Wells Fargo introduced a CD tied to gold prices.

Wells Fargo is believed to be the first California bank to offer a deposit account tied to the performance of an external market. Chase Manhattan of New York, challenging the line between banks and securities firms, earlier this year introduced a certificate of deposit tied to the stock market. Under Wells Fargo’s Gold Market Certificate, investors will receive a certain percentage of the gain in the price of gold in six months, in exchange for an upfront fee. If the price of gold falls, the full principal in the CD is still returned to the investor.