Wells Reports Record 2Q Profits

Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco, has reported record net income of $2.28 billion ($0.67 per share) for the second quarter, up from $2.09 billion ($0.61 per share) a year earlier.Wells Fargo's home mortgage business recorded originations totaling $80 billion in the second quarter, up from $68 billion in the first quarter but little changed from those of a year earlier. However, origination growth and higher net gains on origination/sale activities were offset by a net loss of $225 million related to the effect of higher interest rates on the valuation of mortgage servicing rights (net of hedging costs), the company said. "As a result of our responsible lending and risk management practices, we do not face many of the issues others do in the mortgage industry," said Mark Oman, senior executive vice president in the Wells Home and Consumer Finance Group. "First, we do not retain any credit interest in any prime and nonprime securitizations. Second, we do not originate any negative-amortizing mortgages, including option adjustable-rate mortgages. Finally, we do not portfolio any nonprime no-documentation mortgages or nonprime low-documentation mortgages." The company can be found online at http://www.wellsfargo.com.