Wells Fargo Simplifies the Financial Side of Holiday Travel, Providing International Travelers With the Ability to Purchase Foreign Currency and Travelers Cheques Online for Overnight Home Delivery

Business Wire, Dec 9, 2002

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2002

Travelers Now Have More Options to Purchase Foreign Currency

Prior to Travel - Either on the Internet,

Over the Phone or in Local Branches

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) today announced that its Foreign Exchange Services offer international travelers a more convenient, easy-to-use and affordable way to access foreign currency this holiday season. This unique and innovative service provides travelers with the ability to purchase foreign currency prior to travel, at any time and from any location. It is available to everyone - customers as well as the general public.

Wells Fargo's Foreign Exchange Services (www.ForeignExchangeServices.com) allow international travelers - whether for business or leisure - to purchase foreign currency online and have it on-hand, prior to traveling, saving them time and money. With no service fees for currency exchange or travelers cheques transactions, customers will also benefit from exchange rates that are more favorable than what is offered at local exchange offices, airports or other ports of entry.

The currency exchange service is also offered to Spanish-speaking and bilingual customers on the Wells Fargo Spanish Services center at www.wellsfargo.com. As peso currency exchange sales have shown a history of increasing before the holidays, Wells Fargo's Foreign Exchange Services in Spanish make it easier for Mexico-bound travelers to exchange and have money in hand before traveling. In addition, money transfers to Mexico through Wells Fargo's highly recognized InterCuenta Express(R) also spike before the holidays.

"The new Foreign Exchange Services allow international travelers to exchange currency anytime, anywhere," said Tracey Warson, executive vice president, Wells Fargo Foreign Exchange Services Group. "The service alleviates the need to wait in lines to change money or search for the most favorable exchange rate. Now customers can buy currency when it's convenient for them, and it will arrive at their door in time for their holiday travel."

Wells Fargo does not charge users a fee to purchase foreign currency or travelers cheques on ForeignExchangeServices.com. Users are only charged a $12 overnight delivery fee to have the currency delivered to their homes. Shipments are sent within the continental United States via FedEx(R) once the order is processed. Customers that place orders online will receive an e-mail confirmation once the order has shipped. Wells Fargo customers can pay for purchases through their Wells Fargo checking account, and non-Wells Fargo customers can pay for the currency with a Visa(R) or MasterCard(R).

"Wells Fargo is pleased to offer international travelers a highly convenient and competitive solution to foreign currency exchange in time for their holiday travel," said Gregg Napoli, senior vice president, Foreign Exchange Services Group. "Wells Fargo exchange rates are updated frequently and set to be highly competitive with other currency exchange alternatives available to international travelers, emphasizing a value for money approach. By ordering foreign currency or travelers cheques before leaving the country, customers will benefit from having local currency in-hand for immediate expenses, such as taxis, tips and meals."

Currency can be ordered for any of the following 14 regions: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Euro area (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain), Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand. Travelers cheques are offered for the Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro dollar, Japanese yen and the Swiss franc. The new online channel provides customers with the ability to access cash and checks, and calculator features, and is open to the Internet community, extending the service to both Wells Fargo customers and non-Wells Fargo customers.

Wells Fargo offers a multi-channel approach for customers to take care of their foreign exchange transactions either on the phone, in person or on the Internet. Customers can access the service online at www.wellsfargo.com. The service is also available in multiple Wells Fargo branches or by telephone at 1-800-678-4653. Bank branches can accept orders and specific International Teller Sites have foreign currency cash and cheques on-hand. Customers can call 1-800-626-9430 for the nearest international teller site.

Wells Fargo's Spanish Services is an online service for Spanish-speaking and bilingual customers available on wellsfargo.com. Spanish-speaking, bilingual customers and non-customers now have 24/7 access to information and education resources regarding Wells Fargo's products, locations, programs and service. In addition, Spanish Services extends Wells Fargo's consumer products and services online such as credit card, home mortgage, online banking and bill pay services, as well as a full array of business services, including loans and lines of credit, deposits, payroll, merchant, retirement and online banking.