EXHIBIT 99(a) WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter Six months ended June 30, ended June 30, ------------------- ------------------- (in millions) 2000 1999 2000 1999 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EARNINGS, INCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS(1): Income before income tax expense $1,676 $1,501 $3,294 $2,882 Fixed charges 1,672 1,216 3,222 2,469 ------ ------ ------ ------ $3,348 $2,717 $6,516 $5,351 ====== ====== ====== ====== Fixed charges(1): Interest expense $1,637 $1,185 $3,161 $2,407 Estimated interest component of net rental expense 35 31 61 62 ------ ------ ------ ------ $1,672 $1,216 $3,222 $2,469 ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2) 2.00 2.23 2.02 2.17 ====== ====== ====== ====== EARNINGS, EXCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS: Income before income tax expense $1,676 $1,501 $3,294 $2,882 Fixed charges 798 537 1,590 1,073 ------ ------ ------ ------ $2,474 $2,038 $4,884 $3,955 ====== ====== ====== ====== Fixed charges: Interest expense $1,637 $1,185 $3,161 $2,407 Less interest on deposits 874 679 1,632 1,396 Estimated interest component of net rental expense 35 31 61 62 ------ ------ ------ ------ $ 798 $ 537 $1,590 $1,073 ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2) 3.10 3.80 3.07 3.69 ====== ====== ====== ====== - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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.