Exhibit 12(a).


Norwest Corporation and Subsidiaries
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Unaudited)

 
 
                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                  --------------------------------------------------------------
In thousands                            1997         1996         1995         1994       1993       
                                  ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------        

                                                                         
Computation of Income:                                                                                  
 Income before                                                                                          
  income taxes                    $2,049,726    1,781,509    1,422,814    1,180,601      879,755        
 Capitalized interest                    (22)         (14)        (112)         (69)         (65)       
                                  ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------        
 Income before income                                                                                   
  taxes and capitalized                                                                                 
  interest                         2,049,704    1,781,495    1,422,702    1,180,532      879,690        
 Fixed charges                     2,734,466    2,685,447    2,503,603    1,640,049    1,485,936        
                                  ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------        
 Total income for                                                                                       
  computation                     $4,784,170    4,466,942    3,926,305    2,820,581    2,365,626        
                                  ==========    =========    =========    =========    =========        
 Total income for                                                                                       
  computation excluding                                                                                 
  interest on deposits                                                                                  
  from fixed charges              $3,337,488    3,142,024    2,770,005    1,957,224    1,513,317        
                                  ==========    =========    =========    =========    =========        
                                                                                                        
Computation of Fixed                                                                                    
 Charges:                                                                                               
 Net rental                                                                                             
  expense (a)                     $  211,191      205,409      166,591      149,462      128,573        
                                  ==========    =========    =========    =========    =========        
 Portion of rentals                                                                                     
  deemed                                                                                                
  representative                                                                                        
  of interest                     $   70,397       68,470       55,530       49,821       42,858        
                                  ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------        
 Interest:                                                                                              
  Interest on                                                                                           
   deposits                        1,446,682    1,324,918    1,156,300      863,357      852,309        
  Interest on                                                                                           
   federal funds                                                                                        
   and other                                                                                            
   short-term                                                                                           
   borrowings                        439,492      454,013      515,646      290,211      238,046        
  Interest on                                                                                           
   long-term debt                    777,873      838,032      776,015      436,591      352,658        
  Capitalized                                                                                           
   interest                               22           14          112           69           65        
                                  ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------        
  Total interest                   2,664,069    2,616,977    2,448,073    1,590,228    1,443,078        
                                  ----------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------        
 Total fixed                                                                                            
  charges                         $2,734,466    2,685,447    2,503,603    1,640,049    1,485,936        
                                  ==========    =========    =========    =========    =========        
 Total fixed                                                                                            
  charges excluding                                                                                     
  interest on                                                                                           
  deposits                        $1,287,784    1,360,529    1,347,303      776,692      633,627        
                                  ==========    =========    =========    =========    =========        
Ratio of Income                                                                                         
 to Fixed Charges:                                                                                      
 Excluding                                                                                              
  interest on                                                                                           
  deposits                              2.59x        2.31         2.06         2.52         2.39        
 Including                                                                                              
  interest on                                                                                           
  deposits                              1.75x        1.66         1.57         1.72         1.59         
 

(a) Includes equipment rentals.