January 2009 Archives

Ann Marie Quinn

Wells Fargo and Wachovia have joined together — you know that. So we here at the Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog thought it'd be kind of nice to spotlight some of the many cities from coast to coast where all of our team members will continue to work with and help you! Last week Matt gave you his own personal "tour" of his town — and home base of Wachovia — Charlotte, North Carolina. Today, I get to share mine!

I'll start with a question: What do you think of when you hear San Francisco? If I had to guess, I'd probably say the Golden Gate Bridge , Alcatraz , Fisherman's Wharf, Victorian architecture , cable cars, the Giants , the 49ers , the gold rush ...or maybe even Rice-a-Roni. 

I could take you to all those places, or you could visit the San Francisco Tourism Bureau , or this could happen....

Last night at the dinner table, my 14-year old daughter asked me how my day was. I replied, "Great!" (It was!) But, I said, I needed to write a post introducing all of you to San Francisco. I mentioned I was thinking about sharing some of the more "hidden attractions" rather than the "postcard attractions." She immediately grabbed a pen and paper to record our ideas, and my son (11 years old) proceeded to reenact any of the attractions he could — that's just how they think. Meanwhile, my husband (no age need be cited) wanted me to mention all the great restaurants in the city, but that list would be endless.

So now you know our dinner table. Here then, are some of those lesser known places my family thought you shouldn't miss! Follow along...

Matt Wadley

It's a question many of you are asking, but as my new boss, John, has said many times, the integration of our two companies will not be calendar driven – instead it's about taking the time to get it right for you, our customer.

And as much as we'd love to just flip a switch and instantly give you access at any of our combined 6,000-plus branches, it's not nearly that simple. In fact, there's a myriad of complexities involved in keeping your accounts up and running that must be identified, evaluated and planned around. Only after the planning phase is completed can we start executing system integration and changes, all while working to ensure that the conversion is not disruptive to you and the services you use every day.

Now, if that doesn't make your head spin a little, here's some more insight into how complex it is for my colleagues to turn two large companies into one: your accounts at either Wells Fargo or Wachovia are tied to each company's respective infrastructure and data centers. The account features and services that you use every day (like online banking, account overdraft protection and mobile banking) are based on what each of these independent bank technologies can support.

Prior to our merger, these massively complex systems didn't know the other one existed — now they're like step brothers , and we have to make sure they play nice.

Now, I know (I know!), we're starting to sound like a broken record, telling you over and over that, for now, we're just not ready to offer you the ability to conduct business in a Wells Fargo store or Wachovia financial center where you don't have your account. But hopefully now that you've got a better idea of what's going on behind the scenes around here, it all makes a little more sense.

And down the road, if any of this integration work results in an impact or change to your account, you'll receive specific details well in advance of any conversion activity. And if any of these communications include actions that need to be taken, you will have plenty of time to complete them.

So in the meantime, continue to check back with Ann Marie and me for important updates, keep visiting the Wells Fargo or Wachovia branches where you have your account...and don't forget that you can already withdraw cash at any of our 12,000 combined ATMs without any fees. (I'll spare you the details of how complex that was to get done!)

Matt Wadley

During the coming months, the integration of Wachovia and Wells Fargo may be seen and used by online crooks as an opportunity to create fraudulent communications. By taking advantage of current business and economic changes, these scammers may trick unsuspecting consumers into sharing confidential information, like online account credentials and Social Security numbers.

Being alert and spotting a fraudulent e-mail, commonly called "phish"  is a first step to protecting yourself from these types of scams.

What Should I Do If I Think I've Been Scammed?

Think about it this way: Back in the days of stagecoaches , gold rushes and the general pie-o-neerin' of America, one of the most advanced forms of fraud was currency counterfeiting. With the right tools and talents, an enterprising thief could print off a stack of "funny money" to be used in place of real dollars. It was such a successful scam that counterfeiting money was even used as a means of warfare  during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Now fast-forward a hundred years, and the revolution of online commerce allows thieves to easily and effectively counterfeit a company's communications, including their branding, logos, and overall appearance. So instead of printing fake money, con artists can now replicate e-mails and create fraudulent websites designed solely to collect and steal your confidential information. Once they get it, they can use your info to steal your money or transfer it into another account...

Marianne Babal

We pride ourselves on the diversity of our team members who make up Wells Fargo, but that diversity also reaches back through time to our customers as well. And since today is Chinese New Year's, we thought we'd share with you a little about our commitment to and history with the Chinese and Chinese-American communities throughout the years!

The Chinese community in California was among Wells Fargo's earliest and most loyal customers. In fact, when Wells Fargo started in 1852, they were already in the state and a dependable clientele.

California's Chinese residents (some 10%  of the State's population in the 19th century)  worked in the mines , on the railroads , and in agriculture.  Others were merchants. All of them needed financial services. Wells Fargo was happy to serve, and their business was integral to the company's early success. In the 1860s, Wells Fargo employed Tam Tong, a Chinese interpreter, in its San Francisco head office to serve its Chinese-speaking banking customers. Additionally, three special messengers in its Letter Express Department delivered mail in Chinatown. 

Chinese-Americans  were a significant portion of the business in Wells Fargo offices in smaller towns too, such as Folsom, California , where a quarter of money transactions involved Chinese customers. In 1875, when Chinese publisher Wong Sam produced an English-Chinese Phrase Book to facilitate communication, he included a list of Wells Fargo offices.

In 1873, 1878, and 1882, Wells Fargo produced bilingual merchant directories to facilitate commerce with and within the Chinese community. These directories listed 675 Chinese-owned businesses in San Francisco, plus hundreds more in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Portland, and other West Coast cities. Merchant butchers, cigar makers, druggists, grocers, restauranteurs, tinsmiths, and laundry owners were all valued customers — or potential customers — of Wells Fargo.

Our long-standing relationship with the Chinese community means Wells Fargo participates every year in San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade , the largest celebration of its kind outside Asia. On February 7, 2009 the parade will celebrate the Year of the Ox , and includes a float featuring Wells Fargo's stagecoach among 100 marching units, plus a 200-foot long Golden Dragon that requires 100 men and women to carry it over the parade route, accompanied by crackles of over 600,000 firecrackers and the cheers of a half-million spectators.

People born in the Year of the Ox (which include President Barack Obama) are calm, dependable and honest. The Ox represents success through fortitude and hard work. Maybe the Ox will help us pull through the challenging weeks and months ahead!

I'd like to thank my colleague, Charles Riggs, whose earlier blog post on Guided by History supplied some of the statistics on the 19th century Chinese community mentioned here.

Matt Wadley

Charlotte, North Carolina: The "Queen City," America's second-largest banking center, and home to everyone from Billy Graham  to Ric Flair.  It's truly a city that's got a little of everything...except the ocean. But the other day when I told a friend that I was working on a blog post about Charlotte — you know, to help customers from other parts of the country get to know a little more about Wachovia's home base — he was adamant that I not perpetuate the perception that Charlotte is a "NASCAR  city."

While I agree there's much more to the Charlotte experience than watching speeding cars circle a racetrack, how can I tell you about Charlotte and ignore NASCAR? All I have to do is look out my office window to see the construction site for its new Hall of Fame. Or what about every spring when Tryon Street in uptown (don't dare call it "downtown") Charlotte becomes Speed Street?  I mean, when 11 out of Charlotte Magazine's 51 Reasons We Love Charlotte  have a NASCAR connection, I think we can safely surmise that it's ingrained in the city's fabric.

But it certainly doesn't define the city.

Really, for me, the construction of the new NASCAR Hall of Fame  is less about an obsession with racing and more reflective of growth that has exploded in "new" Charlotte...

Ann Marie Quinn

Wow, what a week it's been for us all!

Monday we paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King , celebrating  his birth and many achievements.  And on Tuesday — Inauguration Day  — my daughter took her first ever high school final exams, and she was thrilled. Really!

Why? Because her first final wasn't until 10:20am, so she was able to watch the swearing in of our 44th President, Barack Obama. And hear his speech! 

At 14 years old, I think this was the first Presidential election and Inauguration  she fully understood and will remember: from selecting the candidates, to voting for them, to swearing in our new President.

Sure, I suppose she could have studied a little more for her exams...but I'll cut her some slack this time. After all, it was truly history in the making! 

In sticking to that theme, it's a privilege for me introduce you now to Selma Fox, who served as director of Women and Minority Owned Businesses at Wachovia. In this video, she expresses her feelings about the significance of the week's events and the importance of both Wells Fargo's and Wachovia's commitment to diversity. Enjoy!

Marianne Babal

Wells Fargo and Wachovia have merged, and each brings to the combined team a rich history, and a proud name.

So how exactly did Wells Fargo become "Wells Fargo" and Wachovia "Wachovia"?

Wachovia is a Latin form of the German word Wachau, a name attached to part of North Carolina's Piedmont region by the Moravians who settled there in the mid-1700s. The green hills and pastures of the Piedmont reminded them of their benefactor, Count Zinzendorf, as well as their ancestral lands  along the Danube River  in Austria known as Der Wachau.

The name Wachovia came into common use in the Winston-Salem region, and was used by other businesses before Wachovia National Bank claimed it at its founding in 1879.

And yes, there really were a Wells and a Fargo. Henry Wells and William George Fargo founded Wells, Fargo & Company in 1852. Wells, born in Vermont in 1808, apprenticed as a shoemaker before finding his calling in the express business — carrying money and valuable packages and freight between New York, Buffalo and St. Louis. The enterprising Wells prided himself on his company's dependability and dedication to fulfilling customer needs.

"There was one very powerful business rule" said Wells, "it is concentrated in the word courtesy."

Wells and William Fargo met in 1841, soon after Fargo became a freight agent for the Auburn & Syracuse Railroad at Auburn, NY. The industrious young Fargo attracted the attention of Henry Wells, who at the time was well into his career in the express business with Pomeroy & Co.

Wells hired Fargo as a messenger transporting valuables between Albany & Buffalo, and in 1845 made him a partner in Wells & Company. Wells and Fargo teamed up on several business ventures, including the American Express Company in 1850, before founding Wells, Fargo & Company together in 1852.

Despite all his business success, Henry Wells considered his greatest accomplishment the founding of Wells College for women in Aurora, New York in 1868. Wells College  today still educates young women...and men too.

William Fargo invested in railroads and other enterprises, and as a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad was honored by having the town of Fargo, North Dakota  named for him in 1872. Fargo also served two terms as mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1861-1865.

So that's where we come from — we're excited to see where we go together from here!

Ann Marie Quinn

I'd like to introduce you to my friend Michelle Scales. Michelle is our Director of Diverse Segments. She's been part of Wells Fargo since 2000 and a 20 year veteran of the financial services industry. Michelle is a native of Pakistan  and has lived all over the world before coming to the United States in 1986. And we're so glad she did! When she's not working, Michelle is an advanced scuba diver — she's dived the Red Sea , and if that's not exciting enough, she's made some shark dives too. (Yikes!) — AMQ

Today's popular culture loves things that are the biggest, best and loudest. If that's the case, I think we're in for quite a week!

This is by no means a political post, but more of a reflection on how I, as an immigrant to this country, and Wells Fargo value the power of diversity. I see it everyday in our customer mix and employee base, as well as our commitment — in financial and human resources — to serving all populations across the country.

Tomorrow, our nation (and much of the world) will witness the marvel of a truly historical event: our country's first African-American president is going to be sworn into office.  This event will stand out as one of the biggest moments not only for African Americans, but for people of all backgrounds who want to see the promise of this country come to life. It's an opportunity to take a serious look at what it means to be "American," as well as a statement that anything is achievable in this country.

If you look at Wells Fargo's Vision and Values statement, there is a section on diversity. This is not just a "nice to have" corporate program — no, it's a reflection of how we work. We have open channels for our diverse customers to tell us how we can better meet their needs. And it's not just a business imperative to drive revenue, but a real belief that all people — no matter their race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, gender, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status — can have access to the resources they need to fulfill their financial goals.

That is what we are all about.

As we combine with Wachovia, a company that also has diversity woven into its DNA, we truly are excited to serve even more communities and populations, each with their unique needs and interests.

The fact that this week's Presidential Inauguration  overlaps with our celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King  doesn't feel like a coincidence. It feels more like a wonderful opportunity to recognize how far we have come, while still realizing there's always more to be done.

Matt Wadley

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blogging for an important update.

OK, so it's really still just me, but I wanted to make sure I had your attention. First off, can you believe that we're almost done with our second week as the new Wells Fargo?!? It's been a whirlwind around here, with lots of folks talking about the blog and lots of you commenting too. Your engagement has been incredible! I actually heard from one of my new Wells Fargo colleagues that the Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog has received more comments in the first two days than our other blogs sometimes get in a month.

Have You Noticed?

Take that, Stagecoach Island!

To say the least, we're thrilled that you're taking the time to share your thoughts and questions. But, with our day jobs and all, it's been a bit of a challenge for Ann Marie and me to keep up with all your inquiries. (Apparently, "I'm blogging right now" isn't a good enough excuse to skip a meeting. Who knew?)

Also, while you're asking a lot of great questions, the answers for some of them just don't exist yet since we're so early in the integration process.

As I mentioned last week, the simplest advice we can offer you right now is to continue to go about your usual business with either Wachovia or Wells Fargo, based on where you have your account. In the coming months, you'll get specific communications here, at your local branch and in the mail regarding any changes to your accounts or other services...

Marianne Babal

On the surface, it would seem that San Francisco and Charlotte may have little in common. But dig just a little deeper and you'll find that they share one very important thing: both cities owe their beginnings, early prosperity, and growth to gold. And although the gold discovery by James Marshall  in California on January 24, 1848 may be more well-known, the precious metal was also discovered and mined in North Carolina (and later Georgia) a half-century before Marshall's find.

In 1799, twelve-year-old Conrad Reed  picked up a seventeen-pound gold nugget in a creek in Cabarrus County, North Carolina , and took it home where the family reportedly used it as a doorstop for three years. I'm sure it made a fine doorstop. But when the nugget's true value was revealed, people began looking for and finding more gold.

At the time, Charlotte was merely a small village. In 1825, one miner found that gold extended into quartz veins below ground too, and the North Carolina mining rush was on.  Many mines were developed around Charlotte, which grew into a supply hub for the mining industry and financial services center.

Out West in 1848, San Francisco was a sleepy port  of less than 1,000 residents located in a distant territory recently ceded by Mexico to the U.S. As news of the California gold discovery spread around the world, gold fever induced hundreds of thousands of fortune seekers to head to California. By 1852, the first year the federal government took a census in the new state (everyone had been too busy digging for gold in 1850 to bother counting heads), San Francisco had grown into a city of 34,000.

It was that growth and promise of future fortune that inspired Henry Wells and William Fargo to open the doors of their new banking and express business, Wells Fargo & Co., in San Francisco July 13, 1852.

Much has been made of the fact that there was very little footprint overlap in the Wells Fargo and Wachovia's retail franchises — signs for Wells Fargo and Wachovia's banking stores hung in competition in only a few states. In fact, a number of the "Wachovia states"  were places where Wells Fargo did business as an express company or bank a century ago...

Ann Marie Quinn

Here are some more links to add to last week’s Media Chatter post.

The San Francisco Chronicle article, in particular, is an interview with Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, where he answers some of the questions that may be on your mind.

• The Customer Collective  — Friday, January 2, 2009
• The Financial Brand  — Tuesday, January 6, 2009
• "For Immediate Release" podcast  — Thursday, January 8, 2009
• San Francisco Chronicle  — Sunday, January 11, 2009

Ann Marie Quinn

Today I'm proud to announce Wells Fargo and Wachovia have launched a new advertising campaign! It's really one of the best ways we can reach out to you — our customers, communities, community leaders and employees — to let you know how excited we are to join together.

In print, on radio and on TV, you'll find simple messages (developed jointly by both Wells Fargo and Wachovia), which explain some of the advantages of our new combined company. One team, twice as strong is a message that will be heard consistently throughout the campaign.

We thought it'd be nice to share the new TV spot (called "Shadows") with you here on the blog. If you're an "American Idol"  fan like me, you'll see it air during the January 13 premiere. If you're a "Lost"  fan (there are a lot of you out there), check out the spot on January 21. Or, watch it right here!

Below is a list of other shows and channels that will be running the spot as well – tune in, keep your eyes peeled, and enjoy!

• Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
• House (Fox)
• Extreme Home Makeover (ABC)
• Today Show (NBC)
• Good Morning America (ABC)
• El Fuego en la Sangre (Univision)
• Sábado Gigante (Univision)
• National Geographic (cable)
• USA Network (cable)
• Discovery Channel (cable)

Matt Wadley

Wow, what a first week it's been — lots of excitement brewing out there about the potential for the new Wells Fargo! And lots of comments from so many of you on our posts! From many of the responses we've gotten, it seems there's still some confusion out there about exactly what has changed to your accounts with either Wells Fargo Bank or Wachovia Bank.

And for now, the answer is: "Nothing."

While we are now one parent company as far as the legal types are concerned, right now we're still operating as two separate banks, and the work of integrating our two companies is just beginning. This transition will likely come in stages — we're carefully and deliberately working to transition the banks with as little disruption as possible!

One thing you can be sure of is that you'll receive direct communication from us with specific information as to how the integration may specifically affect your accounts.

So for today and the near future, it's really "business as usual" for you. Just keep using your same checks and check card, continue visiting your same local branch and your same favorite teller, and keep using your same online services and credentials. Remember, too, that you can enjoy the convenience of over 12,000 ATMs! Oh, and if you're about to run out of checks, go ahead and order more.

Once we get everything synched up, you can "bank" ¹ on us bloggin' about it right here!

See you next week!

¹ Editor's note: That was a horrible pun by Matt. Apologies to all of you for that one.

Ann Marie Quinn

Well, it's been just over a week since Wells Fargo and Wachovia officially joined together on December 31. It's also been about as long since we launched the Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog. We really hope that it's been a good resource for you so far — stay tuned, there's definitely more information to come!

There has also been some significant media coverage about the integration of our companies as well as the blog, so we thought it'd be nice to post links to a few of those articles for you to read, if you like:

• Social Media Today  — Friday, January 2, 2009
• Web Strategist  — Monday, January 5, 2009
• The Charlotte Observer  — Monday, January 5, 2009
• Winston-Salem Journal  — Tuesday, January 6, 2009
• Venture  — Tuesday, January 6, 2009
• The Financial Services Club  — Tuesday, January 6, 2009
• The Darton Equation  — Tuesday, January 6, 2009
• N2Growth  — Tuesday, January 6, 2009
• All About B2B  — Tuesday, January 8, 2009
• Visible Banking  — Thursday, January 8, 2009
• Bank Systems & Technology  — Thursday, January 8, 2009
• The Charlotte Observer  — Thursday, January 8, 2009
• PR Week  — Thursday, January 8, 2009

Ann Marie Quinn

I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Marianne Babal. Marianne is a corporate historian here at Wells Fargo — and has been for the past 12 years! Before climbing aboard the stagecoach, she worked for the National Park Service and as a consultant in preservation and cultural resource projects. She also serves on the board of her hometown historical society in Mill Valley, and loves to ride her bike up in the hills of Marin County, California. As a regular contributor to our award-winning historical blog, Guided By History, Marianne is pretty good at this blog thing. Today she is going to tell you about the 157-year history of Wells Fargo. (Yes, 157 years – that’s older than you and me combined!) —AMQ

When I tell fellow team members about my job at Wells Fargo, the follow-up comment I usually get is: "You have the best job in the bank!" Generally I have to agree, because what other bank can claim in its history topics as exciting as the stagecoach, Pony Express, gold, treasure boxes and the notorious robber Black Bart? 

And the best part of Wells Fargo's 156-year history is that it is all genuine and documented in our Corporate Archives, going back to our first day of business in 1852. We collect and preserve the history of not only Wells Fargo, but the history of all of our merger partners and their merger partners and their merger partners — well, you get the idea.

Here in Historical Services, we like to think that just about everyone knows the classic Concord stagecoach as the corporate symbol of Wells Fargo.

But what do the Transcontinental Railroad , Pony Express, Black Bart, and champion boxer Gentleman Jim Corbett  have to do with Wells Fargo?

They are all part of Wells Fargo's history, dating back to its founding in 1852 during the California Gold Rush. 

Wells Fargo's stagecoaches helped bridge the gap between unfinished tracks of the Transcontinental Railroad until a golden spike completed the tracks at Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869. Wells Fargo also operated the western half of the famous Central Overland Pony Express from April to October 1861, as swift riders carried mail between Missouri and California in ten days time. Stagecoach robber Black Bart managed to rob Wells Fargo's treasure boxes 28 times, confounding company detectives from 1875 until his capture in 1883. And young James J. Corbett honed his boxing skills after finishing his day job as a clerk at the Nevada Bank, a Wells Fargo merger partner in 1905.

Wachovia has its own deep and amazing history of pioneering — they helped revive and remake the banking industry in the Southeast. Transportation improvements and industry moved into the Piedmont Region , and with it came a need for local banks and bankers. In 1879, William A. Lemly packed up and moved his banking business from Salem, North Carolina, to nearby Winston, opening the doors of Wachovia National Bank in 1879.

It's been a long time since both Wells Fargo and Wachovia started out. We are excited and honored that from here on out we'll be making new history together!

Matt Wadley

Now that Wachovia is officially part of Wells Fargo, one of the first changes you'll experience is how much easier it is to access your account. Why? Because you now have access to over 12,000 combined ATMs all over the country that you can use to withdraw cash without incurring any access fees!

Do you realize that if you stacked our 12,000 ATMS on top of one another, it would reach from here to the moon?!? Honestly, I just made that up. But 12,000 ATMs, now that's a lot of locations! (And that doesn't even count the ATMs in our educational online world, Stagecoach Island!)

Seriously, if you used a different ATM every day, it would take you over 32 years to get to each one! For every calorie Michael Phelps consumes  each day, we've got an ATM for you!

Maybe the best thing about having so many ATMs at your disposal is the convenience. Think about it: 24/7 you now have 12,000 locations to make a withdrawal and check your account balance – and you won't pay any access fees!

One important thing you should keep in mind: There are still a lot of whos-its and whats-its that need to get synched up between our two companies. So for now, if you need any in-branch services or additional ATM functionalities – like making deposits and fund transfers – remember to keep going to the financial centers where you have your account and the ATMs you've always used! You still have full access there.

Otherwise, if you're a current Wells Fargo customer, stop in and use a Wachovia ATM  whenever you like. And if you're a Wachovia customer, feel free to use any Wells Fargo ATM, anytime.

Ann Marie Quinn

Now that we've turned the page from 2008 to 2009, it's a brand new beginning for all of us. That's right, it's a new year and a new company! There are going to be some changes coming down the road, and Matt and I will be with you along the way. So in an effort to help you get to know us even better, we thought it would be nice to share our personal thoughts about everything that is and will be happening with you.

What are you most excited about with the combination of Wells Fargo and Wachovia?

Ann Marie: One aspect of the integration I am most excited about is what we'll learn from one another. Both companies have employees who are dedicated to our customers and customer service — I can only begin to imagine the possibilities! It's fun to look at our expansion eastward...WOW, we'll be all over the place! Over 12,000 ATM's in 39 states to be exact. And of course, it gives my kids one more reason we should go to Disney World! 

Matthew: For me, it's seeing Wachovia become a part of such a strong, stable company. Prior to the announcement of the merger, we employees felt we were a really good company, but it seemed like every time you saw a story about Wachovia, the tone was often somewhat negative. When I look at the other options for what could have happened, it really becomes apparent how fortunate we are to be together with Wells Fargo. It's like we can "see clearly now, the rain has gone." ¹ 

What have you seen from each organization that you are looking forward to integrating into the combined company?

AMQ: It has to be teamwork and working together with like-minded people. The new team we've got is amazing, with so many similarities already — it's like we were destined to join forces. The people I have met at Wachovia feel the same way we do about so many things — everyone is all about rolling up their sleeves and getting going. We all clearly value what we bring to the table, both individually and collectively. And there's a shared passion from both our companies about focusing on our customers and communities!

MW: To be honest, the more I learn about Wells Fargo, the more I think even an online dating service couldn't have done a better job in matching up our two companies. Most people who know Wachovia (customers and employees) will tell you that we are a company that's extremely people-focused — hey, we've been ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction for 7 straight years! What's even better is that Wells Fargo really mirrors Wachovia in valuing its customers and communities too. It's win-win for everyone.

Integrating two large banks is going to take time. What will customers notice in the coming weeks and months?

AMQ: It will take some time, and customers have to be wondering about how this will affect their interactions with us. That's why Matt and I are here — to try to help them through the process by blogging about and looking into whatever they may notice. It may sound like a cliché, but it's really true: When you put the customer at the center of everything you do, like both companies do already, we'll naturally continue our focus on delivering outstanding customer service. Bottom line is we care, and it will show.

MW: Well, probably the first thing customers will see change is access to ATMs. As Ann Marie mentioned, combined, Wachovia and Wells Fargo have 12,000 ATMs that customers of either company can now use without incurring any access fees. (More on this tomorrow.) Other than that, it really is business as usual for our customers — they should keep using their check card, keep visiting their local financial center and, in general, just keep on keepin' on. As additional aspects of the integration come together, customers should feel confident that we will communicate with them well in advance.

What are you most anxious about?

AMQ: I think having unknowns is good — it speaks to the fact that we're open to listening and learning from one another, and building an even better and stronger company than we were individually. I might be more anxious if it was years ago and I hadn't gone through other company integrations. But I've lived through both the work and the success at the end. And when we think "big picture," it's going to be one very, very terrific company!

MW: One word: Change. More specifically, how Wachovia customers will react to the change of becoming Wells Fargo customers. For some, it will probably have little to no impact — if the teller still says "I can help the next customer," and their check card still works, they'll be happy. But for others, there is a unique attachment to the Wachovia brand: the familiarity and the history. Hopefully those customers will see that, once it's all said and done, we have leveraged the best of both companies, and that the great things they remember about Wachovia still exist within the new Wells Fargo.

¹ Copyright 1972, Johnny Nash

Matt Wadley

Greetings and salutations. I'm Matt Wadley, and I'm a member of Wachovia's Corporate Communications department. I'm a lifetime "East Coaster," born in New York, raised in Connecticut, educated in Virginia, and currently headquartered in North Carolina.

I did, however, spend a few months during college in California, where, ironically enough, I had a Wells Fargo checking account. But I don't think that's why I got this sweet blogging gig.

See, my passion has always been for the written word, though I do enjoy the spoken and sung versions from time to time. And I'm really excited to have the chance to engage with you about the merger of two of America's best financial companies.

But let me back up just a minute. Now I know some of you may see "Corporate Communications" and think: "Puh-leeze! Blogs are supposed to be about informal conversation, not just another channel for company press releases!"

Well, I couldn't agree more.

First and foremost, this blog is about you.  It's about getting you the information you need to stay informed about how this integration will affect you, and it's about giving you an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts.

Another goal for all of us here is to help all of us get to know each other a little better. Whether you're a current Wachovia or Wells Fargo customer, in a way, we're like The Brady Bunch  — two families joining together (minus Alice the live-in maid). But, hey, you've got Ann Marie and me, your very own live-in bloggers instead!

Sorry, we don't do laundry.

Depending on how long you've been a customer of Wachovia or Wells Fargo, you may have been through this whole merger thing before. But this is my first as an employee and as a customer. And to be honest, while I'm certainly excited about all the amazing things our combined company can offer, I can relate to how many of you might be feeling about it all too.

But worry not — there are a bunch of Wells Fargo and Wachovia team members in your communities all over the U.S. ready to help make sure the transition goes smoothly!

In the meantime, Ann Marie and I definitely hope you'll stop back by on a regular basis to engage with us and stay informed!

Ann Marie Quinn

Hello everyone! My name is Ann Marie Quinn, and I have been with Wells Fargo since 1989. Yes, this is my 20th Anniversary year! I have a design degree from UC Davis  that led me here to work on the Wells Fargo brand. Today, I am part of Enterprise Marketing, managing Communications.

Another thing you should know about me: I'm a total blog newbie. I'm sure there is a special term for that in blogland – maybe I'll learn it as I earn my blog wings!

So it's a new year, and for all of us, a big celebration: one great company! Pretty exciting stuff.

My 20 years here have been the best. (Yes, I started when I was 10. And don't let Matt's youthful glow fool you, I hear he's a whiz at Photoshop. ) There have been many changes in my career here. What an exciting time it was when we joined with Norwest. Many of us were anxious and didn't know what the integration of two already terrific companies would be like. Still, despite all the work we had in front of us, we never lost focus on what really mattered: our customers.

Well, I'm here to say it's good to be old and have gone through it before. Why? Because there is nothing but "even better" on the other side!

I've made a lot of new friends along the way too. And together, all the people I work with turn our company into a real community. Over and over, I experience employees helping one another, making our company better and striving to make sure you, our customers, are financially successful.

We recently asked our employees: "How do you work for the customer?" A deluge of stories came in, all talking about how they work for you, regardless of what job they hold.

Imagine all of our combined Wells Fargo and Wachovia team members doing this – watch out! I can hardly wait to see what terrific things we'll do together!

I'm also excited that I will be helping make this time of transition easier for you, and introducing you to many of our employees. They are an informative, energetic and fun group who are eager to learn more about you too. So please don't be shy – be sure to comment, ask questions, and let us know how we're doing!

John Stumpf

Hello! I'm John Stumpf, president and CEO of Wells Fargo & Company. On behalf of our 276,000 team members, welcome to the Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog.

In my 26 years with the company, I've been involved in more than 100 mergers. With each one, it's natural for our customers to feel both excitement and some uncertainty at the same time. But you can be certain that as we combine our two companies we'll start every decision with what's best for you, our customers.

Blending cultures, combining businesses, products and systems, and changing names will take time — two to three years — because we want to do it right for you.

One way we'll keep you updated on what's happening with the integration of Wachovia and Wells Fargo is through this blog. Here we'll share news and information, and you can "join the conversation" and let us know along the way how we're doing and what we can do better to make the transition as smooth as possible.

So, as we integrate our two companies, it's business as usual for you. We hope to see you back here from time to time for updates and discussion along the way. When you return, you'll be guided by our two lead bloggers: Matt Wadley from Wachovia and Ann Marie Quinn from Wells Fargo.

We're one team, twice as strong and committed to make the ride as smooth as possible for everyone on the stagecoach.

Thank you!

John Stumpf