Wells Fargo Says 'Thank You' to Small Business Customers

April 25, 2006; 06:16 AM

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25 - To celebrate small business owners and recognize their contributions to local communities and the overall U.S. economy, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC - News) is designating May as Small Business Appreciation Month. This month-long recognition of its more than one million small business customers coincides with the various local and national celebrations conducted by the Small Business Administration as part of their National Small Business Week celebration. To commemorate this time period, Wells Fargo is providing small business customers with special offers and discounts.

"Wells Fargo understands the financial needs of small businesses -- and the vital role they play in our nation's economy -- because we ourselves began as a small business almost 155 years ago. Ever since then we've been committed to satisfying all the financial needs of our small business customers and helping them succeed financially," said Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO, Dick Kovacevich.

"As the country's leading lender to small businesses, we've developed a broad array of financial services from a business line of credit to retirement planning to help our business customers tackle the challenges of starting, managing and growing their businesses."

During Small Business Appreciation Month, Wells Fargo will offer small business customers special discounts and other savings on products and services to say "thank you" for being a Wells Fargo customer. Offers are available now through June 30, 2006, and include waived fees and bonus reward points.

During Small Business Appreciation Month, Wells Fargo bankers throughout the company's 23-state network will visit with tens of thousands of small business owners. This company-wide focus is further testament to Wells Fargo's commitment to small business customers and provides an opportunity for bankers to interact with their customers on a more personal level. For information regarding weekly activities in your area, please contact your local Wells Fargo store.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $492 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance to more than 23 million customers from more than 6,200 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the United States to receive the highest possible credit rating, "Aaa," from Moody's Investors Service.

Providing financial products and services to more than one million businesses with annual sales up to $20 million in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, Wells Fargo is the #1 lender to small businesses in the United States in total dollar volume according to the most recent CRA data (2004). For more information on Wells Fargo's small business efforts, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/biz.

The second largest national SBA lender in dollars, Wells Fargo is an SBA Preferred Lender in 30 states and the District of Columbia, and originated 4,165 loans for $579 million in 2005. Its diverse business services programs provide outreach and education to women, African American, Latino, and Asian business owners about financial services. Since 1995, Wells Fargo has loaned more than $30 billion to women and minority business owners.