Wells Fargo’s long history of serving Spanish-speaking customers

Since the 1800s, Wells Fargo has offered in-language services and hired Spanish-speaking employees.

Featured photo caption: Wells Fargo guidebook in Spanish (left). Wells Fargo office in Cuba (right). Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

When Wells Fargo opened for business in California in 1852, Spanish-speaking families lived in every city and town. Some had lived in California for generations as citizens of the Spanish Empire — and later the Republic of Mexico — before California became part of the United States in 1850. Additional Spanish-speaking people arrived from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, and other Latin American countries as the discovery of gold in 1848 became international news.

To meet the demands of its customers, Wells Fargo offered in-language services and hired Spanish-speaking employees. As Wells Fargo’s network of express offices grew, it began offering additional Spanish-language services to customers elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world.

Reads: El Espreso saldrá el Viérnes, Enero 5 de 1855. Especie Bultos Cartas se recibirán hasta las 11 de la mañana, y se espacharán para todos los puntos de California, Oregon, y los Estados Atlanticos. Libranzas sobre San Francisco pagaderas a la vista. Image link will enlarge image. — Wells Fargo’s first known Spanish-language ad ran in newspapers in 1855. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

A white and red Wells Fargo & Company check is dated 1862. It is written to Josefa Cienfuegos for $50. Image link will enlarge image. — In 1853, Josefa Cienfuegos came to Sacramento, California, from Guerrero, Mexico. She quickly became a community leader — raising money for the volunteer fire department, sending supplies to Union soldiers during the Civil War, and supporting Mexican forces during a French invasion. When Cienfuegos needed to move money, she turned to Wells Fargo. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

A receipt from Wells Fargo & Co’s Express is filled out, showing it’s from C. Castro for gold valued at $50. A stamp on it is dated Oct. 31, 1887. Image link will enlarge image. — Crisanto Castro moved to San Jose, California, as a teenager in 1841. He later inherited a prosperous ranch and became one of the leading citizens of the area. He donated part of his land to build public schools. When he needed to move money, he turned to Wells Fargo. This receipt shows a shipment of $50 in gold sent to a relative in Los Angeles. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

A black and white photo of a man posing in a suit and with a cane. Image link will enlarge image. — As a member of one of San Diego’s oldest Mexican-American families, José Guadalupe Estudillo was a native Spanish speaker. Around 1870, he started offering in-language services to customers as the Wells Fargo agent in town. He also served as county treasurer from 1864 to 1875 and California state treasurer from 1875 to 1880. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

Black-and-white image of Gen. Mariano Vallejo wearing a suit and sitting in a chair. It is next to a handwritten letter in Spanish from 1872. Image link will enlarge image. — Gen. Mariano Vallejo earned his title while leading Mexico’s forces in Northern California. When California became part of the U.S., he served on the committee to create the state’s constitution. As a rancher and businessman, he used Wells Fargo to move money. In this letter sent while traveling, he asks his son to send money by Wells Fargo. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

An aged postal card shows on one side it is to J. Chaves in Belen. The other side shows a date of June 1882, the charges, and agent’s signature. Image link will enlarge image. — This postcard notified Jose Felipe Chaves that Wells Fargo had a package for him at its office in Belen, New Mexico. Chaves operated a successful mercantile business in Belen, earning him the nickname “El Millonario.” Merchants like Chaves depended on Wells Fargo to securely receive money and packages from distant business partners. Photo Credit: Wells Fargo Corporate Archives.

Letter says: We wish to ascertain who of our employees, agents, clerks, messengers, drivers, porters, etc., speak and write the SPANISH LANGUAGE. Please fill out the blank below, adding any further information that may be deemed desirable. Image link will enlarge image. — In 1882, Wells Fargo General Superintendent John Valentine circulated this notice to all the company’s offices to recruit Spanish-speaking employees. Photo Credit: Arizona Historical Society.

Connecting Spanish-speaking communities

Spanish-speaking customers in America depended on Wells Fargo’s worldwide network of banking and express offices when sending letters to distant relatives or business partners. In 1860, Wells Fargo opened its first office in Mexico in the port town of Guaymas. By the turn of the century, Wells Fargo operated more than 300 offices in Mexico with additional locations in El Salvador, Cuba, and Panama.