1852: Henry Wells and William G. Fargo (Mayor of Buffalo, NY from 1862 to 1863 and again from 1864 to 1865), the two founders of American Express, formed Wells Fargo & Company to provide express and banking services to California.
1860: Wells Fargo gained control of Butterfield Overland Mail Company, leading to operation of the western portion of the Pony Express.
1866: "Grand consolidation" united Wells Fargo, Holladay, and Overland Mail stage lines under the Wells Fargo name.
1905: Wells Fargo separated its banking and express operations; Wells Fargo's bank is merged with the Nevada National Bank to form the Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank.
1918: As a wartime measure, the U.S. government nationalizes Wells Fargo's express franchise into a federal agency known as the U.S. Railway Express Agency (REA). The government took control of the express company. The bank begins rebuilding but with a focus on commercial markets. After the war, REA is privatized and continues service.
1923: Wells Fargo Nevada merged with the Union Trust Company to form the Wells Fargo Bank & Union Trust Company.
1929: Northwest Bancorporation was formed as a banking association.
1954: Wells Fargo & Union Trust shortened its name to Wells Fargo Bank.
1960: Wells Fargo merged with American Trust Company to form the Wells Fargo Bank American Trust Company.
1962: Wells Fargo American Trust again shortened its name to Wells Fargo Bank.
1968: Wells Fargo converted to a federal banking charter, becoming Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
1969: Wells Fargo & Company holding company was formed, with Wells Fargo Bank as its main subsidiary.
1982: Northwest Bancorporation acquires consumer finance firm Dial Finance which is renamed Norwest Financial Service the following year.
1983: Northwest Bancorporation is renamed Norwest Corporation.
1983: White Eagle, largest U.S. bank heist to date took place at a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford, Connecticut.
1986: Wells Fargo acquired Crocker National Corporation from Midland Bank.
1987: Wells Fargo acquired the personal trust business of Bank of America.
1988: Wells Fargo acquired Barclays Bank of California from Barclays plc.[27]
1995: Wells Fargo became the first major financial services firm to offer Internet banking.
1996: Wells Fargo acquired First Interstate Bancorp for $11.6 billion.[28]
1998: Wells Fargo Bank merged with Norwest Corporation of Minneapolis.[29]
2000: Wells Fargo Bank acquired National Bank of Alaska.[30]
2000: Wells Fargo acquired First Security Corporation.[31]
2001: Wells Fargo acquired H.D. Vest Financial Services for $128 million, but sold it in 2015 for $580 million.[32]
2007: Wells Fargo acquired CIT's construction unit.[33]
2007: Wells Fargo acquired Placer Sierra Bank.
2007: Wells Fargo acquired Greater Bay Bancorp, which had $7.4 billion in assets, in a $1.5 billion transaction.[34][35]
2008: Wells Fargo acquired United Bancorporation of Wyoming.[36]
2008: Wells Fargo acquired Century Bancshares of Texas.[37]
2008: Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia Corporation.
2009: Wells Fargo acquired North Coast Surety Insurance Services.[38]
2012: Wells Fargo acquired Merlin Securities.[39][40]
2012: Wells Fargo acquired stake in The Rock Creek Group LP.