Wells Fargo Cuts 86 Jobs at West Des Moines Campus
The company announced 86 position cuts at its Jordan Creek facility, marking the largest single layoff at the site since 2021.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Jobs — General
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Wells Fargo is set to lay off 86 employees at its Jordan Creek campus in West Des Moines on December 26, 2026. This move brings the total number of layoffs in the Des Moines metro area to 460 for the year.
Why it matters
The company is actively reducing its headcount as it adopts artificial intelligence to streamline operations and align staffing levels with current market conditions. This trend of workforce contraction has persisted through 113 rounds of layoffs across the metro region since early 2022.
Wells Fargo has conducted 16 rounds of layoffs in 2026, contributing to 1,975 total metro area job losses since April 2022. The bank currently ranks third in AI adoption among U.S. financial institutions.
The players
Wells Fargo
A multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco that is currently restructuring its U.S. operations.
The details
The bank has been consolidating its presence in the region, including the 2025 sale of its downtown Des Moines office complex and the transfer of remaining staff to the Jordan Creek location. Wells Fargo maintains that it processes these staff reductions through a combination of layoff rounds and natural employee attrition.
Timeline
April 2022 marked the start of metro layoffs data tracking.
Wells Fargo sold its downtown Des Moines office in 2025.
The current series of job cuts began in February 2026.
The layoff announcement was posted on the Iowa WARN website on Oct. 27, 2026.
Employees are scheduled to lose their jobs on Dec. 26, 2026.
Market Landscape
This move reflects the broader trend of major financial institutions leveraging the adoption of artificial intelligence in the U.S. banking sector to optimize operational efficiency. By streamlining its workforce, the company is attempting to maintain profitability while shifting resources away from traditional brick-and-mortar office footprints.
Local residents employed at the Jordan Creek facility face uncertainty as the bank continues its cycle of staff reductions. These ongoing corporate changes may lead to shifts in local professional opportunities as the firm reduces its physical office footprint in the Des Moines metro area.
The takeaway
The continued downsizing highlights how financial institutions are prioritizing digital infrastructure over traditional headcount as a means to increase efficiency. Workers in the regional banking sector may consider monitoring company-wide technological transitions as an indicator of potential staffing shifts.
What happens next
Affected employees are scheduled to depart the company on Dec. 26, 2026.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding local employment, visit the Jobs — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
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