Reichardt received his BA degree in economics from the University of Southern California in 1956.

[2] In his banking career he joined Wells Fargo in 1970,[3] rising to the post of president in 1978.

[4][5] He was president of Wells Fargo & Company from 1978 to 1983 and then chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors until the end of 1994.

In January 1983 he succeeded Richard P. Cooley as chairman and chief executive officer of Wells Fargo.

[citation needed] In 1989, Reichardt received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.