Wells Fargo has served and employed Latinos since its founding in 1852. Our heritage of more than 150 years includes services both for and by the Spanish-speaking settlers of the West and the Americas. Wells Fargo's people, places and business extended from the old ranchos of California, the rail lines of an emerging modern Mexico, and offices throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

Early Years

In Wells Fargo's early years, gold and much important business traveled by the side-wheel steamships that linked West and East via Panama. On the journey, the steamers stopped in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, where Wells Fargo agents served the growing Pacific Coast communities.

Latinos have been a critical part of the success of Wells Fargo since the very beginning. As customers, they transact business; as Team Members, they provide customer service.

Wells Fargo's Express network moved from East to Golden West via Panama. Steamships carried express from the Columbia River basin to Pacific points in Latin America. Overland stagecoaches rolled through territories that had been northernmost Mexico only a few years earlier.

Central America and the Carribbean

Throughout Wells Fargo offices in South America, El Salvador and Cuba, Wells Fargo safely and securely transferred money.

Cuba, 1919
Wells Fargo had regularly scheduled business with Cuba since the late 1800s via steamships. Wells Fargo also handled money orders and traveler’s checks for Cubans and tourists, while expanding steamship services to various destinations from the island.

Domestic express operations in the U.S. (including Wells Fargo) were nationalized in Word War I. Wells Fargo Express strengthened international relationships, including Cuban railroad companies, and began express services throughout Cuba from Havana to Santiago.