BEIJING, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A Wells Fargo ( WFC )

banker, Chenyue Mao, who had been barred from leaving China for

several months, has been allowed to return to the United States

following negotiations between U.S. and Chinese officials,

according to two people with knowledge of the case.

Mao, who works in Wells Fargo's ( WFC ) international factoring

business, was prevented from leaving China due to her

involvement in a criminal case, China's Foreign Ministry said in

July. The ministry said Mao had been required to cooperate with

an investigation.

Wells Fargo ( WFC ), the White House and the U.S. State Department,

as well as China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond

to Reuters requests for comment.

Mao did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Her exit ban had revived fears that employees of foreign

firms risk entanglement with Chinese authorities, a tactic

Beijing has a tendency to reach for when tensions are running

high with trading partners, business groups and diplomats say.

The Washington Post first reported that Mao had left the

country.

Mao has been with Wells Fargo ( WFC ) for over a decade, according

to her LinkedIn profile.