Exhibit 12(b). Norwest Corporation and Subsidiaries COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, Year Ended December 31, In thousands 1998 1997 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 Computation of Income: Income before income taxes $1,109,836 1,006,075 2,049,726 1,781,509 1,422,814 1,180,601 879,755 Capitalized interest - - (22) (14) (112) (69) (65) Income before income taxes and capitalized interest 1,109,836 1,006,075 2,049,704 1,781,495 1,422,702 1,180,532 879,690 Fixed charges 1,459,862 1,345,026 2,734,466 2,685,447 2,503,603 1,640,049 1,485,936 Total income for computation $2,569,698 2,351,101 4,784,170 4,466,942 3,926,305 2,820,581 2,365,626 Total income for computation excluding interest on deposits from fixed charges $1,830,479 1,636,410 3,337,488 3,142,024 2,770,005 1,957,224 1,513,317 Computation of Fixed Charges: Net rental expense (a) $ 115,443 102,730 211,191 205,409 166,591 149,462 128,573 Portion of rentals deemed representative of interest $ 38,481 34,243 70,397 68,470 55,530 49,821 42,858 Interest: Interest on deposits 739,219 714,691 1,446,682 1,324,918 1,156,300 863,357 852,309 Interest on federal funds and other short-term borrowings 291,499 215,131 439,492 454,013 515,646 290,211 238,046 Interest on long-term debt 390,663 380,961 777,873 838,032 776,015 436,591 352,658 Capitalized interest - - 22 14 112 69 65 Total interest 1,421,381 1,310,783 2,664,069 2,616,977 2,448,073 1,590,228 1,443,078 Total fixed charges $1,459,862 1,345,026 2,734,466 2,685,447 2,503,603 1,640,049 1,485,936 Total fixed charges excluding interest on deposits $ 720,643 630,335 1,287,784 1,360,529 1,347,303 776,692 633,627 Preferred stock dividends 8,881 8,881 17,763 17,763 41,220 27,827 31,170 Pre-tax earnings needed to meet preferred stock dividend requirements 13,146 13,678 26,950 27,424 61,349 41,044 44,728 Total combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends $1,473,008 1,358,704 2,761,416 2,712,871 2,564,952 1,681,093 1,530,664 Total combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends excluding interest on deposits $ 733,789 644,013 1,314,734 1,387,953 1,408,652 817,736 678,355 (a) Includes equipment rentals. 58 Exhibit 12(b). (continued) Norwest Corporation and Subsidiaries COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, Year Ended December 31, In thousands 1998 1997 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 Ratio of Income to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends: Excluding interest on deposits 2.49x 2.54 2.54 2.26 1.97 2.39 2.23 Including interest on deposits 1.74x 1.73 1.73 1.65 1.53 1.68 1.55 59