Wells Fargo #1 SBA Lender in Arizona

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), America’s #1 small business lender, today announced it is the #1 Small Business Administration (SBA) 7 (a) lender in Arizona in amount of dollars loaned for the fifth consecutive year.  Wells Fargo originated $84.2 million dollars in financing to Arizona businesses from Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011.

“We believe that the flow of new loan dollars into our communities represents a very powerful statement for job creation and economic development,” said Jim Valley, SBA regional sales manager for Wells Fargo Arizona. “We are pleased to provide financial support that gives business owners the funds they need to grow their businesses, retain employees and continue to create new jobs in our community and across the country.”

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo announced that it was the first lender to loan more than $1 billion in SBA 7(a) loans to small businesses in a federal fiscal year.  Also earlier this year, the U.S. Small Business Administration presented its SBA Large 7(a) Lender of the Year award to Wells Fargo.  The award is given based on lender size, portfolio performance, growth in approval volume for the previous fiscal year, and a demonstrated, steadfast commitment to supporting the growth and expansion of small businesses across the country.

About Wells Fargo

In Arizona, Wells Fargo has 14,000 team members and 261 stores.  Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America.  Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 23 on Fortune’s 2011 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

Wells Fargo is America’s #1 small business lender (2010 Community Reinvestment Act government data) and a leading lender to women- and diverse-owned businesses.  With the nation’s largest network of retail banking stores, and an award-winning online Business Insight Series (http://www.wellsfargobusinessinsights.com)   including videos, webcasts and articles, Wells Fargo provides business owners with timely advice and information to educate and help them succeed financially. For more information, or to speak with a Wells Fargo banker, visit wellsfargo.com/biz or call the NationalBusiness Banking Center at 1-800-CALL-WELLS.