Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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” in this Form 10-Q, 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 other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) on investment securities (Note 4), 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

     The information furnished in these unaudited interim statements reflects 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 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, 2010 (2010 Form 10-K).

Adoption of ASU 2010-6 amendment of disclosure requirements for fair value measurements

ASU 2010-6 amends the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Companies are required to disclose significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Update also clarifies that fair value measurement disclosures should be presented for each asset and liability class, which is generally a subset of a line item in the statement of financial position. In the rollforward of Level 3 activity, companies must present information on purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis rather than on a net basis. Companies should also provide information about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring instruments classified as either Level 2 or Level 3. In first quarter 2011, we adopted the requirement for gross presentation in the Level 3 rollforward with prospective application. The remaining provisions were effective for us in first quarter 2010. Our adoption of the Update did not affect our consolidated financial statement results since it amends only the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements.

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2011

In first quarter 2011, we adopted certain provisions of Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2010-6, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.