Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Nature of Operations	Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company. We provide banking, insurance, trust and investments, mortgage banking, investment banking, retail banking, brokerage, and consumer and commercial finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, businesses and institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in other countries. When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated). Wells Fargo & Company (the Parent) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company. We also hold a majority interest in a real estate investment trust, which has publicly traded preferred stock outstanding.
Use of Estimates	Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and practices in the financial services industry. To prepare the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management must make estimates based on assumptions about future economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, market liquidity, real estate prices, etc.) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and income and expenses during the reporting period and the related disclosures. Although our estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be worse than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including allowance for credit losses and purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans (Note 5), valuations of residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) (Notes 7 and 8) and financial instruments (Note 13), liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses (Note 8) and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Comparability of Prior Year Financial Data	These unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q. The results of operations in the interim financial statements do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the full year. The interim financial information should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (2011 Form 10-K).
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012	Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012 In third quarter 2012, we early adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. In first quarter 2012, we adopted the following new accounting guidance: ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income; ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05; ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs; and ASU 2011-03, Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.
Accounting Standards with Retrospective Application	Accounting Standards with Retrospective Application The following accounting pronouncement has been issued by the FASB but is not yet effective: Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.
Significant Accounting Policy Update	Significant Accounting Policy Update In first quarter 2012, we implemented the Interagency Supervisory Guidance on Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Estimation Practices for Loans and Lines of Credit Secured by Junior Liens on 1-4 Family Residential Properties (Interagency Guidance), which was issued on January 31, 2012. As a result, we aligned our nonaccrual accounting policy with this guidance to accelerate the timing of placing junior lien loans on nonaccrual to coincide with the timing of placing the related real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans on nonaccrual. We implemented the guidance in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) update to Bank Accounting Advisory Series (OCC guidance) issued in third quarter 2012, which requires consumer loans discharged in bankruptcy to be written down to net realizable collateral value and classified as nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings (TDRs), regardless of their delinquency status. Our updated nonaccrual policy is as follows: We generally place loans on nonaccrual status when: the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain (generally based on an assessment of the borrower's financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any); they are 90 days (120 days with respect to real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgages) past due for interest or principal, unless both well-secured and in the process of collection; part of the principal balance has been charged off; or effective first quarter 2012, for junior lien mortgages, we have evidence that the related first lien mortgage may be 120 days past due or in the process of foreclosure regardless of the junior lien delinquency status. There have been no other material changes to our significant accounting policies, as discussed in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K.
Private Share Repurchases	Private Share Repurchases In June 2012, we entered into a private forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party. This contract settled in third quarter 2012 for approximately 11 million shares of our common stock. We entered into this transaction to complement our open-market common stock repurchase strategies, to allow us to manage our share repurchases in a manner consistent with our capital plan submitted under the 2012 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR), and to provide an economic benefit to the Company. In connection with this contract, we paid $350 million to the counterparty, which was recorded in permanent equity in the quarter paid and was not subject to re-measurement. The classification of the up-front payment as permanent equity assured that we would have appropriate repurchase timing consistent with our 2012 capital plan, which contemplated a fixed dollar amount available per quarter for share repurchases pursuant to Federal Reserve Board (FRB) supervisory guidance. In return, the counterparty agreed to deliver a variable number of shares based on a per share discount to the volume-weighted average stock price over the contract period. The counterparty had the right to accelerate settlement with delivery of shares prior to the contractual settlement. There were no scenarios where the contracts would not either physically settle in shares or allow us to choose the settlement method. In September 2012, we entered into a similar private forward repurchase contract and paid $300 million to an unrelated third party. This contract settled in October 2012 for approximately 9 million shares of our common stock. The amount we paid to the counterparty meets accounting requirements to be treated as a permanent equity reduction.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent EventsWe have evaluated the effects of subsequent events that have occurred subsequent to period end September 30, 2012, and there have been no material events that would require recognition in our third quarter 2012 consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the Notes to the financial statements. During the last week of October 2012, Hurricane Sandy and related storms caused destruction along the East Coast, including in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., and resulted in, among other things, property damage for our customers and the closing of many businesses and financial markets. We are currently assessing the impact to our customers and our business as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The financial impact to us is expected to primarily relate to our consumer and commercial real estate loan portfolios and will depend on a number of factors, including, as to our consumer and commercial loan portfolios, the types of loans most affected by the storms, the extent of damage to our collateral, the extent of available insurance coverage, the availability of government assistance for our borrowers, and whether our borrowers' ability to repay their loans has been diminished. We are actively reviewing our exposure but are currently unable to reasonably estimate the extent of losses we may incur as a result of these storms.
ASU 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012	ASU 2012-02 provides entities with the option to perform a qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets to test for impairment. If, based on qualitative reviews, a company concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, then the company must complete quantitative steps to determine if the asset is impaired. If a company concludes otherwise, quantitative tests are not required. Our adoption of this Update did not affect our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012	ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option for companies to include the components of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. This Update requires entities to present the components of comprehensive income in either a single statement or in two separate statements, with the statement of other comprehensive income (OCI) immediately following the statement of income. This Update also requires companies to present amounts reclassified out of OCI and into net income on the face of the statement of income. We adopted the remaining provisions in first quarter 2012 with retrospective application. This Update did not affect our consolidated financial results as it amends only the presentation of comprehensive income.
ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU 2011-05 [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012	. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, which defers indefinitely the requirement to present reclassification adjustments on the statement of income
ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012	ASU 2011-04 modifies accounting guidance and expands existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This Update clarifies how fair values should be measured for instruments classified in stockholders' equity and under what circumstances premiums and discounts should be applied in fair value measurements. This Update also permits entities to measure fair value on a net basis for financial instruments that are managed based on net exposure to market risks and/or counterparty credit risk. ASU 2011-04 requires new disclosures for financial instruments classified as Level 3, including: 1) quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value, 2) qualitative discussion of the sensitivity of fair value measurements to changes in unobservable inputs, and 3) a description of valuation processes used. This Update also requires disclosure of fair value levels for financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value but for which fair value is required to be disclosed. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2012 with prospective application, resulting in expanded fair value disclosures. The measurement clarifications of this Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2011-03, Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012	ASU 2011-03 amends the criteria companies use to determine if repurchase and similar agreements should be accounted for as sales or financings. Specifically, this Update removes the criterion for transferors to have the ability to meet contractual obligations through collateral maintenance provisions, even if transferees fail to return transferred assets pursuant to the agreements. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2012 with prospective application to new transactions and existing transactions modified on or after January 1, 2012. This Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2011-11, Disclosure about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounting Standards with Retrospective Application	ASU 2011-11 expands the disclosure requirements for certain financial instruments and derivatives that are subject to enforceable master netting agreements or similar arrangements. The disclosures are required regardless of whether the instruments have been offset (or netted) in the statement of financial position. Under ASU 2011-11, companies must describe the nature of offsetting arrangements and provide quantitative information about those agreements, including the gross and net amounts of financial instruments that are recognized in the statement of financial position. These changes are effective for us in first quarter 2013 with retrospective application. This Update will not affect our consolidated financial results since it amends only the disclosure requirements for offsetting financial instruments.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company. We provide banking, insurance, trust and investments, mortgage banking, investment banking, retail banking, brokerage, and consumer and commercial finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, businesses and institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in other countries. When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated). Wells Fargo & Company (the Parent) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company. We also hold a majority interest in a real estate investment trust, which has publicly traded preferred stock outstanding.

Use of Estimates

Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and practices in the financial services industry. To prepare the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management must make estimates based on assumptions about future economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, market liquidity, real estate prices, etc.) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and income and expenses during the reporting period and the related disclosures. Although our estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be worse than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including allowance for credit losses and purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans (Note 5), valuations of residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) (Notes 7 and 8) and financial instruments (Note 13), liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses (Note 8) and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Comparability of Prior Year Financial Data

These unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q. The results of operations in the interim financial statements do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the full year. The interim financial information should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (2011 Form 10-K).

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012

In third quarter 2012, we early adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.

In first quarter 2012, we adopted the following new accounting guidance:

ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income;
ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05;
ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs; and
ASU 2011-03, Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.

Accounting Standards with Retrospective Application

The following accounting pronouncement has been issued by the FASB but is not yet effective:

Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.

Significant Accounting Policy Update

In first quarter 2012, we implemented the Interagency Supervisory Guidance on Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Estimation Practices for Loans and Lines of Credit Secured by Junior Liens on 1-4 Family Residential Properties (Interagency Guidance), which was issued on January 31, 2012. As a result, we aligned our nonaccrual accounting policy with this guidance to accelerate the timing of placing junior lien loans on nonaccrual to coincide with the timing of placing the related real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans on nonaccrual.

We implemented the guidance in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) update to Bank Accounting Advisory Series (OCC guidance) issued in third quarter 2012, which requires consumer loans discharged in bankruptcy to be written down to net realizable collateral value and classified as nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings (TDRs), regardless of their delinquency status.

Our updated nonaccrual policy is as follows:

We generally place loans on nonaccrual status when:

the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain (generally based on an assessment of the borrower's financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any);
they are 90 days (120 days with respect to real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgages) past due for interest or principal, unless both well-secured and in the process of collection;
part of the principal balance has been charged off; or
effective first quarter 2012, for junior lien mortgages, we have evidence that the related first lien mortgage may be 120 days past due or in the process of foreclosure regardless of the junior lien delinquency status.

There have been no other material changes to our significant accounting policies, as discussed in Note 1 in our 2011 Form 10-K.

Private Share Repurchases

In June 2012, we entered into a private forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party. This contract settled in third quarter 2012 for approximately 11 million shares of our common stock. We entered into this transaction to complement our open-market common stock repurchase strategies, to allow us to manage our share repurchases in a manner consistent with our capital plan submitted under the 2012 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR), and to provide an economic benefit to the Company. In connection with this contract, we paid $350 million to the counterparty, which was recorded in permanent equity in the quarter paid and was not subject to re-measurement. The classification of the up-front payment as permanent equity assured that we would have appropriate repurchase timing consistent with our 2012 capital plan, which contemplated a fixed dollar amount available per quarter for share repurchases pursuant to Federal Reserve Board (FRB) supervisory guidance. In return, the counterparty agreed to deliver a variable number of shares based on a per share discount to the volume-weighted average stock price over the contract period. The counterparty had the right to accelerate settlement with delivery of shares prior to the contractual settlement. There were no scenarios where the contracts would not either physically settle in shares or allow us to choose the settlement method.

In September 2012, we entered into a similar private forward repurchase contract and paid $300 million to an unrelated third party. This contract settled in October 2012 for approximately 9 million shares of our common stock. The amount we paid to the counterparty meets accounting requirements to be treated as a permanent equity reduction.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent EventsWe have evaluated the effects of subsequent events that have occurred subsequent to period end September 30, 2012, and there have been no material events that would require recognition in our third quarter 2012 consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the Notes to the financial statements. During the last week of October 2012, Hurricane Sandy and related storms caused destruction along the East Coast, including in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., and resulted in, among other things, property damage for our customers and the closing of many businesses and financial markets. We are currently assessing the impact to our customers and our business as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The financial impact to us is expected to primarily relate to our consumer and commercial real estate loan portfolios and will depend on a number of factors, including, as to our consumer and commercial loan portfolios, the types of loans most affected by the storms, the extent of damage to our collateral, the extent of available insurance coverage, the availability of government assistance for our borrowers, and whether our borrowers' ability to repay their loans has been diminished. We are actively reviewing our exposure but are currently unable to reasonably estimate the extent of losses we may incur as a result of these storms.

ASU 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012

ASU 2012-02 provides entities with the option to perform a qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets to test for impairment. If, based on qualitative reviews, a company concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, then the company must complete quantitative steps to determine if the asset is impaired. If a company concludes otherwise, quantitative tests are not required. Our adoption of this Update did not affect our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012

ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option for companies to include the components of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. This Update requires entities to present the components of comprehensive income in either a single statement or in two separate statements, with the statement of other comprehensive income (OCI) immediately following the statement of income. This Update also requires companies to present amounts reclassified out of OCI and into net income on the face of the statement of income.

We adopted the remaining provisions in first quarter 2012 with retrospective application. This Update did not affect our consolidated financial results as it amends only the presentation of comprehensive income.

ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU 2011-05 [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012

. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, which defers indefinitely the requirement to present reclassification adjustments on the statement of income

ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012

ASU 2011-04 modifies accounting guidance and expands existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This Update clarifies how fair values should be measured for instruments classified in stockholders' equity and under what circumstances premiums and discounts should be applied in fair value measurements. This Update also permits entities to measure fair value on a net basis for financial instruments that are managed based on net exposure to market risks and/or counterparty credit risk. ASU 2011-04 requires new disclosures for financial instruments classified as Level 3, including: 1) quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value, 2) qualitative discussion of the sensitivity of fair value measurements to changes in unobservable inputs, and 3) a description of valuation processes used. This Update also requires disclosure of fair value levels for financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value but for which fair value is required to be disclosed. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2012 with prospective application, resulting in expanded fair value disclosures. The measurement clarifications of this Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-03, Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2012

ASU 2011-03 amends the criteria companies use to determine if repurchase and similar agreements should be accounted for as sales or financings. Specifically, this Update removes the criterion for transferors to have the ability to meet contractual obligations through collateral maintenance provisions, even if transferees fail to return transferred assets pursuant to the agreements. We adopted this guidance in first quarter 2012 with prospective application to new transactions and existing transactions modified on or after January 1, 2012. This Update did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-11, Disclosure about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Accounting Standards with Retrospective Application

ASU 2011-11 expands the disclosure requirements for certain financial instruments and derivatives that are subject to enforceable master netting agreements or similar arrangements. The disclosures are required regardless of whether the instruments have been offset (or netted) in the statement of financial position. Under ASU 2011-11, companies must describe the nature of offsetting arrangements and provide quantitative information about those agreements, including the gross and net amounts of financial instruments that are recognized in the statement of financial position. These changes are effective for us in first quarter 2013 with retrospective application. This Update will not affect our consolidated financial results since it amends only the disclosure requirements for offsetting financial instruments.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for the use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

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