
Wells Fargo Auto is the auto lending business of Wells Fargo & Company, a publicly traded American financial services company founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, trading on NYSE under ticker WFC. The division finances vehicle purchases through a nationwide dealer network under the Wells Fargo Auto brand, operating within the company's Consumer Banking and Lending segment.
Parent Company
Founded
1852
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Auto | Wells Fargo & Company | Division |
Wells Fargo built its auto finance business through organic growth and acquisition, expanding into one of the country's largest indirect auto lenders by the 2010s. The core model finances purchases originated at franchised dealerships, with dealers submitting applications and Wells Fargo funding approved loans.
The business drew heavy scrutiny during the scandal era: a 2018 OCC consent order found Wells Fargo had force-placed unnecessary collateral protection insurance on auto borrowers, pushing thousands toward default or repossession. The bank paid roughly $1 billion in combined OCC and CFPB penalties and committed to refunding harmed customers, with remediation continuing into 2022.
Under CEO Charlie Scharf, the auto book was deliberately shrunk from its scandal-era peak as the bank reduced risk and improved returns. The division remains a meaningful indirect auto lender, though smaller than at its pre-2018 height, operating under tightened underwriting and dealer oversight standards.
Who owns Wells Fargo?
Wells Fargo & Company is a publicly traded corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker WFC. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway, once the largest shareholder, has significantly reduced its position in recent years.
What is Wells Fargo's annual revenue?
Wells Fargo reported total revenue of $83.7 billion for fiscal year 2025, up 2% from $82.3 billion in 2024. Net income for FY2025 was $21.3 billion, or $6.26 per diluted share. The company's primary revenue driver is net interest income, which totaled $47.5 billion in FY2025, supplemented by $36.2 billion in noninterest income from fees, advisory services, and other sources.
Is the Wells Fargo asset cap still in place?
No. The Federal Reserve removed the asset growth restriction on June 3, 2025, after determining that Wells Fargo had met all required conditions under the 2018 enforcement action. On March 5, 2026, the Fed terminated the enforcement action entirely. The asset cap had limited Wells Fargo's total assets to approximately $1.95 trillion for seven years.
Who is the CEO of Wells Fargo?
Charlie Scharf has served as Chief Executive Officer since October 2019. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Scharf was CEO of Visa and Bank of New York Mellon. Under his leadership, Wells Fargo has focused on improving risk management, terminating multiple consent orders, reducing costs, and investing in digital capabilities. Mike Santomassimo serves as Chief Financial Officer.
How many employees does Wells Fargo have?
Wells Fargo employed approximately 205,000 people as of December 31, 2025, with approximately 76% based in the United States. The company's workforce has declined from approximately 268,000 in 2020, reflecting efficiency initiatives and severance programs under CEO Charlie Scharf. The global workforce was 50% female and 50% male as of the end of 2025.
What are Wells Fargo's main business segments?
Wells Fargo operates through four reportable segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Consumer Banking and Lending is the largest segment by revenue, providing checking and savings accounts, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, and auto loans to individual consumers.
Is Wells Fargo a systemically important financial institution?
Yes. Wells Fargo is classified as a systemically important financial institution by U.S. regulators and is one of the "Big Four" U.S. banks alongside JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup. This designation subjects the company to enhanced regulatory oversight, including higher capital requirements and stress testing requirements.
What was the Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal?
In September 2016, Wells Fargo was fined $185 million by the CFPB, OCC, and the City and County of Los Angeles for creating approximately 2 million unauthorized bank and credit card accounts in customers' names. The scandal led to the resignation of CEO John Stumpf, a $3 billion DOJ/SEC settlement in 2020, and a Federal Reserve asset cap in 2018 that lasted until June 2025.
The division operates under the bank's responsible lending framework. The CPI scandal is the defining ethics event: force-placed insurance on hundreds of thousands of auto borrowers produced regulatory penalties, customer remediation, and lasting reputational harm within the bank's broader scandal narrative.
Wells Fargo Auto's dealer services platform has ranked among the top indirect auto lenders for dealer satisfaction in industry studies, and its servicing operation remains one of the largest in US bank auto lending.
Force-placed insurance (2018): The OCC and CFPB fined Wells Fargo a combined $1 billion for charging auto borrowers for unnecessary collateral protection insurance, which pushed borrowers into default and repossession. The bank refunded affected customers and overhauled the practice.
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