowance as a percentage of total loans     1.89 %   2.15 %
   
 
 

 

        The Company considers the allowance for loan losses of $3.89 billion adequate to cover losses inherent in loans, loan commitments and standby and other letters of credit at March 31, 2003. The Company's determination of the level of the allowance for loan losses rests upon various judgments and assumptions, including (1) general economic conditions, (2) loan portfolio composition, (3) prior loan loss experience, (4) the evaluation of credit risk related to both individual borrowers and pools of homogenous loans, (5) periodic use of sensitivity analysis and expected loss simulation modeling and (6) the Company's ongoing examination process and that of its regulators.

43


OTHER ASSETS


(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002


Trading assets   $ 8,244   $ 10,167   $ 6,308
Accounts receivable     5,364     5,206     2,803
Nonmarketable equity investments:                  
  Private equity investments     1,644     1,657     1,706
  Federal bank stock     1,498     1,591     1,335
  Affordable housing investments     794     775     556
  All other     673     698     627
   
 
 
    Total nonmarketable equity investments     4,609     4,721     4,224

Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) pool buy-outs

 

 

2,454

 

 

2,336

 

 

2,931
Interest receivable     1,185     1,139     1,341
Core deposit intangibles     831     868     981
Interest-earning deposits     538     352     1,262
Foreclosed assets     200     201     187
Due from customers on acceptances     83     110     71
Other     9,586     6,697     7,252
   
 
 
    Total other assets   $ 33,094   $ 31,797   $ 27,360
   
 
 

        Trading assets consist largely of securities, including corporate debt and U.S. government agency obligations, and fair value of derivative instruments held for customer accommodation purposes. Interest income from trading assets was $31 million and $45 million in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively. Noninterest income from trading assets of $141 million and $94 million in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively, is included in the "other" category of noninterest income.

        Net losses from nonmarketable equity investments were $96 million and $20 million for the first quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively, and included other-than-temporary impairment of $113 million and $43 million for the same periods, respectively.

        GNMA pool buy-outs are advances made to GNMA mortgage pools that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These advances are made to buy out delinquent loans under the Company's servicing agreements. The Company undertakes the collection and foreclosure process for the FHA and VA. After the foreclosure process is complete, the Company is reimbursed for substantially all costs incurred, including the advances.

44


DEPOSITS

        The following table shows comparative detail of deposits.


(in millions)

  Mar. 31,
2003

  Dec. 31,
2002

  Mar. 31,
2002


Noninterest-bearing   $ 75,330   $ 74,094   $ 60,728
Interest-bearing checking     2,508     2,625     2,333
Market rate and other savings     103,596     99,183     93,073
Savings certificates     21,751     22,332     25,525
   
 
 
  Core deposits     203,185     198,234     181,659
Other time deposits     24,958     9,228     5,764
Deposits in foreign offices     7,731     9,454     2,145
   
 
 
    Total deposits   $ 235,874   $ 216,916   $ 189,568
   
 
 

        The increase in other time deposits was primarily due to an increase in certificates of deposit greater than $100,000 sold to institutional customers.

REGULATORY AND AGENCY CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

        The Company and each of the subsidiary banks are subject to various regulatory capital adequacy requirements administered by the Federal Reserve Board and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Risk-based capital (RBC) guidelines establish a risk-adjusted ratio relating capital to different categories of assets and off-balance sheet exposures.


 
 
  Actual

  For capital
adequacy purposes

  To be well
capitalized under
the FDICIA
prompt corrective
action provisions

 
(in billions)

  Amount

  Ratio

  Amount

  Ratio

  Amount

  Ratio

 

 
As of March 31, 2003:                                                
  Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)                                                
    Wells Fargo & Company   $ 32.6   10.89 % ³   $ 24.0   ³   8.00 %                  
    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.     19.1   11.46   ³     13.3   ³   8.00   ³   $ 16.6   ³   10.00 %
    Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.     3.6   12.29   ³     2.4   ³   8.00   ³     2.9   ³   10.00  
  Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)                                                
    Wells Fargo & Company   $ 22.0   7.34 % ³   $ 12.0   ³   4.00 %                  
    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.     12.3   7.39   ³     6.7   ³   4.00   ³   $ 10.0   ³   6.00 %
    Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.     3.3   11.33   ³     1.2   ³   4.00   ³     1.8   ³   6.00  
  Tier 1 capital (to average assets) (Leverage ratio)                                                
    Wells Fargo & Company   $ 22.0   6.43 % ³   $ 13.7   ³   4.00 %(1)                  
    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.     12.3   6.72   ³     7.3   ³   4.00     (1) ³   $ 9.1   ³   5.00 %
    Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.     3.3   6.25   ³     2.1   ³   4.00     (1) ³     2.7   ³   5.00  

(1)
The leverage ratio consists of Tier 1 capital divided by quarterly average total assets, excluding goodwill and certain other items. The minimum leverage ratio guideline is 3% for banking organizations that do not anticipate significant growth and that have well-diversified risk, excellent asset quality, high liquidity, good earnings, effective management and monitoring of market risk and, in general, are considered top-rated, strong banking organizations.

45


        To remain a seller/servicer in good standing, the Company's mortgage banking affiliate must maintain specified levels of shareholders' equity as required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and Federal National Mortgage Association. The equity requirements are generally based on the size of the loan portfolio being serviced for each investor. At March 31, 2003, the equity requirements for these agencies ranged from $1 million to $179 million. The mortgage banking affiliate had agency capital levels in excess of these requirements.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

        As more fully described in Note 1 to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K, the Company consolidates majority-owned subsidiaries. Affiliates in which there is at least 20 percent ownership are generally accounted for under the equity method of accounting and affiliates in which there is less than 20 percent ownership are generally carried at cost.

        In the ordinary course of business, the Company engages in financial transactions, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), that are not recorded on the Company's balance sheet or may be recorded on the Company's balance sheet in amounts that are different than the full contract or notional amount of the transaction. Such transactions are structured to meet the financial needs of customers, manage the Company's credit, market or liquidity risks, diversify funding sources or optimize capital.

        Off-balance sheet arrangements include (1) securitization activities in the ordinary course of business, including mortgage loans and other financial assets (student loans, commercial mortgages and automobile receivables), (2) investment vehicles, typically in the form of collateralized debt obligations and (3) unconsolidated joint ventures, used to support origination activities of the Company's mortgage banking affiliate or formed with third parties for economies of scale.

        In the ordinary course of operations, the Company enters into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include (1) the acceptance of deposits, (2) the funding of operations through debt issuances, (3) leases for premises and equipment, (4) purchase obligations and (5) certain derivative instrument contracts.

        For additional information on off-balance sheet arrangements and other contractual obligations see Note 10 (Guarantees) to Financial Statements and "Financial Review—Overview—Recent Accounting Standards" in this report and "Financial Review—Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Other Contractual Obligations" in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.

46


ASSET/LIABILITY AND MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT

        Asset/liability management consists of the evaluation, monitoring, and management of the Company's interest rate risk, market risk and liquidity and funding. The Corporate Asset/Liability Management Committee (Corporate ALCO) maintains oversight of these risks. The Committee consists of senior financial and senior business executives. Each of the Company's principal business groups—Community Banking (including Mortgage Banking) and Wholesale Banking—have individual asset/liability management committees and processes that are linked to the Corporate ALCO process.

INTEREST RATE RISK

        Interest rate risk, one of the more prominent risks in terms of potential earnings impact, is an inevitable part of being a financial intermediary. For more information, see "Financial Review—Asset/Liability and Market Risk Management—Interest Rate Risk" in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K. The principal tool used to evaluate Company interest rate risk is a simulation of net income under various economic and interest rate scenarios.

        The Company assesses its interest rate risk by comparing its most likely earnings plan over a twelve-month period to various earnings simulations performed under multiple interest rate scenarios that differ in the direction of interest rate changes, the degree of change over time, the speed of change and the projected shape of the yield curve. For example, earnings simulated assuming a gradual increase of 175 basis points in the federal funds rate, as well as earnings simulated assuming a gradual reduction of 75 basis points in the federal funds rate, were both within 1% of the Company's most likely earnings plan for 2003. Simulation estimates are highly dependent on and will change with the size and mix of the Company's actual and projected balance sheet at the time each simulation is done.

        The Company uses exchange-traded and over-the-counter interest rate derivatives to hedge its interest rate exposures. The credit risk amount and estimated net fair values of these derivatives as of March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 are indicated in Note 11 to Financial Statements. Derivatives are used for asset/liability management in three ways: (a) most of the Company's long-term fixed-rate debt is converted to floating-rate payments by entering into received-fixed swaps at issuance; (b) the cash flows from selected asset and/or liability instruments/portfolios are converted from fixed to floating payments or vice versa; and (c) the Company's mortgage operation actively uses swaptions, futures, forwards and rate options to hedge the mortgage pipeline, funded mortgage loans and the mortgage servicing rights asset.

47


MORTGAGE BANKING INTEREST RATE RISK

        The Company originates, funds and services mortgage loans. These activities subject the Company to a number of risks, including credit, liquidity and interest rate risks. The Company manages credit and liquidity risk by selling or securitizing most of the loans it originates. Changes in interest rates, however, may have a potentially large impact on mortgage banking income in any calendar quarter and over time. The Company manages both the risk to net income over time from all sources as well as the risk to an immediate reduction in the fair value of its mortgage servicing rights. The Company relies on mortgage loans held on its balance sheet and derivative instruments to maintain these risks within Corporate ALCO parameters.

        At March 31, 2003, the Company had capitalized mortgage servicing rights of $4.2 billion. The value of its servicing rights portfolio is influenced by prepayment speed assumptions affecting the duration of the mortgage loans to which the servicing rights relate. Changes in long-term interest rates affect these prepayment speed assumptions. For example, a decrease in long-term rates would accelerate prepayment speed assumptions as borrowers refinance their existing mortgage loans. The Company mitigates this risk in two ways. First, a significant portion of the mortgage servicing rights asset is hedged with derivative contracts. The principal source of risk in this hedging process is the risk that changes in the value of the hedging contracts may not match changes in the value of the hedged portion of the mortgage servicing rights for any given change in long-term interest rates. Second, a portion of the potential reduction in the value of the mortgage servicing rights asset for a given decline in interest rates is offset by estimated increases in origination and servicing fees over a twelve month period from new mortgage activity or refinancing associated with that decline in interest rates. In a scenario of much lower long-term interest rates, the decline in the value of the mortgage servicing rights and its impact on net income would be immediate whereas the additional fee income accrues over time. Under GAAP, impairment of the Company's servicing rights, due to a decrease in long-term rates or other reasons, is reflected as a charge to earnings. Net of impairment reserves, the capitalized mortgage servicing rights asset was valued at .84% of the total servicing portfolio at March 31, 2003, down from .92% of the servicing portfolio at December 31, 2002.

MARKET RISK—TRADING ACTIVITIES

        The Company incurs interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, equity price risk and commodity price risk in several trading businesses managed under limits set by Corporate ALCO. The primary purpose of these businesses is to accommodate customers in the management of their market price risks. Additionally, the Company takes positions based on market expectations or to benefit from price differentials between financial instruments and markets. All securities, loans, foreign exchange transactions, commodity transactions and derivatives transacted with customers or used to hedge capital market transactions done with customers are carried at fair value. Counterparty risk limits are established and monitored by the Institutional Risk Committee. Open, "at risk" positions for all trading business are monitored by Corporate ALCO.

48


MARKET RISK—EQUITY MARKETS

        Equity markets impact the Company in both direct and indirect ways. For more information, see "Financial Review—Asset/Liability and Market Risk Management—Market Risk—Equity Markets" in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K. The Company makes and manages direct equity investments in start up businesses, emerging growth companies, management buy-outs, acquisitions and corporate recapitalizations. The Company also invests in non-affiliated funds that make similar private equity investments. These private equity investments are made within capital allocations approved by the Company's management or its Board of Directors. Management reviews these investments at least quarterly and assesses them for possible other-than-temporary impairment. At March 31, 2003, private equity investments totaled $1,644 million, compared with $1,657 million at December 31, 2002.

        The Company has marketable equity securities in its securities available for sale investment portfolio, including shares distributed from the Company's venture capital activities. These securities are managed within capital risk limits approved by management. Gains and losses on these securities are recognized in net income when realized and, in addition, other-than-temporary impairment may be periodically recorded. At March 31, 2003, the fair value of marketable equity securities was $525 million and cost was $569 million, compared with $556 million and $598 million, respectively, at December 31, 2002.

LIQUIDITY AND FUNDING

        The objective of effective liquidity management is to ensure that the Company can efficiently meet customer loan requests, customer deposit maturities/withdrawals and other cash commitments under both normal operating conditions and under unforeseen and unpredictable circumstances of industry or market stress. To achieve this objective, Corporate ALCO establishes and monitors liquidity guidelines that require sufficient asset-based liquidity to cover potential funding requirements and to avoid over-dependence on volatile, less reliable funding markets. To ensure that the Parent is a source of strength for its regulated, deposit-taking subsidiary banks, the Company sets liquidity management guidelines for both the consolidated and Parent balance sheets.

        In addition to the immediately liquid resources of cash and due from banks and federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements, asset liquidity is provided by the debt securities in the securities available for sale portfolio. Asset liquidity is further enhanced by the Company's ability to sell or securitize loans in secondary markets.

        Customer core deposits have historically provided the Company with a sizeable source of relatively stable and low-cost funds.

        The remaining funding of assets is mostly provided by long-term debt, deposits in foreign offices, short-term borrowings (federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements, commercial paper and other short-term borrowings) and trust preferred securities. Liquidity for the Company is also available through the Company's ability to raise funds in a variety of domestic and international money and capital markets.

49


        Parent.     The Parent has registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue a variety of securities, including senior and subordinated notes and preferred and common securities to be issued by one or more trusts that are directly or indirectly owned by the Company and consolidated in the financial statements. In March 2003, the Parent registered for issuance an additional $15.3 billion in senior and subordinated notes and preferred and common securities. During the first quarter of 2003, the Parent issued a total of $4.4 billion of senior notes, leaving unused issuance capacity of $18.0 billion at March 31, 2003. The Company used the proceeds from securities issued in the first quarter of 2003 for general corporate purposes and expects that it will use the proceeds from the future issuance of any securities for general corporate purposes as well. The Parent also issues commercial paper and has two back-up credit facilities amounting to $2 billion.

        On April 15, 2003, the Company issued $3 billion of convertible senior debentures as a private placement. If the price per share of the Company's common stock exceeds $120.00 per share, or approximately 150% above the closing stock price of $47.45 on April 8, 2003, the holders will have the right to convert the convertible debt securities to common stock at an initial conversion price of $100.00 per share. While the Company has the ability to settle the entire amount of the conversion rights granted in this convertible debt offering in cash, common stock or a combination, the Company intends to settle the principal amount in cash and to settle the conversion spread (the excess conversion value over the principal) in either cash or stock. The Company can also redeem all or some of the convertible debt securities for cash at any time on or after May 5, 2008, at their principal amount plus accrued interest, if any.

        Bank Note Program.     In March 2003, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. established a $50 billion bank note program under which it may issue up to $20 billion in short-term senior notes outstanding at any time and up to a total of $30 billion in long-term senior and subordinated notes. This program updates and supercedes the bank note program established in February 2001. Securities are issued under this program as private placements in accordance with OCC regulations. During the first quarter of 2003, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. issued $4.4 billion in senior long-term notes. At March 31, 2003, the remaining issuance authority under the long-term portion was $19.9 billion.

        Wells Fargo Financial.     During the first quarter of 2003, Wells Fargo Financial Canada Corporation, a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary of Wells Fargo Financial, Inc., issued $200 million (Canadian) in senior notes, leaving at March 31, 2003 a total of $750 million (Canadian) available for issuance.

50


CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

        The Company has an active program for managing stockholder capital. The objective of effective capital management is to produce above market long-term returns by opportunistically using capital when returns are perceived to be high and issuing/accumulating capital when costs are perceived to be low.

        The Company uses capital to fund organic growth, acquire banks and other financial services companies, pay dividends and repurchase its shares. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company's consolidated assets increased by $20 billion, or 6%. During 2002, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 50 million additional shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company repurchased approximately 16 million shares of its common stock for a total of $744 million. At March 31, 2003 the total remaining common stock repurchase authority was approximately 41 million shares. In January 2003, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company's quarterly common stock dividend to 30 cents per share from 28 cents per share, representing a 7% increase in the quarterly dividend rate.

        The Company's potential sources of capital include retained earnings, common and preferred stock issuance and issuance of subordinated debt and trust preferred securities. In the first quarter of 2003, net income was $1.5 billion and retained earnings increased by $955 million, after payment of $506 million in common stock dividends. In the first quarter of 2003, the Company issued a total of $227 million in common stock for various employee stock plans, which included $81 million related to the conversion of preferred stock to common stock under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

        We make forward-looking statements in this report and in other reports and proxy statements we file with the SEC. In addition, our senior management might make forward-looking statements orally to analysts, investors, the media and others. Broadly speaking, forward-looking statements include:

    projections of our revenues, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items;

    descriptions of plans or objectives of our management for future operations, products or services, including pending acquisitions;

    forecasts of our future economic performance; and

    descriptions of assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing.

        In this report, for example, we make forward-looking statements discussing our expectations about:

    future credit losses and non-performing assets;

    the future value of mortgage servicing rights;

    the future value of equity securities, including those in our venture capital portfolios;

    the impact of new accounting standards; and

51


    future short-term and long-term interest rate levels and their impact on our net interest margin, net income, liquidity and capital.

        Forward-looking statements discuss matters that are not historical facts. Because they discuss future events or conditions, forward-looking statements often include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "target," "can," "could," "may," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. They give our expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we might not update them to reflect changes that occur after the date they are made.

        There are several factors—many beyond our control—that could cause results to differ significantly from our expectations. Some of these factors are described below. Other factors, such as credit, market, operational, liquidity, interest rate and other risks, are described elsewhere in this report (see, for example, "Balance Sheet Analysis"). Factors relating to the regulation and supervision of the Company are described in our 2002 Form 10-K. Any factor described in this report or in our 2002 Form 10-K could by itself, or together with one or more other factors, adversely affect our business, results of operations and/or financial condition. There are factors not described in this report or in our 2002 Form 10-K that could cause results to differ from our expectations.

Industry Factors

As a financial services company, our earnings are significantly affected by general business and economic conditions.

        Our business and earnings are impacted by general business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad. These conditions include short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, monetary supply, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, and the strength of the U.S. economy and the local economies in which we operate. For example, an economic downturn, increase in unemployment, or other events that negatively impact household and/or corporate incomes could decrease the demand for the Company's loan and non-loan products and services and increase the number of customers who fail to pay interest or principal on their loans.

        Geopolitical conditions can also impact our earnings. Acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the U.S. or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts including the aftermath of the war with Iraq, could impact business and economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad. The terrorist attacks in 2001, for example, caused an immediate decrease in demand for air travel, which adversely affected not only the airline industry but also other travel-related and leisure industries, such as lodging, gaming and tourism.

        We discuss other business and economic conditions in more detail elsewhere in this report.

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Our earnings are significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies.

        The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States. Its policies determine in large part our cost of funds for lending and investing and the return we earn on those loans and investments, both of which impact our net interest margin, and can materially affect the value of financial instruments we hold, such as debt securities and mortgage servicing rights. Its policies also can affect our borrowers, potentially increasing the risk that they may fail to repay their loans. Changes in Federal Reserve Board policies are beyond our control and hard to predict or anticipate.

The financial services industry is highly competitive.

        We operate in a highly competitive industry which could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Banks, securities firms and insurance companies can now merge by creating a new type of financial services company called a "financial holding company," which can offer virtually any type of financial service, including banking, securities underwriting, insurance (both agency and underwriting) and merchant banking. Recently, a number of foreign banks have acquired financial services companies in the United States, further increasing competition in the U.S. market. Also, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for nonbanks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as automatic transfer and automatic payment systems. Many of our competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and some have lower cost structures.

We are heavily regulated by federal and state agencies.

        The holding company, its subsidiary banks and many of its nonbank subsidiaries are heavily regulated at the federal and state levels. This regulation is to protect depositors, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not security holders. Congress and state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways including limiting the types of financial services and products we may offer and/or increasing the ability of nonbanks to offer competing financial services and products. Also, our failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies and damage to our reputation. For more information, refer to the "Regulation and Supervision" section and to Notes 3 (Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions) and 25 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.

Future legislation could change our competitive position.

        Various legislation, including proposals to substantially change the financial institution regulatory system and to expand or contract the powers of banking institutions and bank holding companies, is from time to time introduced in the Congress. This legislation may change banking

53


statutes and the operating environment of the Company and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, such legislation could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other financial institutions. We cannot predict whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it, or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.

        In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with customers and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished to us by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also may rely on representations of customers and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors. For example, in deciding whether to extend credit, we may assume that a customer's audited financial statements conform with GAAP and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the customer. We also may rely on the audit report covering those financial statements. Our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted to the extent we rely on financial statements that do not comply with GAAP or that are materially misleading.

Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions.

        Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks. For example, consumers can now pay bills and transfer funds directly without banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as "disintermediation," could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and income generated from those deposits.

Company Factors

Maintaining or increasing our market share depends on market acceptance and regulatory approval of new products and services.

        Our success depends, in part, on our ability to adapt our products and services to evolving industry standards. There is increasing pressure on financial services companies to provide products and services at lower prices. This can reduce our net interest margin and revenues from our fee-based products and services. In addition, the widespread adoption of new technologies, including internet-based services, could require us to make substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our existing products and services. We might not successfully introduce new products and services, achieve market acceptance of our products and services, and/or develop and maintain loyal customers.

54


The holding company relies on dividends from its subsidiaries for most of its revenue.

        The holding company is a separate and distinct legal entity from its subsidiaries. It receives substantially all of its revenue from dividends from its subsidiaries. These dividends are the principal source of funds to pay dividends on the holding company's common and preferred stock and interest and principal on its debt. Various federal and/or state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that our bank and certain of our nonbank subsidiaries may pay to the holding company. Also, the holding company's right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors. For more information, refer to "Regulation and Supervision—Dividend Restrictions" and "—Holding Company Structure" in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.

Our accounting policies and methods are key to how we report our financial condition and results of operations, and they may require management to make estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain.

        Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods so that not only do they comply with generally accepted accounting principles but also that they reflect management's judgment as to the most appropriate manner in which to record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which might be reasonable under the circumstances yet might result in our reporting materially different amounts than would have been reported under a different alternative. Note 1 to Financial Statements in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K describes our significant accounting policies.

We have businesses other than banking.

        We are a diversified financial services company. In addition to banking, we provide insurance, investments, mortgages and consumer finance. Although we believe our diversity helps mitigate the impact to the Company when downturns affect any one segment of our industry, it also means that our earnings could be subject to different risks and uncertainties. We discuss some examples below.

        Merchant Banking.     Our merchant banking activities include venture capital investments, which have a much greater risk of capital losses than our traditional banking activities. Also, it is difficult to predict the timing of any gains from these activities. Realization of gains from our venture capital investments depends on a number of factors—many beyond our control—including general economic conditions, the prospects of the companies in which we invest, when these companies go public, the size of our position relative to the public float, and whether we are subject to any resale restrictions. Factors such as a slowdown in consumer demand or a deterioration in capital spending on technology and telecommunications equipment, could result in declines in the values of our publicly-traded and private equity securities. If we determine that the declines are other-than-temporary, additional impairment charges would be recognized. Also,

55


we will realize losses to the extent we sell securities at less than book value. For more information, see in this report "Balance Sheet Analysis—Securities Available for Sale."

        Mortgage Banking.     The impact of interest rates on our mortgage banking business can be large and complex. Changes in interest rates can impact loan origination fees and loan servicing fees, which account for a significant portion of mortgage-related revenues. A decline in mortgage rates generally increases the demand for mortgage loans as borrowers refinance, but also generally leads to accelerated payoffs in our mortgage servicing portfolio. Conversely, in a constant or increasing rate environment, we would expect fewer loans to be refinanced and a decline in payoffs in our servicing portfolio. Although the Company uses dynamic and sophisticated models to assess the impact of interest rates on mortgage fees, amortization of mortgage servicing rights, and the value of mortgage servicing assets, the estimates of net income and fair value produced by these models are dependent on estimates and assumptions of future loan demand, prepayment speeds and other factors which may overstate or understate actual subsequent experience. In addition, although the Company uses derivative instruments to hedge the value of its servicing portfolio, the hedges do not cover the full value of the portfolio and the Company can provide no assurances that the hedges will be effective to offset significant decreases in the value of the portfolio. For more information, see "Financial Review—Critical Accounting Policies—Mortgage Servicing Rights Valuation and Risk Management—Asset /Liability and Market Risk Management" in the Company's 2002 Form 10-K.

We rely on other companies to provide key components of our business infrastructure.

        Third parties provide key components of our business infrastructure such as internet connections and network access. Any disruption in internet, network access or other voice or data communication services provided by these third parties or any failure of these third parties to handle current or higher volumes of use could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers and otherwise to conduct our business. Technological or financial difficulties of a third party service provider could adversely affect our business to the extent those difficulties result in the interruption or discontinuation of services provided by that party.

We have an active acquisition program.

        We regularly explore opportunities to acquire financial institutions and other financial services providers. We cannot predict the number, size or timing of future acquisitions. We typically do not comment publicly on a possible acquisition or business combination until we have signed a definitive agreement for the transaction.

        Our ability to successfully complete an acquisition generally is subject to regulatory approval, and we cannot be certain when or if, or on what terms and conditions, any required regulatory approvals will be granted. We might be required to divest banks or branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval.

        Difficulty in integrating an acquired company may cause us not to realize expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and/or other projected

56


benefits from the acquisition. Specifically, the integration process could result in higher than expected deposit attrition (run-off), loss of key employees, the disruption of our business or the business of the acquired company, or otherwise adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees or achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Also, the negative impact of any divestitures required by regulatory authorities in connection with acquisitions or business combinations may be greater than expected.

Legislative Risk

        Our business model is dependent on sharing information between the family of companies owned by Wells Fargo to better satisfy our customers' needs. Laws that restrict the ability of our companies to share information about customers could negatively impact our revenue and profit.

Our business could suffer if we fail to attract and retain skilled people.

        Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities engaged in by the Company can be intense. We may not be able to hire people or to keep them.

Our stock price can be volatile.

        Our stock price can fluctuate widely in response to a variety of factors including:

    actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results;

    recommendations by securities analysts;

    new technology used, or services offered, by our competitors;

    significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors;

    failure to integrate our acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from our acquisitions;

    operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;

    news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry;

    changes in government regulations; and

    geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts.

        General market fluctuations, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, such as the recent terrorist attacks, economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes, credit loss trends or currency fluctuations, also could cause our stock price to decrease regardless of our operating results.

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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

        As required by SEC rules, within the 90-day period prior to the filing date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. The Company's management, including the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer, supervised and participated in the evaluation. Based on this evaluation, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the evaluation date.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS

        There were no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

    (a)
    Exhibits
3(a)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 28, 1993. Certificates of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 3, 1995 (authorizing preference stock), Exhibits 3(b) and 3(c) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 (changing the Company's name and increasing authorized common and preferred stock, respectively) and Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 (increasing authorized common stock)

(b)

 

Certificate of Change of Location of Registered Office and Change of Registered Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999

(c)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994

(d)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 1995 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1995

(e)

 

Certificate Eliminating the Certificate of Designations for the Company's Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 1, 1995

(f)

 

Certificate Eliminating the Certificate of Designations for the Company's 10.24% Cumulative Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 20, 1996

(g)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 1996 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 26, 1996
     

59



3(h)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 1997 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 14, 1997

(i)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 1998 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 20, 1998

(j)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's Adjustable Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(j) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998

(k)

 

Certificate Eliminating the Certificate of Designations for the Company's Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 21, 1999

(l)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 1999 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 21, 1999

(m)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(o) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000

(n)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 17, 2001

(o)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 16, 2002

(p)

 

Certificate of Designations for the Company's 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 15, 2003

(q)

 

Certificate Eliminating the Certificate of Designations for the Company's ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 15, 2003

(r)

 

By-Laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(m) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998
     

60



4(a)

 

See Exhibits 3(a) through 3(r)

(b)

 

The Company agrees to furnish upon request to the Commission a copy of each instrument defining the rights of holders of senior and subordinated debt of the Company.

99(a)

 

Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges, filed herewith. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges, including interest on deposits, were 3.50 and 3.00 for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, were 5.64 and 4.71 for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

(b)

 

Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends, filed herewith. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends, including interest on deposits, were 3.49 and 2.99 for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends, excluding interest on deposits, were 5.62 and 4.70 for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

(c)

 

Certification of Periodic Financial Report by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, filed herewith

(d)

 

Certification of Periodic Financial Report by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, filed herewith

(e)

 

Description of Wells Fargo & Company common stock

61


    (b)
    The Company filed the following reports on Form 8-K during the first quarter of 2003:

    (1)
    January 21, 2003, under Item 5, regarding the Company's financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2002

    (2)
    March 5, 2003, under Item 7, filing the Form of the Note related to the Company's issuance of its Basket Linked Notes due April 15, 2009


SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 8, 2003   WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

 

 

By:

RICHARD D. LEVY

Richard D. Levy
Senior Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, Richard M. Kovacevich, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Wells Fargo & Company;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)
presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

6.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: May 8, 2003    
    RICHARD M. KOVACEVICH
Richard M. Kovacevich
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

63


I, Howard I. Atkins, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Wells Fargo & Company;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)
presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

6.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: May 8, 2003    
    HOWARD I. ATKINS
Howard I. Atkins
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

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QuickLinks

FORM 10-Q TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL REVIEW
AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS AND RATES PAID (TAXABLE-EQUIVALENT BASIS) (1) (2)
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
CERTIFICATIONS

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EXHIBIT 99(a)


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


 
  Quarter
ended March 31,

(in millions)

  2003

  2002


Earnings, including interest on deposits (1):            
  Income before income tax expense and effect of change in accounting principle   $ 2,314   $ 2,138
  Fixed charges     926     1,070
   
 
    $ 3,240   $ 3,208
   
 
Fixed charges (1):            
  Interest expense   $ 879   $ 1,026
  Estimated interest component of net rental expense     47     44
   
 
    $ 926   $ 1,070
   
 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)

 

 

3.50

 

 

3.00
   
 
Earnings, excluding interest on deposits:            
  Income before income tax expense and effect of change in accounting principle   $ 2,314   $ 2,138
  Fixed charges     499     576
   
 
    $ 2,813   $ 2,714
   
 
Fixed charges:            
  Interest expense   $ 879   $ 1,026
  Less interest on deposits     427     494
  Estimated interest component of net rental expense     47     44
   
 
    $ 499   $ 576
   
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)     5.64     4.71
   
 

(1)
As defined in Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K.

(2)
These computations are included herein in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. However, management believes that fixed charge ratios are not meaningful measures for the business of the Company because of two factors. First, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline with an increase in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt or, conversely, they would increase with a decrease in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt. Second, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline if interest income and interest expense increase by the same amount due to an increase in the level of interest rates or, conversely, they would increase if interest income and interest expense decrease by the same amount due to a decrease in the level of interest rates.



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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

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Exhibit 99(b)


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS


 
  Quarter
ended March 31,

(in millions)

  2003

  2002


Earnings, including interest on deposits (1):            
  Income before income tax expense and effect of change in accounting principle   $ 2,314   $ 2,138
  Fixed charges     926     1,070
   
 
    $ 3,240   $ 3,208
   
 

Preferred dividend requirement

 

$

1

 

$

1

Ratio of income before income tax expense and effect of change in accounting principle to net income before effect of change in accounting principle

 

 

1.55

 

 

1.55
   
 

Preferred dividends (2)

 

$

2

 

$

2
   
 
Fixed charges (1):            
  Interest expense     879     1,026
  Estimated interest component of net rental expense     47     44
   
 
      926     1,070
   
 
Fixed charges and preferred dividends   $ 928   $ 1,072
   
 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends (3)

 

 

3.49

 

 

2.99
   
 

Earnings, excluding interest on deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Income before income tax expense and effect of change in accounting principle   $ 2,314   $ 2,138
  Fixed charges     499     576
   
 
    $ 2,813   $ 2,714
   
 

Preferred dividends (2)

 

$

2

 

$

2
   
 
Fixed charges:            
  Interest expense     879     1,026
  Less interest on deposits     427     494
  Estimated interest component of net rental expense     47     44
   
 
      499     576
   
 
  Fixed charges and preferred dividends   $ 501   $ 578
   
 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends (3)

 

 

5.62

 

 

4.70
   
 

(1)
As defined in Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K.

(2)
The preferred dividends were increased to amounts representing the pretax earnings that would be required to cover such dividend requirements.

(3)
These computations are included herein in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. However, management believes that fixed charge ratios are not meaningful measures for the business of the Company because of two factors. First, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline with an increase in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt or, conversely, they would increase with a decrease in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt. Second, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline if interest income and interest expense increase by the same amount due to an increase in the level of interest rates or, conversely, they would increase if interest income and interest expense decrease by the same amount due to a decrease in the level of interest rates.



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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

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Exhibit 99(c)


Certification of Periodic Financial Report by
Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

        I, Richard M. Kovacevich, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo & Company (the "Company"), certify that:

(1)
The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

    /s/   RICHARD M. KOVACEVICH       
Richard M. Kovacevich
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Wells Fargo & Company

 

 

May 8, 2003

        A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Wells Fargo & Company and will be retained by Wells Fargo & Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.




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Certification of Periodic Financial Report by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

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Exhibit 99(d)


Certification of Periodic Financial Report by
Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

        I, Howard I. Atkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wells Fargo & Company (the "Company"), certify that:

(1)
The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

    /s/   HOWARD I. ATKINS       
Howard I. Atkins
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Wells Fargo & Company

 

 

May 8, 2003

        A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Wells Fargo & Company and will be retained by Wells Fargo & Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.




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Certification of Periodic Financial Report by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

Exhibit 99 (e)

 

DESCRIPTION OF WELLS FARGO & COMPANY COMMON STOCK

 

        Wells Fargo & Company is filing this exhibit with the Securities and Exchange Commission to place on file with the Commission a description of its common stock, par value $1–2/3 per share.  From time to time Wells Fargo may incorporate this description into prospectuses covering shares of such common stock.  References in this exhibit to “Wells Fargo,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean Wells Fargo & Company unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

        The description of our common stock contained in this exhibit is qualified by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, including the certificates of designations for our preferred stock, and to our bylaws.  You should read these documents for complete information on our common stock.  We file these documents, as well as other instruments that define the rights of holders of our common stock, as exhibits to our annual reports on Form 10–K and our quarterly reports on Form 10–Q filed with the SEC.  Also, from time to time we might file an amendment to these documents or a new instrument that defines the rights of holders of our common stock as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8–K filed with the SEC.  In each case, we identify such exhibits in the exhibit index or elsewhere in the report with the number 3 or 4.

 

        The description of our common stock contained in this exhibit supersedes the description included as Exhibit 99 to our current report on Form 8–K filed October 14, 1997.  From time to time we might update the description of our common stock contained in this exhibit by information provided in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and in other documents filed with the SEC.

 

General

 

        Shares Authorized and Outstanding .  As of the filing date of the report which includes this exhibit, we are authorized to issue 6,000,000,000 shares of common stock.  At March 31, 2003, we had issued 1,736,381,025 shares of our common stock, of which 1,674,926,083 shares were outstanding and 61,454,942 shares were held as treasury shares.

 

        Dividends .  Holders of our common stock may receive dividends when declared by our board of directors out of funds that we can legally use to pay dividends.  We may pay dividends in cash, stock or other property.  In some cases, holders of our common stock may not receive dividends until we have satisfied our obligations to holders of outstanding preferred stock.  Other restrictions on our ability to pay dividends are described below under “Restrictions on Payment of Dividends.”

 

 



 

 

        Voting Rights .  Holders of our common stock have the exclusive right to vote on all matters presented to our stockholders unless Delaware law or the certificate of designations for an outstanding series of preferred stock gives the holders of that series of preferred stock the right to vote on certain matters.  Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share.  Holders of our common stock have no cumulative voting rights for the election of directors.  This means a holder of a single share of common stock cannot cast more than one vote for each position to be filled on our board of directors.  It also means the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in the election of directors can elect all directors standing for election and the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors.  Our board of directors is not classified.

 

        Other Rights .  If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, holders of our common stock will receive pro rata, according to shares held by them, any of our remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders after we have provided for payment of all debts and other liabilities, including any liquidation preference for outstanding shares of preferred stock.  When we issue securities in the future, holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights with respect to those securities.  This means the holders of our common stock have no right, as holders of our common stock, to buy any portion of those issued securities.  Holders of our common stock have no rights to have their shares of common stock redeemed by us or to convert their shares of common stock into shares of any other class of our capital stock.

 

        Listing.   Outstanding shares of our common stock are listed on the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges under the symbol “WFC.”  Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

 

        Fully Paid .  Outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non–assessable.  This means the full purchase price for the shares has been paid and the holders of the shares will not be assessed any additional amounts for the shares.  In general, shares of our common stock that we may issue in the future will be fully paid and non–assessable.  Refer to the prospectus covering the shares in question for any exception.

 

Restrictions on Payment of Dividends

 

        We are incorporated in Delaware and are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law.  Delaware law allows a corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined under Delaware law or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared and for the preceding fiscal year.  Under Delaware law, however, we cannot pay dividends out of net profits if, after we pay the dividend, our capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.

 

 

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        As a bank holding company, our ability to pay dividends is affected by the ability of our bank and non–bank subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.  Various federal laws limit the amount of dividends our national bank subsidiaries can pay to us without regulatory approval.  State-chartered banks are subject to state regulations that limit dividends.  Refer to our most recent annual report on Form 10–K for more information about restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay us dividends.

 

Restrictions on Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 requires any “bank holding company” (as defined in that Act) to obtain the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System prior to acquiring more than 5% of our outstanding common stock.  Any person other than a bank holding company is required to obtain prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board to acquire 10% or more of our outstanding common stock under the Change in Bank Control Act.  Any holder of 25% or more of our outstanding common stock, other than an individual, is subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.

 

Anti-takeover Provisions in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

        Certain provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, could make it less likely that our management would be changed or someone would acquire voting control of us without the consent of our board of directors.  These provisions could delay, deter or prevent tender offers or takeover attempts that stockholders might believe are in their best interests, including tender offers or takeover attempts that could allow stockholders to receive premiums over the market price of their common stock.

 

        Preferred Stock .  Our board of directors can at any time, under our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and without stockholder approval, issue one or more new series of preferred stock.  In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could discourage or make more difficult attempts to take control of us through a merger, tender offer, proxy context or otherwise.  Preferred stock with special voting rights or other features issued to persons favoring our management could stop a takeover by preventing the person trying to take control of us from acquiring enough voting shares necessary to take control.

 

        Nomination Procedures .  Holders of our common stock can nominate candidates for our board of directors.  A stockholder must follow the advance notice procedures described in our bylaws.  In general, to nominate a person for election to our board of directors at a meeting of our stockholders, a stockholder must submit a written notice of the proposed nomination to our corporate secretary at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the meeting.

 

 

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        Proposal Procedures .  Under our bylaws, a stockholder can propose at an annual meeting of our stockholders that business other than nominations to our board of directors be considered only if the stockholder follows the advance notice procedures described in our bylaws.  In general, a stockholder must submit a written notice of the proposal and the stockholder’s interest in the proposal to our corporate secretary at least 90 but not more than 120 days before the date set for the annual meeting of our stockholders.

 

        Rights Plan .  Although we do not have a stockholder rights plan (commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) as of the filing date of the report which includes this exhibit, under Delaware law, our board of directors can adopt such a plan without stockholder approval.  If adopted, a stockholder rights plan could operate to cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our board of directors.

 

Amendment of Bylaws .  Under our bylaws, our board of directors can adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws, subject to limitations under the Delaware General Corporation Law.  Our stockholders also have the power to change or repeal our bylaws.

 

Preferred Stock

 

        As of the filing date of the report which includes this exhibit, we are authorized to issue, without further stockholder approval, 24,000,000 shares of preferred stock, consisting of 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock and 4,000,000 shares of preference stock, including shares issued or reserved for issuance.  At March 31, 2003, we had 1,817,175 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.  We had not issued any shares of preference stock as of March 31, 2003.  When we refer to “preferred stock” in this exhibit, we mean preferred stock and preference stock unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

        Our board of directors is authorized to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to fix the number of shares in each series, and to determine the designations and voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each series, all without any vote or other action on the part of the holders of our common stock.  We can issue shares of preferred stock at any time in any amount, provided that not more than 24,000,000 shares of preferred stock are outstanding at any one time.

 

Shares of our common stock are subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock.  Our preferred stockholders are entitled to payment of dividends on their preferred stock before we can pay dividends on our common stock.  If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, our preferred stockholders are entitled to receive, out of any assets remaining for distribution to stockholders, all accrued and unpaid dividends on their preferred

 

 

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stock and any liquidation preference for their preferred stock before holders of our common stock receive any distribution of assets with respect to their common stock.

 

 

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