EXHIBIT 99(a)
                     WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES



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                                                                     Quarter           Nine months
                                                              ended Sept. 30,       ended Sept. 30,
                                                           -----------------     -----------------
(in millions)                                                1999       1998       1999       1998
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EARNINGS, INCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS (1):
    Income before income tax expense                       $1,533     $1,230     $4,415     $3,541
    Fixed charges                                           1,298      1,304      3,765      3,885
                                                           ------     ------     ------     ------
                                                           $2,831     $2,534     $8,180     $7,426
                                                           ======     ======     ======     ======

Fixed charges (1)
    Interest expense                                       $1,259     $1,265     $3,666     $3,769
    Estimated interest component of net rental expense         39         39         99        116
                                                           ------     ------     ------     ------
                                                           $1,298     $1,304     $3,765     $3,885
                                                           ======     ======     ======     ======

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)                       2.18       1.94       2.17       1.91
                                                           ======     ======     ======     ======

EARNINGS, EXCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS:
    Income before income tax expense                       $1,533     $1,230     $4,415     $3,541
    Fixed charges                                             619        516      1,690      1,545
                                                           ------     ------     ------     ------
                                                           $2,152     $1,746     $6,105     $5,086
                                                           ======     ======     ======     ======

Fixed charges:
    Interest expense                                       $1,259     $1,265     $3,666     $3,769
    Less interest on deposits                                 679        788      2,075      2,340
    Estimated interest component of net rental expense         39         39         99        116
                                                           ------     ------     ------     ------
                                                           $  619     $  516     $1,690     $1,545
                                                           ======     ======     ======     ======

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)                       3.48       3.38       3.61       3.29
                                                           ======     ======     ======     ======
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(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.

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