1940's
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1940's
During World War II, Wells Fargo made more than fifteen million dollars in loans for national defense production. And in 1942, Wells Fargo Bank subscribed more than fifty billion dollars in defense bonds and selling war bonds and war stamps. Today, the bank still acts as an agent to sell U.S. Savings Bonds. The popular EE Series has recently changed its name to Liberty Bonds.
May 1942
DTen percent of Wells Fargo employees joined the war effort. Before the war, the percentage of male employees was seventy percent and the female percentage was thirty percent. Between 1942 and 1943, the percentage statistics flip-flopped where the women made up sixty percent of the workforce and men stood at a sad forty percent. Just from my experience at the bank, a teller is often associated with females. In my branch alone, the management is made up totally of women and there is a higher percentage of women than men. The early 20th century saw Wells Fargo as the symbol of the Wild West. Hollywood deserves the credit of bringing Wells Fargo to the limelight. For example there was the film called, "Wells Fargo" by director Frank Lloyd in 1937. The film starred Joel McCrea as a Wells Fargo expressman who found adventure, love and marriage on the western frontier. During the 50s and 60s, Wells Fargo was once again gained popularity with the advent of prime time television. Families often gathered around the television set to watch the very popular, "Tales of Wells Fargo"(1957-1962) starring Dale Robertson as agent Jim Hardie. Here he is pictured on the cover of TV Guide. Today, Wells Fargo thrives on the image of the Wild West, but as business matters go, they are very forward thinking, never forgetting their rich past. The baby boom of the 1950s affected the way Wells Fargo did business. A lot of American families owned homes and were raising families, thus had less time to do their banking. For their added convenience Wells Fargo introduced Bank by Mail for growing families. Bank by Mail is still used today, but by older generations, who were probably part of the young families of the 50s and 60s.
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