It Takes 20 Years to Build a Reputation and Five Minutes to Ruin It

The Wells Fargo Lesson: When Growth Turns Toxic

For years, Wells Fargo was one of America’s most admired financial institutions. Its name stood for stability, discipline, and customer trust. But in 2016, the bank faced a massive scandal: employees, pressured by unrealistic sales targets, had created millions of fake customer accounts to meet quotas.

The damage was immediate. Beyond the $3 billion in fines and penalties, Wells Fargo lost something even more valuable — credibility. Customers closed their accounts, employees left, and investors questioned leadership ethics. The brand that had taken more than a century to build was suddenly synonymous with corporate misconduct.

OneLogin: A Breach of Digital Trust

In 2017, OneLogin, a leading identity and access management provider, suffered a major data breach that exposed sensitive customer data. Ironically, the company’s core mission was to protect digital identities. Although they reacted quickly and communicated openly, the incident struck at the heart of what their clients had trusted them to do: keep access secure.

Even in the fast-moving tech world, where customers are often forgiving, the breach served as a reminder that reputation is not just about technology — it’s about reliability and responsibility.

The Takeaway

Reputation is built when companies do the right thing — especially when no one is watching. AI, automation, and digital tools can help detect risks faster, but ethics and transparency remain human choices.

In today’s hyperconnected world, news spreads in seconds. A single poor decision, a security lapse, or a lack of accountability can undo decades of good work.

So perhaps Buffett’s advice deserves an update: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation, five minutes to lose it — and a lifetime to rebuild it.”