197,466 PeopleNarrow moat

Wells Fargo (WFC) — moat facet

Wells Fargo cut its staff by 7% in the year it grew its assets by 15%.

Wells Fargo is growing with fewer people. Period-end headcount was 212,804 in June 2025 and 197,466 in June 20261, a fall of about 7%2. Over the same year average assets rose 15%3.

Period-end headcount (thousands)213Q2 2025211Q3 2025205Q4 2025201Q1 2026197Q2 2026Wells Fargo Q2 2026 earnings presentation
Fewer people every quarter for a year.

The bank had about 205,000 active employees at the end of 2025, about 76% of them in the United States4. Personnel expense was $36,281 million in 2025, about two-thirds of noninterest expense56.

That is where the efficiency ratio will be decided. A bank that adds assets without adding staff gets operating leverage automatically, as long as the new business does not need more people to run it.

The trading book and corporate lending, where the growth is, are the parts of the bank that need the fewest people per dollar of assets. That is one reason the growth has lifted the efficiency ratio.

Headcount fell every quarter for a year: 213 thousand in the second quarter of 2025, 211 thousand, 205 thousand, 201 thousand and 197 thousand in the second quarter of 20267.

The international footprint is large. The bank occupied 4.3 million square feet in India and 1.3 million in the Philippines in 20248, part of how it has cut cost per employee.

Assets per employee show the change. The bank carried about $9.1 million of average assets per employee in the second quarter of 2025 and about $11.3 million a year later91011, a rise of about a quarter in one year12.

Personnel expense of $36,281 million in 202513 works out at about $177,000 per active employee at the year end1415, so every thousand roles removed is worth roughly $177 million a year before severance. Over the same year the efficiency ratio fell from 64% to 60%16, roughly what that arithmetic predicts when revenue is also rising. The test comes in a year when revenue does not rise.

Headcount is reported every quarter. If it began to rise again while revenue growth slowed, the bank would be adding cost faster than business, and the efficiency ratio would stop improving.

Moat trajectory: Widening

Headcount 212,804 (June 2025) to 197,466 (June 2026).

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Headcount, latest quarter
197,466 (June 2026), -7% year on year

The cost base in people; a rise with slowing revenue would stop the efficiency gains.

Source: Wells Fargo Form 10-Q, Q2 2026 ↗
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
Cuts Where the Risk Work Is Done
Wells Fargo is cutting staff while still under an order about risk management.
References
  1. ReportedPeriod-end headcount was 212,804 in June 2025 and 197,466 in June 2026, a fall of about 7%.
    Wells Fargo Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - balance sheet, capital requirements, interest rate sensitivity, segment assets, headcount and legal actions. — Q2 2026 · publ. 28 July 2026 · source ↗
  2. Moat Explorer calcPeriod-end headcount was 212,804 in June 2025 and 197,466 in June 2026, a fall of about 7%.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Wells Fargo's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Deposits: cost of total deposits = interest on interest-bearing deposits / (average interest-bearing + average noninterest-bearing deposits): 2020 2,804 / 1,376,011 = 0.20%; 2021 388 / 1,437,812 = 0.03%; 2022 2,349 / 1,424,269 = 0.16%; 2023 16,503 / 1,346,282 = 1.23%; 2024 24,282 / 1,345,915 = 1.80%; 2025 20,449 / (987,198 + 360,047 = 1,347,245) = 1.52%. Bank of America 2025: 34,513 / (1,469,705 + 514,477 = 1,984,182) = 1.74%. Gap to JPMorgan 1.80% - 1.52% = 0.28 points x 1,347,245 = about 3,772 (about $3.8 billion); gap to Bank of America 1.74% - 1.52% = 0.22 points. Noninterest-bearing share of average deposits: 2020 412,669 / 1,376,011 = 30.0%; 2021 499,644 / 1,437,812 = 34.8%; 2022 505,770 / 1,424,269 = 35.5%; 2023 399,737 / 1,346,282 = 29.7%; 2024 352,379 / 1,345,915 = 26.2%; 2025 360,047 / 1,347,245 = 26.7%. Average deposits 2023-2025 range 1,345,915 to 1,347,245 = 1,330 (about $1.3 billion). Period-end deposits 1,371,804 / 1,335,991 - 1 = 2.7% (Dec 2017 to Dec 2024); Dec 2025 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,426,207 = 75,198 (about $75 billion). Consumer Banking and Lending share of average deposits Q2 2026 828.4 / 1,465.6 = 57%. Held-to-maturity: Dec 2024 carrying 234,948 - fair value 193,779 = 41,169 unrealised loss; June 2026 loss 32,408 / common equity 165,000 = 19.6%. Balance sheet: total assets 2,282,201 / 1,951,757 - 1 = 16.9% above the 2017 cap level; 2,282,201 - 1,929,845 = 352,356 (about $352 billion); 2,282,201 / 1,929,845 - 1 = 18.3% (about 18%). CIB total assets 862,472 / 597,278 - 1 = 44%. Average loans Q2 2026 1,026.5 - 916.7 = 109.8; CIB 359.4 - 285.9 = 73.5; 73.5 / 109.8 = 67% (about two-thirds). CIB share of average loans 359.4 / 1,026.5 = 35.0% (Q2 2026); 285.9 / 916.7 = 31.2% (Q2 2025). Trading-related assets 401.5 / 283.7 - 1 = 41.5%; Markets loans 111.2 / 79.0 - 1 = 40.8%; CIB average loans 359.4 / 285.9 - 1 = 25.7%. Tangible common equity / total assets: Dec 2024 135.6 / 1,929.8 = 7.0%; June 2026 139.7 / 2,282.2 = 6.1%. Branches 4,079 - 5,032 = -953; 4,079 / 5,032 - 1 = -19%. Mobile active customers 33.7 / 29.9 - 1 = 13%. Headcount 197,466 / 212,804 - 1 = -7%. Personnel expense 36,281 / noninterest expense 54,842 = 66% (about two-thirds). Efficiency gap to JPMorgan (66% - 52%) x 83,699 = about 11,718 (about $11.7 billion). JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 79%; market value 911.91 / 250.90 = 3.6 times. Capital: CET1 headroom 10.3% - 8.5% = 1.8 points. Returned 2025 (17.7 billion buybacks + 6.5 billion dividends - 1.053 billion preferred dividends) / 20.285 billion net income to common = 114%. Average diluted shares 3,242.3 / 5,108.3 - 1 = -36.5% (2016 to 2025). EPS 6.26 / 4.12 - 1 = 52%. Revenue 83,699 / 86,057 - 1 = -2.7% (2015 to 2025). Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 21,436 + 21,292 + 21,446 + 22,622 = 86,796; net income 5,589 + 5,361 + 5,253 + 6,407 = 22,610; EPS 1.66 + 1.62 + 1.60 + 2.00 = 6.88. First half 2026: net income 5,253 + 6,407 = 11,660; net interest income 12,096 + 12,317 = 24,413; noninterest expense 14,330 + 13,661 = 27,991, about 50.3% of the ~55,700 guidance. Market value 250.90 / 298.75 - 1 = -16% (end 2017 to Sept 2026). Segments (2025): revenue 37,362 + 11,978 + 19,232 + 16,328 = 84,900; plus Corporate 747, less Reconciling Items 1,948 = 83,699. Shares of segment revenue: Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 84,900 = 44%; Commercial Banking 11,978 / 84,900 = 14%; CIB 19,232 / 84,900 = 23%; Wealth and Investment Management 16,328 / 84,900 = 19%. Shares of company net income 21,338: Consumer Banking and Lending 7,865 = 37%; CIB 7,283 = 34%; Commercial Banking 4,184 = 20%; Wealth and Investment Management 2,119 = 10%. CIB share of segment net income 7,283 / (7,865 + 4,184 + 7,283 + 2,119 = 21,451) = 34%; of total revenue 19,232 / 83,699 = 23%. Wealth net income / revenue 2,119 / 16,328 = 13%. Commercial Banking net income 4,184 / 5,104 - 1 = -18%. CIB Banking 2,522 + 2,507 + 2,008 = 7,037. Investment banking 2,008 / 1,404 - 1 = 43%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,809 - 1 = 10%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -31%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 891 - 1 = 26%. Consumer Banking and Lending share of Q2 2026 revenue 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Consumer Banking and Lending provision 3,362 / total provision 3,658 = 92%. Markets loans 111.2 - 79.0 = 32.2; 32.2 / 73.5 = 44% of the CIB loan increase. Investment banking share of CIB revenue 1,404 / 19,191 = 7% (2023); 2,008 / 19,232 = 10% (2025). Debit plus credit card purchase volume 530.5 + 186.0 = 716.5 billion. More deposits: noninterest-bearing deposits 505,770 - 360,047 = 145,723 (about $146 billion, 2022 to 2025); average deposits 1,424,269 - 1,347,245 = 77,024 (about $77 billion). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 24,282 - 20,449 = 3,833 (about $3.8 billion). Bank of America 2024 all-in deposit cost 38,442 / 1,924,106 = 2.00%. JPMorgan average deposits 2,506,565 / 1,347,245 = 1.9 times. Average loans to average deposits Q2 2026 1,026.5 / 1,465.6 = 70%. Bank of America deposits 2,018,729 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 42%. Held-to-maturity share of total assets 198,573 / 2,282,201 = 8.7% (June 2026); 208,023 / 2,148,631 = 9.7% (Dec 2025). More balance sheet and valuation: branches closed 5,032 - 4,777 = 255 (2021); 4,598 - 4,311 = 287 (2023); 4,177 - 4,090 = 87 (2025); 4,090 - 4,079 = 11 (H1 2026); 4,311 - 4,079 = 232 (end 2023 to June 2026). Second half 2025 assets 2,148,631 - 1,981,269 = 167,362 (about $167 billion). Market value 233.86 / 298.75 - 1 = -22% (end 2017 to end 2024); Bank of America 394.32 / 250.90 - 1 = 57%; market value over trailing net income 250.90 / 22.61 = 11.1 times. Risk-weighted assets 137.7 / 0.103 = about 1,337 billion (about $1.34 trillion). Total equity 182,323 / 2,282,201 = 8.0%. 2016 penalties 100 + 35 + 50 = 185 million. Commercial Banking net interest income 7,902 / 11,978 = 66%. Consumer Banking and Lending deposit surplus 779,994 - 322,052 = 457,942 (about $458 billion) - capital, balance sheet, valuation, returns and comparisons with JPMorgan and Bank of America. — Length additions: held-to-maturity Dec 2025 208,023 - 175,797 = 32,226; carrying value 208,023 - 198,573 = 9,450 (about $9.5 billion in six months). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 16,503 / 2,349 = 7.0 (about seven times). Consumer Banking and Lending net interest income 29,183 / 37,362 = 78%. Average deposits per branch 1,437,812 / 4,777 = 301 (2021); 1,347,245 / 4,090 = 329 (2025). Deposits Dec 2024 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,371,804 = 129,601 (about $130 billion). TLAC cushion 23.22 - 21.50 = 1.72 points; 22.81 - 21.50 = 1.31 points. CIB assets 862,472 / 2,282,201 = 38%; CIB period-end assets 787,751 / 597,278 - 1 = 32%. CIB investment banking 1,814 / 1,404 - 1 = 29%; 2,008 / 1,814 - 1 = 11%; Q2 2026 628 / 5,425 = 12%. CIB revenue per dollar of expense 19,232 / 9,436 = 2.04; Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 23,515 = 1.59. CRE 5,083 / 19,232 = 26%. Q2 2026 expense 13,661 / 13,379 - 1 = 2.1%; revenue 22,622 / 20,822 - 1 = 8.6%. Headcount 205 - 197 = 8 thousand. Average assets per employee 1,933.4 / 212,804 = $9.1 million (Q2 2025); 2,227.9 / 197,466 = $11.3 million (Q2 2026), +24%. Personnel expense per employee 36,281 / 205,000 = 0.177 ($177,000). Efficiency gap to Bank of America (66% - 61.65%) x 83,699 = 3,641 (about $3.6 billion). Risk-weighted assets about 1,340 billion x 1% = about $13 billion per point; 9.80% - 8.50% = 1.30 points x 1,340 = about $17 billion. Stockholders equity 180,190 / 206,936 - 1 = -12.9%. Charge-offs 876 x 4 = 3,504 (about $3.5 billion); 14,129 / 139,700 = 10.1%. JPMorgan cost of total deposits 2024 2.08% against Wells Fargo 1.80%. ROTCE H1 2026 16.1% - 14.4% = 1.7 points. Target 17.5% x 139.7 = 24.4 billion; 24.4 / 20.285 = 1.20. Net income 6,407 x 4 = 25,628 (about $25.6 billion). H1 2026 expense 27,991 / 55,700 = 50.3%; net interest income 24,413 / 50,000 = 48.8%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,908 - 1 = 7.9%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -30.6%. Home Lending 3,364 / 37,362 = 9.0%; originations 26.3 / 986.2 = 2.7%. Buybacks 22.7 billion / 79.80 = 284 million shares; 284 / 3,085.6 = 9.2%. Tangible book 1 / 1.79 = 0.56. Dividend 0.50 x 4 x 3.02 billion = 6.04 (about $6.0 billion). Accounts 16 million / 32.8 million = 49%. Remediation 236 / 160,700 = 0.15%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 2,509 = 45%. Investment banking fees 3,027 / 83,699 = 3.6%. Advisory fees 10,498 / 36,215 = 29%. Branches 4,090 - 4,079 = 11. Buyback runway 22.7 / 17.7 = 1.3 years (about fifteen months); 22.7 / (7 x 2) = 1.6 years. Deposits 1,347,245 / 1,376,011 - 1 = -2.1%. Q2 2026 consumer bank share 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Card fees 4,589 / mortgage banking 1,152 = 4.0. 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Wells Fargo's annual reports, Forms 10-Q, earnings releases and presentations, JPMorgan's and Bank of America's Forms 10-K and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  3. ReportedOver the same year average assets rose 15%.
    Wells Fargo second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - consolidated results, credit quality, capital and the chief executive's comments. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedThe bank had about 205,000 active employees at the end of 2025, about 76% of them in the United States.
    Wells Fargo Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - cover page and Item 1 business: legal form, employees, open regulatory actions. — FY2025 · publ. 24 February 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedPersonnel expense was $36,281 million in 2025, about two-thirds of noninterest expense.
    Wells Fargo 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders (financial statements, MD&A and segment note), part of the Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - operating segment note and segment tables (Table 19.1, revenue by line of business, selected metrics). — FY2025 · publ. 24 February 2026 · source ↗
  6. Moat Explorer calcPersonnel expense was $36,281 million in 2025, about two-thirds of noninterest expense.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Wells Fargo's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Deposits: cost of total deposits = interest on interest-bearing deposits / (average interest-bearing + average noninterest-bearing deposits): 2020 2,804 / 1,376,011 = 0.20%; 2021 388 / 1,437,812 = 0.03%; 2022 2,349 / 1,424,269 = 0.16%; 2023 16,503 / 1,346,282 = 1.23%; 2024 24,282 / 1,345,915 = 1.80%; 2025 20,449 / (987,198 + 360,047 = 1,347,245) = 1.52%. Bank of America 2025: 34,513 / (1,469,705 + 514,477 = 1,984,182) = 1.74%. Gap to JPMorgan 1.80% - 1.52% = 0.28 points x 1,347,245 = about 3,772 (about $3.8 billion); gap to Bank of America 1.74% - 1.52% = 0.22 points. Noninterest-bearing share of average deposits: 2020 412,669 / 1,376,011 = 30.0%; 2021 499,644 / 1,437,812 = 34.8%; 2022 505,770 / 1,424,269 = 35.5%; 2023 399,737 / 1,346,282 = 29.7%; 2024 352,379 / 1,345,915 = 26.2%; 2025 360,047 / 1,347,245 = 26.7%. Average deposits 2023-2025 range 1,345,915 to 1,347,245 = 1,330 (about $1.3 billion). Period-end deposits 1,371,804 / 1,335,991 - 1 = 2.7% (Dec 2017 to Dec 2024); Dec 2025 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,426,207 = 75,198 (about $75 billion). Consumer Banking and Lending share of average deposits Q2 2026 828.4 / 1,465.6 = 57%. Held-to-maturity: Dec 2024 carrying 234,948 - fair value 193,779 = 41,169 unrealised loss; June 2026 loss 32,408 / common equity 165,000 = 19.6%. Balance sheet: total assets 2,282,201 / 1,951,757 - 1 = 16.9% above the 2017 cap level; 2,282,201 - 1,929,845 = 352,356 (about $352 billion); 2,282,201 / 1,929,845 - 1 = 18.3% (about 18%). CIB total assets 862,472 / 597,278 - 1 = 44%. Average loans Q2 2026 1,026.5 - 916.7 = 109.8; CIB 359.4 - 285.9 = 73.5; 73.5 / 109.8 = 67% (about two-thirds). CIB share of average loans 359.4 / 1,026.5 = 35.0% (Q2 2026); 285.9 / 916.7 = 31.2% (Q2 2025). Trading-related assets 401.5 / 283.7 - 1 = 41.5%; Markets loans 111.2 / 79.0 - 1 = 40.8%; CIB average loans 359.4 / 285.9 - 1 = 25.7%. Tangible common equity / total assets: Dec 2024 135.6 / 1,929.8 = 7.0%; June 2026 139.7 / 2,282.2 = 6.1%. Branches 4,079 - 5,032 = -953; 4,079 / 5,032 - 1 = -19%. Mobile active customers 33.7 / 29.9 - 1 = 13%. Headcount 197,466 / 212,804 - 1 = -7%. Personnel expense 36,281 / noninterest expense 54,842 = 66% (about two-thirds). Efficiency gap to JPMorgan (66% - 52%) x 83,699 = about 11,718 (about $11.7 billion). JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 79%; market value 911.91 / 250.90 = 3.6 times. Capital: CET1 headroom 10.3% - 8.5% = 1.8 points. Returned 2025 (17.7 billion buybacks + 6.5 billion dividends - 1.053 billion preferred dividends) / 20.285 billion net income to common = 114%. Average diluted shares 3,242.3 / 5,108.3 - 1 = -36.5% (2016 to 2025). EPS 6.26 / 4.12 - 1 = 52%. Revenue 83,699 / 86,057 - 1 = -2.7% (2015 to 2025). Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 21,436 + 21,292 + 21,446 + 22,622 = 86,796; net income 5,589 + 5,361 + 5,253 + 6,407 = 22,610; EPS 1.66 + 1.62 + 1.60 + 2.00 = 6.88. First half 2026: net income 5,253 + 6,407 = 11,660; net interest income 12,096 + 12,317 = 24,413; noninterest expense 14,330 + 13,661 = 27,991, about 50.3% of the ~55,700 guidance. Market value 250.90 / 298.75 - 1 = -16% (end 2017 to Sept 2026). Segments (2025): revenue 37,362 + 11,978 + 19,232 + 16,328 = 84,900; plus Corporate 747, less Reconciling Items 1,948 = 83,699. Shares of segment revenue: Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 84,900 = 44%; Commercial Banking 11,978 / 84,900 = 14%; CIB 19,232 / 84,900 = 23%; Wealth and Investment Management 16,328 / 84,900 = 19%. Shares of company net income 21,338: Consumer Banking and Lending 7,865 = 37%; CIB 7,283 = 34%; Commercial Banking 4,184 = 20%; Wealth and Investment Management 2,119 = 10%. CIB share of segment net income 7,283 / (7,865 + 4,184 + 7,283 + 2,119 = 21,451) = 34%; of total revenue 19,232 / 83,699 = 23%. Wealth net income / revenue 2,119 / 16,328 = 13%. Commercial Banking net income 4,184 / 5,104 - 1 = -18%. CIB Banking 2,522 + 2,507 + 2,008 = 7,037. Investment banking 2,008 / 1,404 - 1 = 43%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,809 - 1 = 10%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -31%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 891 - 1 = 26%. Consumer Banking and Lending share of Q2 2026 revenue 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Consumer Banking and Lending provision 3,362 / total provision 3,658 = 92%. Markets loans 111.2 - 79.0 = 32.2; 32.2 / 73.5 = 44% of the CIB loan increase. Investment banking share of CIB revenue 1,404 / 19,191 = 7% (2023); 2,008 / 19,232 = 10% (2025). Debit plus credit card purchase volume 530.5 + 186.0 = 716.5 billion. More deposits: noninterest-bearing deposits 505,770 - 360,047 = 145,723 (about $146 billion, 2022 to 2025); average deposits 1,424,269 - 1,347,245 = 77,024 (about $77 billion). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 24,282 - 20,449 = 3,833 (about $3.8 billion). Bank of America 2024 all-in deposit cost 38,442 / 1,924,106 = 2.00%. JPMorgan average deposits 2,506,565 / 1,347,245 = 1.9 times. Average loans to average deposits Q2 2026 1,026.5 / 1,465.6 = 70%. Bank of America deposits 2,018,729 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 42%. Held-to-maturity share of total assets 198,573 / 2,282,201 = 8.7% (June 2026); 208,023 / 2,148,631 = 9.7% (Dec 2025). More balance sheet and valuation: branches closed 5,032 - 4,777 = 255 (2021); 4,598 - 4,311 = 287 (2023); 4,177 - 4,090 = 87 (2025); 4,090 - 4,079 = 11 (H1 2026); 4,311 - 4,079 = 232 (end 2023 to June 2026). Second half 2025 assets 2,148,631 - 1,981,269 = 167,362 (about $167 billion). Market value 233.86 / 298.75 - 1 = -22% (end 2017 to end 2024); Bank of America 394.32 / 250.90 - 1 = 57%; market value over trailing net income 250.90 / 22.61 = 11.1 times. Risk-weighted assets 137.7 / 0.103 = about 1,337 billion (about $1.34 trillion). Total equity 182,323 / 2,282,201 = 8.0%. 2016 penalties 100 + 35 + 50 = 185 million. Commercial Banking net interest income 7,902 / 11,978 = 66%. Consumer Banking and Lending deposit surplus 779,994 - 322,052 = 457,942 (about $458 billion) - capital, balance sheet, valuation, returns and comparisons with JPMorgan and Bank of America. — Length additions: held-to-maturity Dec 2025 208,023 - 175,797 = 32,226; carrying value 208,023 - 198,573 = 9,450 (about $9.5 billion in six months). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 16,503 / 2,349 = 7.0 (about seven times). Consumer Banking and Lending net interest income 29,183 / 37,362 = 78%. Average deposits per branch 1,437,812 / 4,777 = 301 (2021); 1,347,245 / 4,090 = 329 (2025). Deposits Dec 2024 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,371,804 = 129,601 (about $130 billion). TLAC cushion 23.22 - 21.50 = 1.72 points; 22.81 - 21.50 = 1.31 points. CIB assets 862,472 / 2,282,201 = 38%; CIB period-end assets 787,751 / 597,278 - 1 = 32%. CIB investment banking 1,814 / 1,404 - 1 = 29%; 2,008 / 1,814 - 1 = 11%; Q2 2026 628 / 5,425 = 12%. CIB revenue per dollar of expense 19,232 / 9,436 = 2.04; Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 23,515 = 1.59. CRE 5,083 / 19,232 = 26%. Q2 2026 expense 13,661 / 13,379 - 1 = 2.1%; revenue 22,622 / 20,822 - 1 = 8.6%. Headcount 205 - 197 = 8 thousand. Average assets per employee 1,933.4 / 212,804 = $9.1 million (Q2 2025); 2,227.9 / 197,466 = $11.3 million (Q2 2026), +24%. Personnel expense per employee 36,281 / 205,000 = 0.177 ($177,000). Efficiency gap to Bank of America (66% - 61.65%) x 83,699 = 3,641 (about $3.6 billion). Risk-weighted assets about 1,340 billion x 1% = about $13 billion per point; 9.80% - 8.50% = 1.30 points x 1,340 = about $17 billion. Stockholders equity 180,190 / 206,936 - 1 = -12.9%. Charge-offs 876 x 4 = 3,504 (about $3.5 billion); 14,129 / 139,700 = 10.1%. JPMorgan cost of total deposits 2024 2.08% against Wells Fargo 1.80%. ROTCE H1 2026 16.1% - 14.4% = 1.7 points. Target 17.5% x 139.7 = 24.4 billion; 24.4 / 20.285 = 1.20. Net income 6,407 x 4 = 25,628 (about $25.6 billion). H1 2026 expense 27,991 / 55,700 = 50.3%; net interest income 24,413 / 50,000 = 48.8%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,908 - 1 = 7.9%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -30.6%. Home Lending 3,364 / 37,362 = 9.0%; originations 26.3 / 986.2 = 2.7%. Buybacks 22.7 billion / 79.80 = 284 million shares; 284 / 3,085.6 = 9.2%. Tangible book 1 / 1.79 = 0.56. Dividend 0.50 x 4 x 3.02 billion = 6.04 (about $6.0 billion). Accounts 16 million / 32.8 million = 49%. Remediation 236 / 160,700 = 0.15%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 2,509 = 45%. Investment banking fees 3,027 / 83,699 = 3.6%. Advisory fees 10,498 / 36,215 = 29%. Branches 4,090 - 4,079 = 11. Buyback runway 22.7 / 17.7 = 1.3 years (about fifteen months); 22.7 / (7 x 2) = 1.6 years. Deposits 1,347,245 / 1,376,011 - 1 = -2.1%. Q2 2026 consumer bank share 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Card fees 4,589 / mortgage banking 1,152 = 4.0. 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Wells Fargo's annual reports, Forms 10-Q, earnings releases and presentations, JPMorgan's and Bank of America's Forms 10-K and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  7. ReportedHeadcount fell every quarter for a year: 213 thousand in the second quarter of 2025, 211 thousand, 205 thousand, 201 thousand and 197 thousand in the second quarter of 2026.
    Wells Fargo second-quarter 2026 earnings presentation, Form 8-K exhibit 99.3 - segment returns, deposit cost, market shares and the 2026 outlook - consolidated results, deposit cost, capital and the 2026 outlook. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedThe bank occupied 4.3 million square feet in India and 1.3 million in the Philippines in 2024, part of how it has cut cost per employee.
    Wells Fargo Form 10-K for fiscal 2024 - cover page and Item 1: holders of record and the July 2023 $30 billion repurchase authorization. — FY2024 · publ. February 2025 · source ↗
  9. ReportedThe bank carried about $9.1 million of average assets per employee in the second quarter of 2025 and about $11.3 million a year later, a rise of about a quarter in one year.
    Wells Fargo second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - consolidated results, credit quality, capital and the chief executive's comments. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedThe bank carried about $9.1 million of average assets per employee in the second quarter of 2025 and about $11.3 million a year later, a rise of about a quarter in one year.
    Wells Fargo Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - balance sheet, capital requirements, interest rate sensitivity, segment assets, headcount and legal actions. — Q2 2026 · publ. 28 July 2026 · source ↗
  11. Moat Explorer calcThe bank carried about $9.1 million of average assets per employee in the second quarter of 2025 and about $11.3 million a year later, a rise of about a quarter in one year.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Wells Fargo's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Deposits: cost of total deposits = interest on interest-bearing deposits / (average interest-bearing + average noninterest-bearing deposits): 2020 2,804 / 1,376,011 = 0.20%; 2021 388 / 1,437,812 = 0.03%; 2022 2,349 / 1,424,269 = 0.16%; 2023 16,503 / 1,346,282 = 1.23%; 2024 24,282 / 1,345,915 = 1.80%; 2025 20,449 / (987,198 + 360,047 = 1,347,245) = 1.52%. Bank of America 2025: 34,513 / (1,469,705 + 514,477 = 1,984,182) = 1.74%. Gap to JPMorgan 1.80% - 1.52% = 0.28 points x 1,347,245 = about 3,772 (about $3.8 billion); gap to Bank of America 1.74% - 1.52% = 0.22 points. Noninterest-bearing share of average deposits: 2020 412,669 / 1,376,011 = 30.0%; 2021 499,644 / 1,437,812 = 34.8%; 2022 505,770 / 1,424,269 = 35.5%; 2023 399,737 / 1,346,282 = 29.7%; 2024 352,379 / 1,345,915 = 26.2%; 2025 360,047 / 1,347,245 = 26.7%. Average deposits 2023-2025 range 1,345,915 to 1,347,245 = 1,330 (about $1.3 billion). Period-end deposits 1,371,804 / 1,335,991 - 1 = 2.7% (Dec 2017 to Dec 2024); Dec 2025 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,426,207 = 75,198 (about $75 billion). Consumer Banking and Lending share of average deposits Q2 2026 828.4 / 1,465.6 = 57%. Held-to-maturity: Dec 2024 carrying 234,948 - fair value 193,779 = 41,169 unrealised loss; June 2026 loss 32,408 / common equity 165,000 = 19.6%. Balance sheet: total assets 2,282,201 / 1,951,757 - 1 = 16.9% above the 2017 cap level; 2,282,201 - 1,929,845 = 352,356 (about $352 billion); 2,282,201 / 1,929,845 - 1 = 18.3% (about 18%). CIB total assets 862,472 / 597,278 - 1 = 44%. Average loans Q2 2026 1,026.5 - 916.7 = 109.8; CIB 359.4 - 285.9 = 73.5; 73.5 / 109.8 = 67% (about two-thirds). CIB share of average loans 359.4 / 1,026.5 = 35.0% (Q2 2026); 285.9 / 916.7 = 31.2% (Q2 2025). Trading-related assets 401.5 / 283.7 - 1 = 41.5%; Markets loans 111.2 / 79.0 - 1 = 40.8%; CIB average loans 359.4 / 285.9 - 1 = 25.7%. Tangible common equity / total assets: Dec 2024 135.6 / 1,929.8 = 7.0%; June 2026 139.7 / 2,282.2 = 6.1%. Branches 4,079 - 5,032 = -953; 4,079 / 5,032 - 1 = -19%. Mobile active customers 33.7 / 29.9 - 1 = 13%. Headcount 197,466 / 212,804 - 1 = -7%. Personnel expense 36,281 / noninterest expense 54,842 = 66% (about two-thirds). Efficiency gap to JPMorgan (66% - 52%) x 83,699 = about 11,718 (about $11.7 billion). JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 79%; market value 911.91 / 250.90 = 3.6 times. Capital: CET1 headroom 10.3% - 8.5% = 1.8 points. Returned 2025 (17.7 billion buybacks + 6.5 billion dividends - 1.053 billion preferred dividends) / 20.285 billion net income to common = 114%. Average diluted shares 3,242.3 / 5,108.3 - 1 = -36.5% (2016 to 2025). EPS 6.26 / 4.12 - 1 = 52%. Revenue 83,699 / 86,057 - 1 = -2.7% (2015 to 2025). Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 21,436 + 21,292 + 21,446 + 22,622 = 86,796; net income 5,589 + 5,361 + 5,253 + 6,407 = 22,610; EPS 1.66 + 1.62 + 1.60 + 2.00 = 6.88. First half 2026: net income 5,253 + 6,407 = 11,660; net interest income 12,096 + 12,317 = 24,413; noninterest expense 14,330 + 13,661 = 27,991, about 50.3% of the ~55,700 guidance. Market value 250.90 / 298.75 - 1 = -16% (end 2017 to Sept 2026). Segments (2025): revenue 37,362 + 11,978 + 19,232 + 16,328 = 84,900; plus Corporate 747, less Reconciling Items 1,948 = 83,699. Shares of segment revenue: Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 84,900 = 44%; Commercial Banking 11,978 / 84,900 = 14%; CIB 19,232 / 84,900 = 23%; Wealth and Investment Management 16,328 / 84,900 = 19%. Shares of company net income 21,338: Consumer Banking and Lending 7,865 = 37%; CIB 7,283 = 34%; Commercial Banking 4,184 = 20%; Wealth and Investment Management 2,119 = 10%. CIB share of segment net income 7,283 / (7,865 + 4,184 + 7,283 + 2,119 = 21,451) = 34%; of total revenue 19,232 / 83,699 = 23%. Wealth net income / revenue 2,119 / 16,328 = 13%. Commercial Banking net income 4,184 / 5,104 - 1 = -18%. CIB Banking 2,522 + 2,507 + 2,008 = 7,037. Investment banking 2,008 / 1,404 - 1 = 43%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,809 - 1 = 10%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -31%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 891 - 1 = 26%. Consumer Banking and Lending share of Q2 2026 revenue 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Consumer Banking and Lending provision 3,362 / total provision 3,658 = 92%. Markets loans 111.2 - 79.0 = 32.2; 32.2 / 73.5 = 44% of the CIB loan increase. Investment banking share of CIB revenue 1,404 / 19,191 = 7% (2023); 2,008 / 19,232 = 10% (2025). Debit plus credit card purchase volume 530.5 + 186.0 = 716.5 billion. More deposits: noninterest-bearing deposits 505,770 - 360,047 = 145,723 (about $146 billion, 2022 to 2025); average deposits 1,424,269 - 1,347,245 = 77,024 (about $77 billion). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 24,282 - 20,449 = 3,833 (about $3.8 billion). Bank of America 2024 all-in deposit cost 38,442 / 1,924,106 = 2.00%. JPMorgan average deposits 2,506,565 / 1,347,245 = 1.9 times. Average loans to average deposits Q2 2026 1,026.5 / 1,465.6 = 70%. Bank of America deposits 2,018,729 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 42%. Held-to-maturity share of total assets 198,573 / 2,282,201 = 8.7% (June 2026); 208,023 / 2,148,631 = 9.7% (Dec 2025). More balance sheet and valuation: branches closed 5,032 - 4,777 = 255 (2021); 4,598 - 4,311 = 287 (2023); 4,177 - 4,090 = 87 (2025); 4,090 - 4,079 = 11 (H1 2026); 4,311 - 4,079 = 232 (end 2023 to June 2026). Second half 2025 assets 2,148,631 - 1,981,269 = 167,362 (about $167 billion). Market value 233.86 / 298.75 - 1 = -22% (end 2017 to end 2024); Bank of America 394.32 / 250.90 - 1 = 57%; market value over trailing net income 250.90 / 22.61 = 11.1 times. Risk-weighted assets 137.7 / 0.103 = about 1,337 billion (about $1.34 trillion). Total equity 182,323 / 2,282,201 = 8.0%. 2016 penalties 100 + 35 + 50 = 185 million. Commercial Banking net interest income 7,902 / 11,978 = 66%. Consumer Banking and Lending deposit surplus 779,994 - 322,052 = 457,942 (about $458 billion) - capital, balance sheet, valuation, returns and comparisons with JPMorgan and Bank of America. — Length additions: held-to-maturity Dec 2025 208,023 - 175,797 = 32,226; carrying value 208,023 - 198,573 = 9,450 (about $9.5 billion in six months). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 16,503 / 2,349 = 7.0 (about seven times). Consumer Banking and Lending net interest income 29,183 / 37,362 = 78%. Average deposits per branch 1,437,812 / 4,777 = 301 (2021); 1,347,245 / 4,090 = 329 (2025). Deposits Dec 2024 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,371,804 = 129,601 (about $130 billion). TLAC cushion 23.22 - 21.50 = 1.72 points; 22.81 - 21.50 = 1.31 points. CIB assets 862,472 / 2,282,201 = 38%; CIB period-end assets 787,751 / 597,278 - 1 = 32%. CIB investment banking 1,814 / 1,404 - 1 = 29%; 2,008 / 1,814 - 1 = 11%; Q2 2026 628 / 5,425 = 12%. CIB revenue per dollar of expense 19,232 / 9,436 = 2.04; Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 23,515 = 1.59. CRE 5,083 / 19,232 = 26%. Q2 2026 expense 13,661 / 13,379 - 1 = 2.1%; revenue 22,622 / 20,822 - 1 = 8.6%. Headcount 205 - 197 = 8 thousand. Average assets per employee 1,933.4 / 212,804 = $9.1 million (Q2 2025); 2,227.9 / 197,466 = $11.3 million (Q2 2026), +24%. Personnel expense per employee 36,281 / 205,000 = 0.177 ($177,000). Efficiency gap to Bank of America (66% - 61.65%) x 83,699 = 3,641 (about $3.6 billion). Risk-weighted assets about 1,340 billion x 1% = about $13 billion per point; 9.80% - 8.50% = 1.30 points x 1,340 = about $17 billion. Stockholders equity 180,190 / 206,936 - 1 = -12.9%. Charge-offs 876 x 4 = 3,504 (about $3.5 billion); 14,129 / 139,700 = 10.1%. JPMorgan cost of total deposits 2024 2.08% against Wells Fargo 1.80%. ROTCE H1 2026 16.1% - 14.4% = 1.7 points. Target 17.5% x 139.7 = 24.4 billion; 24.4 / 20.285 = 1.20. Net income 6,407 x 4 = 25,628 (about $25.6 billion). H1 2026 expense 27,991 / 55,700 = 50.3%; net interest income 24,413 / 50,000 = 48.8%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,908 - 1 = 7.9%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -30.6%. Home Lending 3,364 / 37,362 = 9.0%; originations 26.3 / 986.2 = 2.7%. Buybacks 22.7 billion / 79.80 = 284 million shares; 284 / 3,085.6 = 9.2%. Tangible book 1 / 1.79 = 0.56. Dividend 0.50 x 4 x 3.02 billion = 6.04 (about $6.0 billion). Accounts 16 million / 32.8 million = 49%. Remediation 236 / 160,700 = 0.15%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 2,509 = 45%. Investment banking fees 3,027 / 83,699 = 3.6%. Advisory fees 10,498 / 36,215 = 29%. Branches 4,090 - 4,079 = 11. Buyback runway 22.7 / 17.7 = 1.3 years (about fifteen months); 22.7 / (7 x 2) = 1.6 years. Deposits 1,347,245 / 1,376,011 - 1 = -2.1%. Q2 2026 consumer bank share 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Card fees 4,589 / mortgage banking 1,152 = 4.0. 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Wells Fargo's annual reports, Forms 10-Q, earnings releases and presentations, JPMorgan's and Bank of America's Forms 10-K and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  12. Moat Explorer calcThe bank carried about $9.1 million of average assets per employee in the second quarter of 2025 and about $11.3 million a year later, a rise of about a quarter in one year.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Wells Fargo's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Deposits: cost of total deposits = interest on interest-bearing deposits / (average interest-bearing + average noninterest-bearing deposits): 2020 2,804 / 1,376,011 = 0.20%; 2021 388 / 1,437,812 = 0.03%; 2022 2,349 / 1,424,269 = 0.16%; 2023 16,503 / 1,346,282 = 1.23%; 2024 24,282 / 1,345,915 = 1.80%; 2025 20,449 / (987,198 + 360,047 = 1,347,245) = 1.52%. Bank of America 2025: 34,513 / (1,469,705 + 514,477 = 1,984,182) = 1.74%. Gap to JPMorgan 1.80% - 1.52% = 0.28 points x 1,347,245 = about 3,772 (about $3.8 billion); gap to Bank of America 1.74% - 1.52% = 0.22 points. Noninterest-bearing share of average deposits: 2020 412,669 / 1,376,011 = 30.0%; 2021 499,644 / 1,437,812 = 34.8%; 2022 505,770 / 1,424,269 = 35.5%; 2023 399,737 / 1,346,282 = 29.7%; 2024 352,379 / 1,345,915 = 26.2%; 2025 360,047 / 1,347,245 = 26.7%. Average deposits 2023-2025 range 1,345,915 to 1,347,245 = 1,330 (about $1.3 billion). Period-end deposits 1,371,804 / 1,335,991 - 1 = 2.7% (Dec 2017 to Dec 2024); Dec 2025 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,426,207 = 75,198 (about $75 billion). Consumer Banking and Lending share of average deposits Q2 2026 828.4 / 1,465.6 = 57%. Held-to-maturity: Dec 2024 carrying 234,948 - fair value 193,779 = 41,169 unrealised loss; June 2026 loss 32,408 / common equity 165,000 = 19.6%. Balance sheet: total assets 2,282,201 / 1,951,757 - 1 = 16.9% above the 2017 cap level; 2,282,201 - 1,929,845 = 352,356 (about $352 billion); 2,282,201 / 1,929,845 - 1 = 18.3% (about 18%). CIB total assets 862,472 / 597,278 - 1 = 44%. Average loans Q2 2026 1,026.5 - 916.7 = 109.8; CIB 359.4 - 285.9 = 73.5; 73.5 / 109.8 = 67% (about two-thirds). CIB share of average loans 359.4 / 1,026.5 = 35.0% (Q2 2026); 285.9 / 916.7 = 31.2% (Q2 2025). Trading-related assets 401.5 / 283.7 - 1 = 41.5%; Markets loans 111.2 / 79.0 - 1 = 40.8%; CIB average loans 359.4 / 285.9 - 1 = 25.7%. Tangible common equity / total assets: Dec 2024 135.6 / 1,929.8 = 7.0%; June 2026 139.7 / 2,282.2 = 6.1%. Branches 4,079 - 5,032 = -953; 4,079 / 5,032 - 1 = -19%. Mobile active customers 33.7 / 29.9 - 1 = 13%. Headcount 197,466 / 212,804 - 1 = -7%. Personnel expense 36,281 / noninterest expense 54,842 = 66% (about two-thirds). Efficiency gap to JPMorgan (66% - 52%) x 83,699 = about 11,718 (about $11.7 billion). JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 79%; market value 911.91 / 250.90 = 3.6 times. Capital: CET1 headroom 10.3% - 8.5% = 1.8 points. Returned 2025 (17.7 billion buybacks + 6.5 billion dividends - 1.053 billion preferred dividends) / 20.285 billion net income to common = 114%. Average diluted shares 3,242.3 / 5,108.3 - 1 = -36.5% (2016 to 2025). EPS 6.26 / 4.12 - 1 = 52%. Revenue 83,699 / 86,057 - 1 = -2.7% (2015 to 2025). Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 21,436 + 21,292 + 21,446 + 22,622 = 86,796; net income 5,589 + 5,361 + 5,253 + 6,407 = 22,610; EPS 1.66 + 1.62 + 1.60 + 2.00 = 6.88. First half 2026: net income 5,253 + 6,407 = 11,660; net interest income 12,096 + 12,317 = 24,413; noninterest expense 14,330 + 13,661 = 27,991, about 50.3% of the ~55,700 guidance. Market value 250.90 / 298.75 - 1 = -16% (end 2017 to Sept 2026). Segments (2025): revenue 37,362 + 11,978 + 19,232 + 16,328 = 84,900; plus Corporate 747, less Reconciling Items 1,948 = 83,699. Shares of segment revenue: Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 84,900 = 44%; Commercial Banking 11,978 / 84,900 = 14%; CIB 19,232 / 84,900 = 23%; Wealth and Investment Management 16,328 / 84,900 = 19%. Shares of company net income 21,338: Consumer Banking and Lending 7,865 = 37%; CIB 7,283 = 34%; Commercial Banking 4,184 = 20%; Wealth and Investment Management 2,119 = 10%. CIB share of segment net income 7,283 / (7,865 + 4,184 + 7,283 + 2,119 = 21,451) = 34%; of total revenue 19,232 / 83,699 = 23%. Wealth net income / revenue 2,119 / 16,328 = 13%. Commercial Banking net income 4,184 / 5,104 - 1 = -18%. CIB Banking 2,522 + 2,507 + 2,008 = 7,037. Investment banking 2,008 / 1,404 - 1 = 43%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,809 - 1 = 10%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -31%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 891 - 1 = 26%. Consumer Banking and Lending share of Q2 2026 revenue 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Consumer Banking and Lending provision 3,362 / total provision 3,658 = 92%. Markets loans 111.2 - 79.0 = 32.2; 32.2 / 73.5 = 44% of the CIB loan increase. Investment banking share of CIB revenue 1,404 / 19,191 = 7% (2023); 2,008 / 19,232 = 10% (2025). Debit plus credit card purchase volume 530.5 + 186.0 = 716.5 billion. More deposits: noninterest-bearing deposits 505,770 - 360,047 = 145,723 (about $146 billion, 2022 to 2025); average deposits 1,424,269 - 1,347,245 = 77,024 (about $77 billion). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 24,282 - 20,449 = 3,833 (about $3.8 billion). Bank of America 2024 all-in deposit cost 38,442 / 1,924,106 = 2.00%. JPMorgan average deposits 2,506,565 / 1,347,245 = 1.9 times. Average loans to average deposits Q2 2026 1,026.5 / 1,465.6 = 70%. Bank of America deposits 2,018,729 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 42%. Held-to-maturity share of total assets 198,573 / 2,282,201 = 8.7% (June 2026); 208,023 / 2,148,631 = 9.7% (Dec 2025). More balance sheet and valuation: branches closed 5,032 - 4,777 = 255 (2021); 4,598 - 4,311 = 287 (2023); 4,177 - 4,090 = 87 (2025); 4,090 - 4,079 = 11 (H1 2026); 4,311 - 4,079 = 232 (end 2023 to June 2026). Second half 2025 assets 2,148,631 - 1,981,269 = 167,362 (about $167 billion). Market value 233.86 / 298.75 - 1 = -22% (end 2017 to end 2024); Bank of America 394.32 / 250.90 - 1 = 57%; market value over trailing net income 250.90 / 22.61 = 11.1 times. Risk-weighted assets 137.7 / 0.103 = about 1,337 billion (about $1.34 trillion). Total equity 182,323 / 2,282,201 = 8.0%. 2016 penalties 100 + 35 + 50 = 185 million. Commercial Banking net interest income 7,902 / 11,978 = 66%. Consumer Banking and Lending deposit surplus 779,994 - 322,052 = 457,942 (about $458 billion) - capital, balance sheet, valuation, returns and comparisons with JPMorgan and Bank of America. — Length additions: held-to-maturity Dec 2025 208,023 - 175,797 = 32,226; carrying value 208,023 - 198,573 = 9,450 (about $9.5 billion in six months). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 16,503 / 2,349 = 7.0 (about seven times). Consumer Banking and Lending net interest income 29,183 / 37,362 = 78%. Average deposits per branch 1,437,812 / 4,777 = 301 (2021); 1,347,245 / 4,090 = 329 (2025). Deposits Dec 2024 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,371,804 = 129,601 (about $130 billion). TLAC cushion 23.22 - 21.50 = 1.72 points; 22.81 - 21.50 = 1.31 points. CIB assets 862,472 / 2,282,201 = 38%; CIB period-end assets 787,751 / 597,278 - 1 = 32%. CIB investment banking 1,814 / 1,404 - 1 = 29%; 2,008 / 1,814 - 1 = 11%; Q2 2026 628 / 5,425 = 12%. CIB revenue per dollar of expense 19,232 / 9,436 = 2.04; Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 23,515 = 1.59. CRE 5,083 / 19,232 = 26%. Q2 2026 expense 13,661 / 13,379 - 1 = 2.1%; revenue 22,622 / 20,822 - 1 = 8.6%. Headcount 205 - 197 = 8 thousand. Average assets per employee 1,933.4 / 212,804 = $9.1 million (Q2 2025); 2,227.9 / 197,466 = $11.3 million (Q2 2026), +24%. Personnel expense per employee 36,281 / 205,000 = 0.177 ($177,000). Efficiency gap to Bank of America (66% - 61.65%) x 83,699 = 3,641 (about $3.6 billion). Risk-weighted assets about 1,340 billion x 1% = about $13 billion per point; 9.80% - 8.50% = 1.30 points x 1,340 = about $17 billion. Stockholders equity 180,190 / 206,936 - 1 = -12.9%. Charge-offs 876 x 4 = 3,504 (about $3.5 billion); 14,129 / 139,700 = 10.1%. JPMorgan cost of total deposits 2024 2.08% against Wells Fargo 1.80%. ROTCE H1 2026 16.1% - 14.4% = 1.7 points. Target 17.5% x 139.7 = 24.4 billion; 24.4 / 20.285 = 1.20. Net income 6,407 x 4 = 25,628 (about $25.6 billion). H1 2026 expense 27,991 / 55,700 = 50.3%; net interest income 24,413 / 50,000 = 48.8%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,908 - 1 = 7.9%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -30.6%. Home Lending 3,364 / 37,362 = 9.0%; originations 26.3 / 986.2 = 2.7%. Buybacks 22.7 billion / 79.80 = 284 million shares; 284 / 3,085.6 = 9.2%. Tangible book 1 / 1.79 = 0.56. Dividend 0.50 x 4 x 3.02 billion = 6.04 (about $6.0 billion). Accounts 16 million / 32.8 million = 49%. Remediation 236 / 160,700 = 0.15%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 2,509 = 45%. Investment banking fees 3,027 / 83,699 = 3.6%. Advisory fees 10,498 / 36,215 = 29%. Branches 4,090 - 4,079 = 11. Buyback runway 22.7 / 17.7 = 1.3 years (about fifteen months); 22.7 / (7 x 2) = 1.6 years. Deposits 1,347,245 / 1,376,011 - 1 = -2.1%. Q2 2026 consumer bank share 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Card fees 4,589 / mortgage banking 1,152 = 4.0. 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Wells Fargo's annual reports, Forms 10-Q, earnings releases and presentations, JPMorgan's and Bank of America's Forms 10-K and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  13. ReportedPersonnel expense of $36,281 million in 2025 works out at about $177,000 per active employee at the year end, so every thousand roles removed is worth roughly $177 million a year before severance.
    Wells Fargo 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders (financial statements, MD&A and segment note), part of the Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - operating segment note and segment tables (Table 19.1, revenue by line of business, selected metrics). — FY2025 · publ. 24 February 2026 · source ↗
  14. ReportedPersonnel expense of $36,281 million in 2025 works out at about $177,000 per active employee at the year end, so every thousand roles removed is worth roughly $177 million a year before severance.
    Wells Fargo Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - cover page and Item 1 business: legal form, employees, open regulatory actions. — FY2025 · publ. 24 February 2026 · source ↗
  15. Moat Explorer calcPersonnel expense of $36,281 million in 2025 works out at about $177,000 per active employee at the year end, so every thousand roles removed is worth roughly $177 million a year before severance.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Wells Fargo's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Deposits: cost of total deposits = interest on interest-bearing deposits / (average interest-bearing + average noninterest-bearing deposits): 2020 2,804 / 1,376,011 = 0.20%; 2021 388 / 1,437,812 = 0.03%; 2022 2,349 / 1,424,269 = 0.16%; 2023 16,503 / 1,346,282 = 1.23%; 2024 24,282 / 1,345,915 = 1.80%; 2025 20,449 / (987,198 + 360,047 = 1,347,245) = 1.52%. Bank of America 2025: 34,513 / (1,469,705 + 514,477 = 1,984,182) = 1.74%. Gap to JPMorgan 1.80% - 1.52% = 0.28 points x 1,347,245 = about 3,772 (about $3.8 billion); gap to Bank of America 1.74% - 1.52% = 0.22 points. Noninterest-bearing share of average deposits: 2020 412,669 / 1,376,011 = 30.0%; 2021 499,644 / 1,437,812 = 34.8%; 2022 505,770 / 1,424,269 = 35.5%; 2023 399,737 / 1,346,282 = 29.7%; 2024 352,379 / 1,345,915 = 26.2%; 2025 360,047 / 1,347,245 = 26.7%. Average deposits 2023-2025 range 1,345,915 to 1,347,245 = 1,330 (about $1.3 billion). Period-end deposits 1,371,804 / 1,335,991 - 1 = 2.7% (Dec 2017 to Dec 2024); Dec 2025 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,426,207 = 75,198 (about $75 billion). Consumer Banking and Lending share of average deposits Q2 2026 828.4 / 1,465.6 = 57%. Held-to-maturity: Dec 2024 carrying 234,948 - fair value 193,779 = 41,169 unrealised loss; June 2026 loss 32,408 / common equity 165,000 = 19.6%. Balance sheet: total assets 2,282,201 / 1,951,757 - 1 = 16.9% above the 2017 cap level; 2,282,201 - 1,929,845 = 352,356 (about $352 billion); 2,282,201 / 1,929,845 - 1 = 18.3% (about 18%). CIB total assets 862,472 / 597,278 - 1 = 44%. Average loans Q2 2026 1,026.5 - 916.7 = 109.8; CIB 359.4 - 285.9 = 73.5; 73.5 / 109.8 = 67% (about two-thirds). CIB share of average loans 359.4 / 1,026.5 = 35.0% (Q2 2026); 285.9 / 916.7 = 31.2% (Q2 2025). Trading-related assets 401.5 / 283.7 - 1 = 41.5%; Markets loans 111.2 / 79.0 - 1 = 40.8%; CIB average loans 359.4 / 285.9 - 1 = 25.7%. Tangible common equity / total assets: Dec 2024 135.6 / 1,929.8 = 7.0%; June 2026 139.7 / 2,282.2 = 6.1%. Branches 4,079 - 5,032 = -953; 4,079 / 5,032 - 1 = -19%. Mobile active customers 33.7 / 29.9 - 1 = 13%. Headcount 197,466 / 212,804 - 1 = -7%. Personnel expense 36,281 / noninterest expense 54,842 = 66% (about two-thirds). Efficiency gap to JPMorgan (66% - 52%) x 83,699 = about 11,718 (about $11.7 billion). JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 79%; market value 911.91 / 250.90 = 3.6 times. Capital: CET1 headroom 10.3% - 8.5% = 1.8 points. Returned 2025 (17.7 billion buybacks + 6.5 billion dividends - 1.053 billion preferred dividends) / 20.285 billion net income to common = 114%. Average diluted shares 3,242.3 / 5,108.3 - 1 = -36.5% (2016 to 2025). EPS 6.26 / 4.12 - 1 = 52%. Revenue 83,699 / 86,057 - 1 = -2.7% (2015 to 2025). Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 21,436 + 21,292 + 21,446 + 22,622 = 86,796; net income 5,589 + 5,361 + 5,253 + 6,407 = 22,610; EPS 1.66 + 1.62 + 1.60 + 2.00 = 6.88. First half 2026: net income 5,253 + 6,407 = 11,660; net interest income 12,096 + 12,317 = 24,413; noninterest expense 14,330 + 13,661 = 27,991, about 50.3% of the ~55,700 guidance. Market value 250.90 / 298.75 - 1 = -16% (end 2017 to Sept 2026). Segments (2025): revenue 37,362 + 11,978 + 19,232 + 16,328 = 84,900; plus Corporate 747, less Reconciling Items 1,948 = 83,699. Shares of segment revenue: Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 84,900 = 44%; Commercial Banking 11,978 / 84,900 = 14%; CIB 19,232 / 84,900 = 23%; Wealth and Investment Management 16,328 / 84,900 = 19%. Shares of company net income 21,338: Consumer Banking and Lending 7,865 = 37%; CIB 7,283 = 34%; Commercial Banking 4,184 = 20%; Wealth and Investment Management 2,119 = 10%. CIB share of segment net income 7,283 / (7,865 + 4,184 + 7,283 + 2,119 = 21,451) = 34%; of total revenue 19,232 / 83,699 = 23%. Wealth net income / revenue 2,119 / 16,328 = 13%. Commercial Banking net income 4,184 / 5,104 - 1 = -18%. CIB Banking 2,522 + 2,507 + 2,008 = 7,037. Investment banking 2,008 / 1,404 - 1 = 43%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,809 - 1 = 10%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -31%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 891 - 1 = 26%. Consumer Banking and Lending share of Q2 2026 revenue 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Consumer Banking and Lending provision 3,362 / total provision 3,658 = 92%. Markets loans 111.2 - 79.0 = 32.2; 32.2 / 73.5 = 44% of the CIB loan increase. Investment banking share of CIB revenue 1,404 / 19,191 = 7% (2023); 2,008 / 19,232 = 10% (2025). Debit plus credit card purchase volume 530.5 + 186.0 = 716.5 billion. More deposits: noninterest-bearing deposits 505,770 - 360,047 = 145,723 (about $146 billion, 2022 to 2025); average deposits 1,424,269 - 1,347,245 = 77,024 (about $77 billion). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 24,282 - 20,449 = 3,833 (about $3.8 billion). Bank of America 2024 all-in deposit cost 38,442 / 1,924,106 = 2.00%. JPMorgan average deposits 2,506,565 / 1,347,245 = 1.9 times. Average loans to average deposits Q2 2026 1,026.5 / 1,465.6 = 70%. Bank of America deposits 2,018,729 / 1,426,207 - 1 = 42%. Held-to-maturity share of total assets 198,573 / 2,282,201 = 8.7% (June 2026); 208,023 / 2,148,631 = 9.7% (Dec 2025). More balance sheet and valuation: branches closed 5,032 - 4,777 = 255 (2021); 4,598 - 4,311 = 287 (2023); 4,177 - 4,090 = 87 (2025); 4,090 - 4,079 = 11 (H1 2026); 4,311 - 4,079 = 232 (end 2023 to June 2026). Second half 2025 assets 2,148,631 - 1,981,269 = 167,362 (about $167 billion). Market value 233.86 / 298.75 - 1 = -22% (end 2017 to end 2024); Bank of America 394.32 / 250.90 - 1 = 57%; market value over trailing net income 250.90 / 22.61 = 11.1 times. Risk-weighted assets 137.7 / 0.103 = about 1,337 billion (about $1.34 trillion). Total equity 182,323 / 2,282,201 = 8.0%. 2016 penalties 100 + 35 + 50 = 185 million. Commercial Banking net interest income 7,902 / 11,978 = 66%. Consumer Banking and Lending deposit surplus 779,994 - 322,052 = 457,942 (about $458 billion) - capital, balance sheet, valuation, returns and comparisons with JPMorgan and Bank of America. — Length additions: held-to-maturity Dec 2025 208,023 - 175,797 = 32,226; carrying value 208,023 - 198,573 = 9,450 (about $9.5 billion in six months). Interest on interest-bearing deposits 16,503 / 2,349 = 7.0 (about seven times). Consumer Banking and Lending net interest income 29,183 / 37,362 = 78%. Average deposits per branch 1,437,812 / 4,777 = 301 (2021); 1,347,245 / 4,090 = 329 (2025). Deposits Dec 2024 to Jun 2026 1,501,405 - 1,371,804 = 129,601 (about $130 billion). TLAC cushion 23.22 - 21.50 = 1.72 points; 22.81 - 21.50 = 1.31 points. CIB assets 862,472 / 2,282,201 = 38%; CIB period-end assets 787,751 / 597,278 - 1 = 32%. CIB investment banking 1,814 / 1,404 - 1 = 29%; 2,008 / 1,814 - 1 = 11%; Q2 2026 628 / 5,425 = 12%. CIB revenue per dollar of expense 19,232 / 9,436 = 2.04; Consumer Banking and Lending 37,362 / 23,515 = 1.59. CRE 5,083 / 19,232 = 26%. Q2 2026 expense 13,661 / 13,379 - 1 = 2.1%; revenue 22,622 / 20,822 - 1 = 8.6%. Headcount 205 - 197 = 8 thousand. Average assets per employee 1,933.4 / 212,804 = $9.1 million (Q2 2025); 2,227.9 / 197,466 = $11.3 million (Q2 2026), +24%. Personnel expense per employee 36,281 / 205,000 = 0.177 ($177,000). Efficiency gap to Bank of America (66% - 61.65%) x 83,699 = 3,641 (about $3.6 billion). Risk-weighted assets about 1,340 billion x 1% = about $13 billion per point; 9.80% - 8.50% = 1.30 points x 1,340 = about $17 billion. Stockholders equity 180,190 / 206,936 - 1 = -12.9%. Charge-offs 876 x 4 = 3,504 (about $3.5 billion); 14,129 / 139,700 = 10.1%. JPMorgan cost of total deposits 2024 2.08% against Wells Fargo 1.80%. ROTCE H1 2026 16.1% - 14.4% = 1.7 points. Target 17.5% x 139.7 = 24.4 billion; 24.4 / 20.285 = 1.20. Net income 6,407 x 4 = 25,628 (about $25.6 billion). H1 2026 expense 27,991 / 55,700 = 50.3%; net interest income 24,413 / 50,000 = 48.8%. Credit card revenue 6,375 / 5,908 - 1 = 7.9%; Auto 1,016 / 1,464 - 1 = -30.6%. Home Lending 3,364 / 37,362 = 9.0%; originations 26.3 / 986.2 = 2.7%. Buybacks 22.7 billion / 79.80 = 284 million shares; 284 / 3,085.6 = 9.2%. Tangible book 1 / 1.79 = 0.56. Dividend 0.50 x 4 x 3.02 billion = 6.04 (about $6.0 billion). Accounts 16 million / 32.8 million = 49%. Remediation 236 / 160,700 = 0.15%. Advisory assets 1,127 / 2,509 = 45%. Investment banking fees 3,027 / 83,699 = 3.6%. Advisory fees 10,498 / 36,215 = 29%. Branches 4,090 - 4,079 = 11. Buyback runway 22.7 / 17.7 = 1.3 years (about fifteen months); 22.7 / (7 x 2) = 1.6 years. Deposits 1,347,245 / 1,376,011 - 1 = -2.1%. Q2 2026 consumer bank share 10,288 / 22,622 = 45%. Card fees 4,589 / mortgage banking 1,152 = 4.0. 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Wells Fargo's annual reports, Forms 10-Q, earnings releases and presentations, JPMorgan's and Bank of America's Forms 10-K and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  16. ReportedOver the same year the efficiency ratio fell from 64% to 60%, roughly what that arithmetic predicts when revenue is also rising.
    Wells Fargo second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - consolidated results, credit quality, capital and the chief executive's comments. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026