The Wells Fargo - Wachovia Blog

We’re ready: a Colorado reminder

2009-11-07T01:00:15Z

This weekend Wells Fargo and Wachovia are combining banking operations in Colorado — 19 Wachovia stores in Colorado will convert and re-open as Wells Fargo stores on Monday morning!

That's right, come Monday Wells Fargo and Wachovia customers will be able to bank at any Wells Fargo banking store in Colorado. This conversion is the only one for 2009, but come the first quarter of 2010, Arizona, Illinois and Nevada will be converting, too.

Now, should any of our Wachovia Colorado customers have any questions about your accounts during the weekend, you can continue to call 1-800-WACHOVIA (1-800-922-4684). Beginning Monday, November 9, please call Wells Fargo Phone Bank at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557).

Oh, and Colorado customers, we look forward to hearing about how the conversion went for you. Please tell us!

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

One Door, Two Stores

2009-10-29T00:30:00Z

Together, Wells Fargo and Wachovia have more than 6,600 banking stores in 39 states and the District of Columbia, but none quite like the one at E. Bell Road in Phoenix.

Since July 20, the Wachovia banking location there has doubled as a separate Wells Fargo banking store as well — with two distinct signs, teller lines, computer systems, vaults, managers and teams serving customers of both banks through the same set of doors.

"The unique arrangement came about when a grocery store closed, and its in-house Wells Fargo banking store team moved across the street into the Wachovia building. Both teams will continue to serve Wells Fargo and Wachovia customers separately until Arizona's stores and systems are converted.

Lisa Riley, Metro West Regional Banking president in Phoenix, notes that the first-of-its-kind combination was a much better option for customers and the company than opening a new Wells Fargo location for only a few months. While walking into a store with a Wachovia sign on one side of the building and a Wells Fargo sign on the other may seem unusual, she says the teams have worked well together and separately to put customers first and meet their financial needs.

"The results have been strong," Riley reports. "Both teams have outstanding service scores."

Brittany Fixler, an 11-year Wells Fargo veteran who became manager of the E. Bell Road location last summer, explains why the unique store is a hit with customers.

"It's been working very well because we've found that most of our Wachovia customers have Wells Fargo accounts," she says. "So, having both stores in the same location is very convenient for our customers."

Some of the customer comments she's gotten are:

"Now that I know both banks are here, this makes it much more convenient."
"I can now withdraw from my Wells Fargo account and pay my mortgage at Wachovia in the same building."
"Convenience at Wells, service at Wachovia...a great combination!"

Fixler also points out that the experience has helped knit the two teams into one and already allowed them to begin combining the best of both companies. "It's going to be exciting to bring together the legacy of service at Wachovia and the systems and culture of Wells Fargo," she says.

So be sure to look for more of this kind of great teamwork as we complete our first state, Colorado, next week — as well as in the Wachovia banking locations in Nevada and Arizona, which will follow next!

Because as Fixler concludes, "As our experience here has shown, when we mix the two, it’s going to be wonderful."

How about you? Do you have any stories about our teams have helped you? Please let us know!

Wells Fargo Banks. Members FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

Phoenix, Arizona: This "Baby City" Is All Grown Up

2009-10-16T22:45:08Z

It's been a while, but today we bring you the next installment in our series on cities where Wells Fargo and Wachovia have significant histories! Today we turn to the Southwest, and Phoenix, Arizona — a city with loads to offer. And your guide is a woman who knows all about it: Connie Whalen is the Curator at Wells Fargo's Phoenix History Museum. She's been with Wells Fargo for 26 years, and continues to design and build wonderful historical exhibits. Not only that, she's been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Phoenix Museum of History for 5 years and was elected President in March of 2005. Take it away, Connie!

Thanks, Molly! Well, so far on our Wells Fargo and Wachovia cities tours, we've stopped in Charlotte, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Winston-Salem. Now it's my turn to "show you around" my city: Phoenix, Arizona, the state's largest city and capitol!

Founded in 1868, Phoenix eventually became a major hub for transportation, finance, industry, and culture in the Southwestern U.S. I've lived in this great city since I was 2 years old and I love it here. And I know Wells Fargo is proud to have played a role in helping make Phoenix the thriving metropolis that it is today.

For many, many years we've heard that Phoenix is just a "baby city" with no art and culture. But we've grown up quite a bit in the last 100 years (I haven't been here for all of it!), and as for history, well, both Phoenix and Wells Fargo have very rich ones here.

In 1895 the Commercial Hotel, which was located on the corners of Central and Jefferson, was an important stage stop in Phoenix. With a Wells Fargo Office located inside, stagecoach travelers were able to utilize modern conveniences on their long trips.

Today, just two blocks from the site of the Commercial Hotel is the Wells Fargo Plaza in downtown Phoenix. Located on the first level of the building facing Adams Street is the Wells Fargo History Museum. Helping to design and build this museum together was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life: I was able to blend two of my favorite things, Phoenix and Wells Fargo. Now I get to show visitors great artifacts and tell some great stories! And every year we see hundreds of children learning about Arizona history and the migration west....

]]> Speaking of museums, you won't be disappointed with a trip to the Heard Museum , which displays an amazing collection of Native American crafts and traditions. (I took field trips here as a kid!) Other wonderful places to visit include The Phoenix Art Museum, which was expanded last year and often has traveling exhibits on display; and Heritage Square, home to the Arizona Science Center , the Rosson House , and Pizzeria Bianco , which has been called the "Best Pizza in America."

Another exciting addition to Phoenix is the new Valley Metro Light Rail, which makes accessing all of these attractions easy and fun. (See my short video above.)

Today, downtown Phoenix consists of a unique blend of cultural, sporting, and entertainment choices. Do you like sports? My family and I got to go to the Arizona Diamondbacks' very first Opening Day at Chase Field (known then as "The BOB") back on March 31, 1998. Now I know some cities have had a ballpark and team for over 100 years, so it's probably hard for them to see the big deal in this. But trust me, it was...and everyone in Phoenix was there! Of course, if basketball is more your thing, you can catch the Phoenix Suns right next door at the U.S. Airways Center.

If you prefer a night at the theater, there are several venues to choose from — I think my favorite might be the Orpheum Theater , located right next door to the Wells Fargo Complex. Today the Orpheum is one of Phoenix's treasures — but it didn't always look like a gem.

Since it first opened in 1929, the Orpheum has morphed several times over the years, having been used as everything from a vaudeville stage to a movie theater (when everything inside was painted black). During the most recent renovation , all the black paint was removed, revealing the amazing Spanish Baroque décor with gilded arches and fresco paintings underneath. The Orpheum's grand re-opening in 1997 was a particularly special night for me: Not only did I get to see Carol Channing perform "Hello Dolly," but just two days earlier I'd arranged for Wells Fargo to donate some wonderful art and antiques that are still on display today. Wow, it's hard to believe that was eleven years ago!

On that note, I think I'll bring my tour of Phoenix to an end — I hope you enjoyed it! Of course, there are certainly many worthy cities and towns across the country to feature here on the blog, so if you have a particular one you'd like to see, please drop us a line and let us know.

And as always, stay tuned for more merger news!

Different Store, Same Service

2009-10-12T21:15:07Z

While the Wachovia sign at her banking store in Texas hasn't changed yet, Pam Birkholz already has experienced the spirit of "One team, twice as strong."

While on vacation in Denver, the treasurer at KMG Chemicals, Inc. in Houston — a Wachovia customer — had a problem. Her laptop malfunctioned, seemingly leaving her with no way to make critical wire payments.

Unable to find a Wachovia financial center on her GPS device, she walked into Wells Fargo's downtown Denver store on 17th and Broadway. Personal Banker James Savelsberg greeted Birkholz with a smile and handshake, and then quickly set her up to use one of the store's computers.

"He put my fears to rest and set me up at a computer right away so that I could take care of the business at hand," wrote Birkholz to Wells Fargo about Savelsberg. "It is bankers like this who keep my faith in the banking community especially in today's times, but more importantly, he made the lines between Wachovia and Wells seamless."

Now back home in Houston, Birholz says Savelsberg's service makes her even more excited about the merger and its opportunities and even more convinced that Wells Fargo will continue Wachovia's tradition of excellent service.

"When I walked in, I remember telling James that I was a Wachovia customer and he gave me the same great service I've come to expect here from Wachovia in Texas," she said. "I walked out of there very happy indeed and looking forward to our transition to Wells Fargo."

For Savelsberg, a five-year Wells Fargo veteran, meeting Birkholz was another opportunity to practice his philosophy of "right-now" customer service and to put a face on the merger.

"It was a great opportunity to play a part in the merger's success," he said. "We get Wachovia customers in the store regularly, and have gotten accustomed to helping them and knowing where the Wachovia banking offices are located. The merger is a big opportunity for us, putting us in the national market and giving us the opportunity to show we're customer-oriented."

New Details about the New Way2Save

2009-10-08T22:00:48Z

When we announced on the blog in June that Wells Fargo will continue to offer Way2Save, the post received dozens of comments from readers expressing their pleasure with the news and even offering advice on how to make the product better.

As a Way2Save account holder myself, I echoed your sentiment and admittedly breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I'd still have access to such an effortless way to grow my savings account.

We also told you back then that we were working out the details, but that we'd be sure to share more. Well, we've been busy holding focus groups and listening to you, our customers. And from those discussions we've made some decisions about the new Way2Save account.

But before I get to the details, please note that NOTHING will change with your current Way2Save account until the Wachovia branches in your state convert to the Wells Fargo brand. Also, when your home state does convert, your Way2Save account and all automatic transfers you've setup will convert to the new Wells Fargo Way2Save. Plus, you'll automatically be enrolled and eligible to receive the first-year premium interest rate and savings bonus on one Way2Save account (based on your tax identification number).

But I'm getting a little ahead of myself....

]]> Wells Fargo's Way2Save

With the new and improved version of Way2Save, you'll notice more automatic savings options including monthly and daily automatic transfers and the Save As You Go^SM option! It transfers $1 from your checking account to your Way2Save account for each Check Card purchase (signature or PIN), online bill payment or automatic payment (ACH) you make. You'll also notice there's no longer a limit on the monthly automatic transfers made to your Way2Save account.

We also heard you loud and clear when you said you wanted to be able to make deposits into your Way2Save account whenever you wanted. Well, we're making that happen! Our new Way2Save account allows you to make deposits into your account in a store, at the ATM, or through an online banking transfer. Now, when you have money left over from that vacation or you receive money back at tax time, you can put it right into your Way2Save account!

In short, you get to pick the savings methods that work best for you!

Additionally, if you sign up for an automatic savings option (automatic transfers or Save As You Go), you may be eligible to receive a higher annual percentage yield (APY) and a one-time anniversary bonus on the money you've successfully saved through these options. Take a look at this (pdf) to find out all the details. (Sorry about the pdf file, but we knew you wouldn't want to see all the legally required disclosures on this blog. For our current Way2Save customers, this is a bit of a change, but we believe it's a great interest rate and a great incentive to help you get in the habit of saving!)

Way2Save: Making Its Way to Minnesota and Washington

With Colorado converting in November, the new Wells Fargo Way2Save account will be available to customers in the Centennial State at that time. But in preparation for the Colorado conversion, we're offering our new Way2Save account in two of our legacy-Wells Fargo states: Minnesota and Washington.

We like to try things out, listen to our customers, and make sure we're delivering the best banking experience. We hope that if you live in Minnesota or Washington you will think about visiting one of our Wells Fargo stores to learn more and maybe sign up to be one of our first Wells Fargo Way2Save customers!

We're really excited about these changes, and we hope you are too. And as we get ready to offer the Wells Fargo Way2Save account to even more customers across the country, we'll definitely keep you posted when we have more details to share.

In the meantime, keep those comments and questions coming. We can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Wells Fargo Banks. Members FDIC.

Leadership Q&A Series: Martin Davis, Head of Technology Integration

2009-10-06T20:50:40Z

We know that you're anxious or eager for updates about how the integration is going. We've heard you ask about timing, products and services. And we know you're anxious to learn how your personal accounts will be impacted when your state converts.

While we continue to seek out and blog about answers for your questions as they're available, we were recently able to get a few minutes with former Wachovia Chief Information Officer Martin Davis, who is now head of the Technology Integration for the merger.

MW: Hi Martin, thanks for taking the time to give our readers a little insight into all that is going on with the IT integration.
Martin Davis: Glad to do it!

MW: So is the work you're overseeing similar to anything you've experienced?
MD: Well, I actually moved to Charlotte in 2001 to help oversee the Wachovia/First Union merger. It was a huge undertaking.

MW: How has that experience prepared you to oversee this one?
MD: Well, I'd like to emphasize first that even though I might be overseeing these integration efforts, it's really and truly a team effort. Everyone in Technology Leadership is working together to make this possible!

But to your question, certainly no two mergers and acquisitions are ever alike. But the strategy behind them is always consistent. We seek out the best of the platforms that already exist, analyze all of them and find out which ones have the best scalability. That was a top priority during the Wachovia and First Union merger. We didn't want our customers to ever not be able to complete a transaction — or even to notice that there was a merger going on.

MW: So you have the experience, but when you took over your current role managing the IT integration of Wachovia and Wells Fargo, how huge did the job look?
MD: It was big. Between our two companies, there were more than 4,000 different systems being used. Just for e-payments, we had to decide on hundreds of systems. But there was no pressure to stick with either platform. We analyzed both systems to determine which would serve our customers better in terms of the company's go-forward business model....

]]> MW: Can you give our readers some real-life examples?
MD: Of course! For mortgage lending, we found Wells Fargo's to be superior for scalability. At the time of the merger, we had huge needs to fill the demands created by the refinancing boom. We added 10,000 employees just to handle those orders. The Wells Fargo platforms were superior in handling that demand and conducting secure transactions, so we zeroed in on those. But, when it came to the retail brokerage side of the business, we liked what we had with Wachovia's systems, and that its systems were better equipped to help us compete.

MW: What have been some of the most challenging aspects of attempting to integrate so many systems?
MD: With anything like this acquisition, you're bringing disparate teams together and trying to get them all to be on the same page. However, with IT departments, every member has his or her own preferences regarding the systems they're using. There's nothing wrong with that! They helped develop those systems, are working with them every day and take a lot of pride in them. Our challenge was to get the teams to focus on the prize, which means evaluating which solutions satisfy the go-forward business model and then moving in that direction. Which systems allow us to serve our customers in order to be the best financial institution coast to coast? That's what we tried to get them to determine.

MW: Can you offer our readers another example of how that has played out?
MD: Sure. Let's talk about online banking. The online banking platform was found to be superior on the Wells Fargo side. Wells Fargo's customers constantly said how easy it was to use and how intuitive the interface was. So that's what we went with. At the end of the day, it's about the customer, and the customer wants convenience. The fortunate thing is that both Wells Fargo and Wachovia have constantly been among the highest-rated financial institutions when it comes to customer satisfaction. When you bring together two companies with such similar cultures in this respect, it makes it easier to bring the network systems together.

MW: Now the big question: When do you think you'll be finished?
MD: Well, as you know we're really driving this integration by what's best for our customers, not the calendar. So we expect some conversions will continue throughout 2011, though we're not going to rush anything to meet that time frame. There are multiple stages, all of which require analysis, planning, testing and execution. There's constant code-testing that needs to be completed for every stage, and there are a big number of systems out there that need this.

There's no magic cookbook for a major integration. Every project is different and requires different approaches and analyses. And there's a human component, too. We don't break everything down into technology terms because it's really about the people using the technology and the customers served by it.

MW: Thanks again, Martin. Undoubtedly you are busy man, but I think you've given our readers a really unique insight into what is going on behind the scenes with the merger!
MD: My pleasure!

If You’re Playing Along at Home: A Conversion Timing Update

2009-10-02T16:00:57Z

As we get closer to the November 7 Colorado conversion, we're starting to get a clearer picture on the timing for other conversions. And while we don't have exact dates yet, we do know the approximate timeframe during which stores in these regions will convert, and wanted to let you know!

Of course, keep in mind we're taking a customer-driven, not calendar-driven approach to the integration. But now without further ado:

During 2010, we expect to convert banking stores in the states where Wells Fargo and Wachovia overlap: Nevada, Arizona, Illinois, California, Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. (Those are in the order we expect to convert.)

Near the end of 2010, we'll begin converting the non-overlapping states: Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., South Carolina, and North Carolina. (Again, listed in the order we expect to convert.)

We plan to complete conversions of banking stores and all major merger integration substantially by the end of 2011, though some back office completion tasks may continue into 2012. Oh, and a final note: By the end of 2009, we expect to convert the mortgage servicing platform and our payroll system.

That's it for now, but please keep your questions and comments coming!

A Wachovia and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Integration Update

2009-10-01T16:40:00Z

Starting this week, we're converting a number of Wachovia mortgage accounts to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. The first set of accounts will be converted Thursday, October 1, and another set of accounts converts Friday, October 16.

When your loan converts, there will be a brief period when you'll be unable to view your account online — either at Wachovia Online Banking or at Wells Fargo Online®. For those of you with loans converting in October, here's what you need to know:

The Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Welcome Center is a great resource for anyone with questions about the conversion process in general.
If your mortgage is converting to Wells Fargo on October 1, you should have already received a letter from us. Starting October 5, you can sign up for Wells Fargo Online on our Online Mortgage Access page, and begin managing your mortgage online.
If your mortgage is converting on October 16, you should receive your letter approximately ten days prior to that conversion date. Until you receive the letter, it's still business as usual, but beginning October 20, you can sign up for Wells Fargo Online to start managing your mortgage online. For steps that can help you to smooth your conversion from Wachovia to Wells Fargo, refer to these mortgage conversion checklists.

Lastly, not every Wachovia mortgage loan is converting to Wells Fargo! Until you receive a letter that provides your conversion date, it's (you guessed it) business as usual. Keep those comments coming!

Leadership Q&A Series: Pat Callahan, Wells Fargo Merger Leader

2009-09-30T22:40:02Z

Well, it's been almost a year since the Wells Fargo and Wachovia merger was announced. In the months that have followed, teams from both banks have been working diligently behind the scenes to determine what systems and products would be used in the combined company — no small feat, to say the least!

The teams have also taken great strides to make sure there's been little to no impact on you, our customers, during this time. And now we're gearing up for the first market conversion in Colorado in November.

As you might imagine, the integration is being worked on by many teams across the company. But the person responsible for overseeing it all is Pat Callahan. Pat's been with Wells Fargo for more than 30 years and has served in various roles throughout the company, including working on the integration of previous mergers.

This time, she's working with Steve Boehm, who was a guest blogger here on an earlier post.

In any case, we know many of you've had specific questions and comments about the integration, like this one from Sharon Collins posted on July 28:

I live in a state that has Wells Fargo but no Wachovia and I have been a Wachovia customer for over a year now. I would like to know if or when I can make cash deposits into the local Wells Fargo bank and how long would it take to reach my wachovia account. I have direct deposit but I am still looking for the comfortablilty to be able to go into a branch and make my transactions.

Well, Sharon (and everyone), we're doing our best to address your questions! So I recently sat down with Pat to get her thoughts about the integration and to share some of your most frequent comments from the blog:

Ann Marie Quinn: Pat, thanks for taking the time to meet with us. We know you're very busy preparing for the first market conversion in Colorado and working on other conversion tasks.
Pat Callahan: My pleasure! I've been a big fan of the blog and appreciate the readers who are asking questions or leaving comments about their experiences during this time. I've read many comments and appreciate customers taking the time to let us know what they think and what questions they have for us.

AMQ: So, right off the bat, what has been done from a merger perspective in the last year that our customers would notice or want to know about?
PC: Well from what I've seen, many, if not all, announcements related to what customers can do between banks have been posted on the blog. This includes the ability for mortgage customers to make their payments at either a Wells Fargo or Wachovia location and no ATM fees for customers to use either bank's ATMs. We've also started offering some Wells Fargo products and services in Wachovia stores — such as Home Mortgages.

The naming and branding of Wells Fargo Advisors is also complete. However, there's still some significant work to do to combine the Wachovia Securities and Wells Fargo Advisors products and platforms....

]]> AMQ: Ok, we're getting comments from readers who want to know what's taking so long to combine the two banks. So, I'll use that as my next question.
PC: I have read some of those comments...and I know it seems like a long time! But from the inside if feels fast! This merger is extremely complex. When we're done putting Wells Fargo and Wachovia together, we'll serve one in three Americans, and we'll have more stores and more access points for our customers than any other company. On the back-end, we'll be on one platform across the entire country . Our customers use our systems in a very integrated way — stores, ATM, Phone Banking Centers and On-Line Banking are all very tightly linked, and changes are complicated and need to be very well-designed and tested.

When the merger decision was announced, John Stumpf wrote in his blog post and said in media interviews that "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.” I think his original timeline is on track. We will be substantially complete three years from the time we closed the merger, December 2011.

You know, if I could wave a magic wand and convert everything at once with no impact to our customers, I would. I know our team members would like that, too. Integrations are extremely labor intensive, and many thousands of team members are working very hard to get this done! Our number one priority is making sure our customers feel taken care of and aren't confused.

I know that customers want to be able to enjoy the full suite of products and the network of branches and ATMs that will ultimately be available to them! Unfortunately, we're still another two years away from fully completing this integration. The conversion isn't as easy as changing a sign or putting new logos on buildings, and frankly, those tasks aren't so easy either when you consider the huge quantity of signs in our combined network! The good news is customers can continue banking as they do today until their market converts.

AMQ: Well, you walked right into my next question, which has to do with market conversion. Can you let us know when additional states are converting? As you can imagine, that's another popular question on the blog.
PC: We do have a pretty good idea at this point of when markets will convert. The schedule isn't completely firm all the way to the end yet, however.

The reason we're not ready to publish that information is because there are a number of moving targets — some we can control and some we can't. I realize we could talk in generalities and say certain states will convert in a particular quarter or month, but there really is more work that needs to be done to nail down a more precise timetable. I don't think it would benefit anyone if we published something and ended up having to change it later.

What we are comfortable with is the Colorado will convert this November — our first store conversion! We picked Colorado because it's relatively small, and we can be absolutely sure everything is solid. (And we have great people in Colorado who will do a wonderful job with this as well!)

Then in 2010, we'll continue with the other overlapping markets: Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada and Texas. Toward the end of 2010, we'll begin the Eastern stores, although I don't want to say a specific state order because I think there's still a chance things will change. The Eastern states will continue through 2011, when things should be wrapped up. And we're going to limit the number of stores we convert in each event just to be sure equipment changes, facilities changes, team member training, and so forth can all be handled really well.

We're also starting a program to upgrade the Wachovia ATMs to the "envelope free" ATMs we use in most places at Wells Fargo. This change will be happening over the next year and will be pretty well complete by the end of 2010.

Again, our primary focus is ensuring all of our customers and team have the right information at the right time to prepare for conversion activities. In most cases, customers won't need to do a thing when it's time for their market to convert. If there are actions they need to take, we'll communicate them well in advance.

AMQ: Whew, a lot of information in there! So you've addressed markets converting, how about product conversions?
PC: Most products will likely convert when the markets convert, especially in the early state conversions. If there's a chance for products or services to convert sooner — like Mortgage has done — we'll do it. If you're in a product today that will be changing to something else, you will be notified well in advance that you have an option to move to a similar product or a different product.

AMQ: Well, Pat, thanks so much for your time today! Before we close, what are some things you want our readers to know?
PC: We know and understand that you want this conversion to go faster. We know you want an integration schedule. In fact, one of the blog readers, Ryan made it pretty clear when he wrote:

I've read in some newspaper articles that Wachovia branches on the East Coast won't be converted until late 2010 and "possibly not until 2011" because WF doesn't want to alienate customers. Customers will be alienated if you wait until 2011 to finish this thing. Get this train moving, put out a concrete schedule, and stick to it!

I totally understand where he's coming from. That said, our primary goal is to minimize the disruption for customer and team members before, during and after each conversion. This will require thorough work from everyone working on this merger to make that happen. It means we will do this merger integration in a way that works best for everybody. We have an opportunity to bring two great organizations together and we only have one chance to do it, so we want it to be done right!

AMQ: Pat, thank you so much again for your time and sharing this information with us today! I'm even more excited in my role as a blogger on this site now, knowing that we'll have some great news to communicate in the future as this merger integration progresses.

Colorado: Mark Your Calendars!

2009-09-29T21:30:30Z

After Ann Marie's post in June, many of you asked for more details about the 4th quarter conversion of our Colorado locations. Well, I'm happy to announce that the Colorado conversion is scheduled for the weekend of November 7th, 2009!

If you're a Colorado customer, be sure to let us know what you think of your new banking locations — we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Remember, after Colorado we'll be moving to convert other states where Wells Fargo and Wachovia overlap: Arizona, Nevada, California and Texas and Illinois. Keep checking back here for more specifics on the 2010 timing of these conversions.

As always, we appreciate all the questions and comments...keep them coming!

$95,000 Granted to Local Colorado Charities

2009-09-24T15:00:00Z

As avid blog readers, most of you probably know that Wachovia branches in Colorado will be the first to convert to the Wells Fargo brand in November, adding 19 more stores to an already impressive statewide network.

As part of our transition process, Wells Fargo last month sent a “What to Expect” mailing to Wachovia customers in Colorado that provided a general overview of the November integration and thanked them for their business.

The mailing also invited Colorado customers to help choose the charitable organizations that would receive a grant as a show of support and commitment to the communities we serve.

And nearly 13,500 Wachovia customers cast their ballot!

Based on that overwhelming response, we are excited to today announce grants totaling $95,000 to 10 Colorado charities.

The charities who will receive Wells Fargo grants are as follows:

American Cancer Society, Colorado Chapter - $25,000
American Heart Association, Colorado - $20,000
American Red Cross, Mile High Chapter - $15,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado - $5,000
Colorado Children's Campaign - $5,000
Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado - $5,000
Junior Achievement, Rocky Mountain Chapter - $5,000
Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation - $5,000
Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center - $5,000
University of Colorado - $5,000

Although the timing for integrating the five other states where our two companies overlap – Arizona, California, Nevada, Illinois and Texas – and for the east coast has not yet been announced, please continue to check here on the blog and review any communications you get in the mail for updates.

Hispanic Heritage Month

2009-09-16T22:00:46Z

With the official start to Hispanic Heritage Month this week, Wells Fargo and Wachovia team members will be canvassing communities around the country to celebrate and recognize this important event.

The celebration of the month , from September 15 through October 15, is a time to recognize all the significant contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States as well as to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture.

Why September 15? Because it's the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Wells Fargo and Wachovia have long and proud histories of serving Hispanic communities. Our heritage of more than 150 years includes services both for and by the Spanish-speaking settlers of the West and the Americas. Wells Fargo's people, places and business extended from the old ranchos of California, the rail lines of an emerging modern Mexico, and offices throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

As another way to celebrate, participating Wells Fargo and Wachovia stores are offering a free CD with the music of many popular Latino artists, including Enrique Iglesias , Cristian Castro , and Tito Nieves! If you're a Wells Fargo customer, just open a new Wells Fargo Checking Package®. Wachovia customers can open a checking account, along with services including a debit card, savings account and online banking — all of which can help your finances keep up with the changes in your life.

We're so excited to share in the pride of celebrating this month with our Latino customers and team members!

New Ads to Launch for Wells Fargo Advisors

2009-09-11T21:30:03Z

If you happen to be in front of the television this weekend — and considering that its opening Sunday for the NFL , maybe that's a given — keep an eye out for a new ad from Wells Fargo Advisors (WFA).

The commercial updates the "Shadows" ad you might have seen on TV shortly after the merger with Wachovia became final, and that we featured here on the blog as well.

In addition, print ads will begin running in national publications, such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on financial and lifestyle web sites, and in several popular magazines.

The ads continue to focus on how the combination of Wells and Wachovia creates a company that is even more qualified to satisfy customers' needs and help you succeed financially, while reinforcing that Wachovia Securities is now Wells Fargo Advisors.

Although we couldn't talk the WFA team into letting our blog readers vote on the new commercial this time, we were able to convince them to give you guys a sneak peek below. So check it out and let us know your thoughts.

Building Together

2009-09-08T17:15:11Z

Whether it's the Georgia Dome , Turner Field or the Atlanta Federal Reserve , David Moody's construction company has left its mark on some of Atlanta's most signature structures.

For the last 21 years, Wachovia has been the financial crane of C.D. Moody Construction Co. When you think about it, that's exactly what we're doing with the Wells Fargo-Wachovia merger: Combining the strengths of Wells Fargo and Wachovia as one company to meet financial needs and build dreams.

While the conversion in Georgia is still a ways off, Moody already is excited about the benefits. "My parents are retired and living in Las Vegas so Wells Fargo's locations in Nevada are going to make it easier for me to manage their finances from here in Atlanta," he says. "And Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is currently helping them refinance their home."

From Chicago's South Side , Moody grew up watching students of the city's technical colleges carrying drafting boards and T-squares to class. Curious, the 9-year-old asked what they were studying and learned they were would-be architects. Moody began constructing buildings of his own out of Legos and later wound up earning his own architectural degree.

With Wachovia's help, Moody launched his company in 1988 with a dream to change lives and the community. Today C.D. Moody Construction has 63 employees, annual revenues of $70 million, operations across the Southeast, and a foundation active in the arts, athletics, health care and education.

Wachovia recently helped Moody renovate and expand the company's headquarters in Lithonia, Georgia , just outside Atlanta, and — as part of its national commitment to lending in one of the nation's worst economic cycles — renewed his line of credit and preserved the company's access to capital as the market and construction industry remain under distress.

Moody knows Wachovia's merger with Wells Fargo made that happen and means an even brighter future for his company. And he credits Nakia Towns, the Wachovia Business Banker who he considers a true business partner and friend, for much of that success.

"As an African American business owner, what I look for in a partner is help getting to the next level — sharing all the knowledge you have in financing and banking that help me as a client," he states. "The big things for me are respect, access to capital, knowledge and exposure, and Nakia provides them all. That's why I recommend Wachovia and will recommend Wells Fargo to other local businesses.

"It's the spirit of the people who work here, the information they're willing to give you to make your business better and the company's diversity. In a very real sense, we're both builders. We're building together."

Integration Update: Combining Bank Charters

2009-09-04T15:00:50Z

Well, it's that time again: Time to announce some more merger-related news! And while it doesn't include physical changes to signs and branches, it does include the very important topic of combining bank charters.

What's a bank charter? Good question. A bank charter is a document issued by the Federal or state government that gives a bank the authority and regulatory approval to operate as a financial institution. National banks like Wells Fargo and Wachovia must have charter issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to run their banking businesses.

So what's the reason for combining them?

Well, combining bank charters is a key next step in integrating the banking businesses of Wells Fargo and Wachovia. With one charter we can provide banking customers more access and convenience as banking stores' systems are integrated over time. Eventually, our more than 20 million retail bank households will be able to do their banking in over 6,600 banking stores throughout 39 states and the District of Columbia. This will happen as the banking states convert beginning with Colorado in November and continuing throughout 2010 and 2011 in other states.

How will combining the charters affect how you do banking business with us?

It won't change how you do business with Wells Fargo or Wachovia. All of you should continue banking as you are today — just use the same bank accounts, credit cards, ATM/check cards and banking office. Any changes to these products will be communicated separately well in advance of any changes. You'll continue to see the Wachovia name in many places until those banking stores' systems are integrated with Wells Fargo.

As always, if you have any additional questions about how combining bank charters may affect you, please feel free to ask! In the meantime, here are some more Q&A's that should help....

]]> Q: So what's happening exactly?
A: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. applied to the OCC to merge the charters of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Bank of Delaware, N.A. effective on March 20, 2010. As a result, pending OCC approval and as of March 20, 2010, Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Bank Delaware, N.A. will be combined under one bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Q: Does this mean all conversions of banking stores, signage, and accounts will happen by March 20, 2010?
A: No. We'll convert banking stores throughout 2010 and into 2011. On March 20, 2010 all deposit accounts, loans and credit cards at Wells Fargo Bank, Wachovia Bank and Wachovia Bank of Delaware will be maintained in one charter: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Q: So will the Wachovia name go away as of March 20, 2010?
A: No. Even though Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Bank of Delaware, N.A will no longer be separately chartered banks as of March 20, 2010, Wells Fargo will own the rights to the "Wachovia" name and brand and can continue to use "Wachovia" when referring to existing Wachovia stores, accounts and products during the period before these stores are converted and fully integrated with Wells Fargo.

Q: How will customers like me be notified?
A: Public announcement will be made in 25 newspapers across the country with the application to the OCC. Customers with accounts in Wachovia Bank N.A. and Wachovia Bank of Delaware N.A. will be notified directly as we get closer to the time when the charters are combined.