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Wells Fargo United States

RAROC profile and corporate credit pricing model derived from Pillar 3 disclosures.

Last updated: March 2026 · Data source: public Pillar 3 disclosures
Cost-to-income
61.0%
Operating efficiency
Effective tax rate
24.0%
Applied to RAROC numerator
Avg corporate PD
1.03%
Probability of default
Avg LGD unsecured
23.2%
Loss given default

How Wells Fargo prices corporate credit

Wells Fargo is a United States-based bank with approximately EUR 1.2tn of corporate credit exposure (EAD) under the A-IRB approach to credit risk capital. The numbers below come directly from Wells Fargo's most recent Pillar 3 CR6 regulatory filings and are used to model how this bank prices corporate credit facilities.

What makes Wells Fargo's book distinctive

Wells Fargo is mid-sized by corporate EAD (14 of 59). Its cost-to-income ratio of 61.0% is in line with the European large-bank average (+11.2pp vs the 59-bank cross-section average of 49.8%). The corporate portfolio is predominantly investment-grade, with an EAD-weighted average PD of 1.0% against a cross-bank average of 2.1%.

Because the bank runs the advanced IRB approach, its own LGD and credit-conversion models drive capital requirements, which on our comparable sample deal typically produces tighter minimum spreads than foundation-IRB peers with identical obligor risk. Unsecured LGD disclosed at 23.2% is -13.6pp against the 36.8% cross-bank average, indicating recovery assumptions that are more favourable than the peer median — often a feature of senior-unsecured lending to large investment-grade obligors.

On the standardised BBB+ EUR 25M 5-year term loan used across every bank profile, Wells Fargo lands in the top half of the pricing ranking (#17 of 59), with a RAROC of 7.67% and a minimum spread of 243bp to reach the 12% hurdle. Within United States specifically, the bank ranks #4 of 7 on this same calculation.

ParameterValueWhat it means
IRB approachA-IRBHow the bank computes risk-weighted assets
Cost-to-income ratio61.0%Operating cost share of net revenue
Effective tax rate24.0%Applied to RAROC numerator after EL and funding
Average corporate PD1.03%EAD-weighted probability of default
Avg LGD (unsecured)23.2%Loss share if borrower defaults, no collateral
Avg LGD (secured)15.0%Loss share with eligible collateral
Funding spread12bpBank's wholesale funding cost above risk-free
Corporate EADEUR 1.2tnTotal exposure at default to corporates

Sample RAROC calculation

On a representative BBB+ rated, 5-year term loan of EUR 25M at 150bp spread with a 20bp commitment fee, Wells Fargo would generate an estimated RAROC of 7.67% against a typical 12% bank hurdle rate. To hit that hurdle on this exact deal, the bank would need a minimum spread of 243bp. This deal is significantly below target — the bank would either reprice it or decline.

ComponentValue
Annual revenue (spread + fees)EUR 385,000
Operating costEUR 154,000
Expected loss (PD × LGD × EAD)EUR 28,750
Capital required (FPE)EUR 2,451,320
RAROC (after tax)7.67%
Min spread to hit 12% RAROC243bp

How Wells Fargo compares to peers

Out of 59 banks in the OpenRAROC dataset, Wells Fargo ranks #17 by RAROC on this sample deal.

RankBankCountryRAROCMin spread
1Qatar National BankQatar9.00%203bp
2DBS GroupSingapore8.18%224bp
3JP MorganUnited States8.12%231bp
4ICBCChina8.06%233bp
5China Construction BankChina8.06%233bp
16Bank of AmericaUnited States7.67%243bp
17Wells FargoUnited States7.67%243bp
18Credit MutuelFrance7.66%243bp
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Other United States banks

JP MorganBNY MellonBank of AmericaCitibankGoldman SachsMorgan Stanley

Compare Wells Fargo to peers

Wells Fargo vs Bank of AmericaWells Fargo vs JP MorganWells Fargo vs Citibank

Frequently asked questions about Wells Fargo

What is Wells Fargo's average corporate PD?
Wells Fargo discloses an EAD-weighted average corporate probability of default of 1.03% in its most recent Pillar 3 CR6 table, covering roughly EUR 1208bn of corporate credit exposure.
How much spread does Wells Fargo need on a BBB+ EUR 25M 5-year term loan?
On that standardised facility, Wells Fargo requires a minimum spread of approximately 243bp to reach a 12% RAROC hurdle, given its disclosed cost-to-income of 61.0%, effective tax rate of 24.0%, and A-IRB IRB designation.
Which IRB approach does Wells Fargo use for corporate credit?
Wells Fargo reports corporate credit RWA under the A-IRB approach. This determines whether internal LGD models or supervisory LGDs apply, and directly affects the capital required on each facility.
How does Wells Fargo rank versus peers on RAROC?
Out of 59 banks tracked by OpenRAROC, Wells Fargo ranks #17 on the standardised BBB+ term-loan calculation used across every bank profile. Within United States specifically, it ranks #4 of 7.
Where does OpenRAROC get Wells Fargo's data?
Every number on this page is extracted from Wells Fargo's own public filings: Wells Fargo Pillar 3 Q3 2025 (Sep 30, 2025) Table 5. No estimates, no proxies. Source confidence: high.

Data source

Wells Fargo Pillar 3 Q3 2025 (Sep 30, 2025) Table 5

Wholesale: EAD $1,208bn, PD 1.03%, LGD 23.24%. US Basel III. Commercial loans ~51% of EAD, ~77% of RWA.

Confidence: high · Read the full RAROC methodology

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