Published: March 11, 2010
Wells Fargo Customers Save 100,000 Trees Through Online Statements and Envelope-Free ATMssm
SAN FRANCISCO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) today said it exceeded a milestone of
saving more than 100,000 trees1 through its Online Statements
and Envelope-Free ATMs. In addition, it announced a $30,000 contribution
to the Arbor Day Foundation to support the planting of trees and honor
customers who have chosen to turn off their paper statements.
"Since 2006, Wells Fargo customers who have chosen to receive their
banking statements online have helped save more than 100,000 trees,"
said Stephanie Smith, senior vice president, Wells Fargo Internet
Services Group. "We're honoring that effort with our support of the
Arbor Day Foundation, an organization that shares our desire to help our
planet through the preservation of more trees."
Customers can access online statements for checking and savings
accounts, credit cards, mortgages, brokerage accounts, personal loans
and lines of credit, home equity loans and lines of credit, and student
loans. Through online only statements, customers stay organized and
secure online, and help the environment. Customers who receive their
statements online only receive email alerts letting them know when
statements are ready.
"Cutting paper use is a direct route to environmental and cost savings,"
said Rachel Hinchliffe of Environmental Defense Fund. "It conserves
natural resources, saves water and energy, and reduces greenhouse gas
emissions and solid waste."
The Wells Fargo ATM network complements the online offerings, with
receipt options and Envelope-Free ATMs.
By year-end 2009, Wells Fargo's Envelope-Free ATMs had processed more
than 100 million checks - which means 97 million fewer paper envelopes,
and the benefits of 550 tons of paper or 9,883 trees saved2.
"This is an important milestone for our commitment to both our customers
and the environment," said Jonathan Velline, senior vice president,
Wells Fargo ATM Banking.
Wells Fargo customers also can help protect the environment by using
products and services such as:
-
Receive and pay bills electronically through Wells Fargo Bill Pay.
-
Take advantage of full-spectrum online banking and bill pay products
that can help further eliminate paper waste.
-
Choose not to print a receipt at the ATM or at home computer.
-
Invest in companies with positive environmental track records.
-
Redeem Wells Fargo Rewardssm points for renewable energy
certificates or other greener rewards.
-
Use a Wells Fargo Home Equity Line of Credit to finance energy
efficient home improvements to an existing home.
-
Homebuyers can use the Purchase & Renovatesm Program to
make energy efficient upgrades because the loan is based on the home's
value after improvements are made, including savings from energy
saving upgrades.
-
Benefit from expertise in Wells Fargo's commercial banking Clean Tech
Group. Since 2006, Wells Fargo has provided more than $6 billion in
financing, including $1.85 billion in solar and wind project
investments.
Wells Fargo announced in 2009 a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas
emissions by 20 percent below 2008 levels by 2018.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with
$1.2 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments,
mortgage and consumer finance through more than 10,000 stores and 12,000
ATMs and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and
internationally. Wells Fargo ranks #1 among banks and insurance
companies - and #13 overall - in Newsweek magazine's 2009 Green Rankings
of the country's 500-largest companies.
1 Estimate based on Environmental Defense Fund Paper
Calculator: http://www.papercalculator.org.
2 Estimate based on Environmental Defense Fund Paper
Calculator: http://www.papercalculator.org.

For Wells Fargo & Company
Media
Andrea Mahoney,
415-222-4722
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