EXHIBIT 23 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS The Board of Directors of Wells Fargo & Company: We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements noted below on Forms S-3, S-4 and S-8 of Wells Fargo & Company of our report dated January 16, 2001, with respect to the consolidated balance sheet of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000, which report is incorporated by reference in the December 31, 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Wells Fargo & Company. Registration Statement Number Form Description - ---------------- ---- ----------- 333-09489 S-3 Wells Fargo Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan 333-79493 S-3 Universal Shelf 1999 333-47336 S-3 Universal Shelf 2000 333-53219 S-4 Acquisition Registration Statement 333-55272 S-4 SCI Financial Group, Inc. 033-57904 S-4/S-8 Financial Concepts Bancorp, Inc. 333-02485 S-4/S-8 Benson Financial Corporation 333-63247 S-4/S-8 Former Wells Fargo & Company 333-96511 S-4/S-8 Ragen MacKenzie Group Incorporated 333-37862 S-4/S-8 First Security Corporation 333-45384 S-4/S-8 Brenton Banks, Inc. and Brenton Bank 033-42198 S-8 1985 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 033-50309 S-8 1985 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 033-65007 S-8 Stock Direct Purchase Plan 333-12423 S-8 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 333-62877 S-8 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan 333-74655 S-8 PartnerShares Plan 333-79777 S-8 401(k) Plan 333-33800 S-8 1999 Directors Stock Option Plan 333-52600 S-8 Wells Fargo Financial Thrift and Profit Sharing Plan 333-54354 S-8 Deferred Compensation Plan and 1999 Deferral Plan for Directors /s/ KPMG LLP San Francisco, California March 16, 2001