<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM WELLS FARGO
FINANCIAL, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000708481
<NAME> WELLS FARGO FINANCIAL, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         183,631
<SECURITIES>                                 1,198,378
<RECEIVABLES>                               10,361,768
<ALLOWANCES>                                   414,259
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         199,904
<DEPRECIATION>                                 137,111
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,326,141
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                      9,924,917<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,659,776
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,326,141
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               582,945
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               212,291
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               102,154
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             170,268
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 98,232
<INCOME-TAX>                                    35,997
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    62,235
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. has a non-classified balance sheet so this
information is unavailable.
<F2>Includes $3.2 billion of short-term loans.
</FN>