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?
We’ve enhanced the right sidebar with more contact information. So now, whenever you come back to visit our Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog, you not only get to hang with us, but you’ve also got a lot more of the new Wells Fargo at your fingertips too!
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...
But there are a couple of specific topics that several readers have posted questions about that we just aren't able to provide answers for through this blog. Fortunately, there are Wells Fargo and Wachovia team members ready to get you the answers you need.
- Shareholder-related questions
Many readers have asked about how to find out more about their Wachovia and/or Wells Fargo stock holdings. It's a topic that we feel is best deferred to the experts in our Investor Relations departments, so here are links to their respective pages. We think you'll find the answers you're looking for as well as other useful information there:Wachovia Investor Relations
Wells Fargo Investor Relations - Account-specific questions
Similarly, we've had a lot of customers asking very specific questions about their personal accounts with either Wells Fargo or Wachovia. Again, this is a topic that we think our great colleagues — who are much more trained on the topic and, more importantly, who can access your account information — are the best resources. Contact details and a wealth of other information can be found at the following sites:
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Wells Fargo Personal Banking
Wachovia Mortgage
Wachovia Personal Finance
Hope that helps clarify a few things! We really hope that our blog posts are continuing to provide you with a unique level of insight into the early stages of integrating our two companies.
And now back to the show....
Matt,
Wachovia uses your credit card line amount (credit available) rather than amount owed to satisfy the balalnce requirements to quaify for service charge waivers. This is very convenient for customers! Wells Fargo, on the other hand, uses the amount owed. Please advocate for the Wachovia method to reign in the combined company! Thanks!
Please advocate for the combined company to keep the Crown Banking packages and Way2Save program! These are the best products that any bank in the U.S. has to offer its customers!
Why does Wells Fargo refer to its banking locations as a 'store' rather than a branch or financial center? Ridiculous. Calling it a 'store' totally devalues the customer's banking relationship.
I am going to wait three months and see....then if the insitutions are not merged I don't want any part of this...thanks..
How can i forward a letter I received that i think is a fraud to Wellsfargo customer relations?
Hi Matt.
Great blog here that I really enjoy reading.
I am having a problem setting up a new Wells Fargo PMA account. When I called to find out why my application was denied, the said it was because I have an existing home equity line of credit and for security purposes I may only open this type of account in person at a branch. Of course, I live in PA and there are no Wells Fargo branches yet in PA or anywhere near here. I understand the Wells commitment to customer security but why are you making it so difficult to send more business your way. I wasn't even given an alternative option. It should not be hard for Wells to identify me since I already have a home mortgage and HELOC with them. To say I am frustrated with this situation would be an understatement. Any idea when they may lift this security issue so that I may get an account setup?
@Peter, If you've received a communication that you think is possibly fraudulent, you can take it to a nearby Wells Fargo store to check its authenticity. You can also call the Wells Fargo Fraud Prevention team at 1-888-867-5568. Whatever you do, do not act on the content of the letter until you feel certain it is legit.
I like the notion of Wells Fargo - Wachovia checking in on us, your client base. I'd love some conversation about re-negotiation of current loans rather than re-financing. There was a time when re-negotiation was a mainstay, now, it seems, few WF-W associates have ever heard of the practice.
Regards.
@Bill Brady - Glad you're enjoying our posts. As far as this issue you outlined, I can really only recommend contacting Wells via their 800# and learning exactly what is preventing you from being approved.
I hope this is the place for these comments...I am a Wells Fargo customer and saw an AP news story that came out an hour ago: Bailed-out Wells Fargo plans Vegas casino junkets
I read through the article, and it sounds like only 40 people are going vs. the 1,000 they talked about from previous years in a way that made it sound as if you were sending 1,000 this year...dunno, it's hard to figure out, maybe you are sending 1,000 people to Vegas. What I found really disturbing was what Wells Fargo spokeswoman Melissa Murray said, "Recognition events are still part of our culture."
I'll give you what I think is a perfect analogy. Our 19-year old son decided to put off college for a year to save more money toward his college fund (that now has 40% less value than when he made that decision). In November, he was made a part-time employee vs. full-time. My husband and I provide him rent-free housing, a cell phone, health insurance, and food. This month he was unable to pay his car loan or car insurance, so we paid that, too.
Finally, I got a look at his checking account statement and realized he was eating at restaurants almost every day, downloading iTunes, putting gas in his car every other day (1x per week is enough to get to work), and the list goes on. He's doing things that his parents can't afford to do because WE are supporting him financially. It annoyed us when he left the lights and TV on in empty rooms. The restaurant and gas bills sent us through the roof. We feel totally disrespected and used.
Wells Fargo is now the 19-year old living at home. The taxpayers of America / Federal government are now the 19-year old's parents.
Can you REALLY not understand why the parents get upset when the teenager lives beyond the parents' means??
I realize these junkets and bonuses and so forth and so on are part of your culture. So is iTunes for our 19-year old. It doesn't make it right that it continues. Please. Stop. Have your meetings at Wells Fargo facilities. At least TRY to scale back the lavishness. We can't afford to send our son to college, much less on a Vegas vacation. Have some empathy for your customers as well as the American tax payers. If this story is bogus, PLEASE submit a rebuttal! We do all of our banking at Wells Fargo, and we want you to succeed, but not while we're getting sand kicked in our face.