EXHIBIT 99(a) WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES ============================================================================================================================= Quarter Nine months ended September 30, ended September 30, --------------------- ------------------- (in millions) 1995 1994 1995 1994 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EARNINGS, INCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS (1): Income before income tax expense $ 460 $ 383 $1,239 $1,110 Fixed charges 372 311 1,135 869 ------ ------ ------ ------ $ 832 $ 694 $2,374 $1,979 ====== ====== ====== ====== Fixed charges (1): Interest expense $ 356 $ 297 $1,087 $ 827 Estimated interest component of net rental expense 16 14 48 42 ------ ------ ------ ------ $ 372 $ 311 $1,135 $ 869 ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2) 2.24 2.23 2.09 2.28 ====== ====== ====== ====== EARNINGS, EXCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS: Income before income tax expense $ 460 $ 383 $1,239 $1,110 Fixed charges 118 93 385 245 ------ ------ ------ ------ $ 578 $ 476 $1,624 $1,355 ====== ====== ====== ====== Fixed charges: Interest expense $ 356 $ 297 $1,087 $ 827 Less interest on deposits (254) (218) (750) (624) Estimated interest component of net rental expense 16 14 48 42 ------ ------ ------ ------ $ 118 $ 93 $ 385 $ 245 ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2) 4.90 5.12 4.22 5.53 ====== ====== ====== ====== ============================================================================================================================= (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.