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Wayne Thompson

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

Molly Murphy

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....

Wayne Thompson

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."

Molly Murphy

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!

Matt Wadley

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.

Wayne Thompson

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."

Ann Marie Quinn

One last thank you to everyone who voted on the poll for your favorite new Wells Fargo commercial! The final result sent a clear message about which ad you preferred! Okay, maybe it wasn't a landslide, but it was fun watching the numbers go back and forth between the two choices.

In any case, we just wanted to remind you that the winning ad, "With You When" will be airing at 8:00PM EST on tonight's all-new episode of Wipeout on ABC!  (And even more specifically, right around 8:49PM.) If you're around the tube, definitely tune in.

And stay tuned in right here for more merger information. There's more to come!

Ann Marie Quinn

First off, a big thanks to everyone who's voted in our first official poll, as well as to those of you who've commented! As always, we really appreciate your voice and feedback here on the blog.

We've been trying our best to get you product and integration timeline information as soon as it's available. Based on your voice in the poll results, you still want more. We want to assure you that we hear you loud and clear and that we're going to step up our efforts and do everything we can to bring you even more merger information as possible.

Thanks again to all of you!

In the meantime, we thought we'd take advantage of the new feature for a slightly more lighthearted poll. As part of the integration, we've recently unveiled a new series of TV commercials called "With You When." Perhaps you've seen some of them?

Well, we wanted to give you the opportunity "speak your mind" again and vote for one of these two ads. The winner will be featured during a specific primetime network TV show — we'll announce the where and when as soon as the results are in!

So take a look at "With You When" and "Owning a Home," decide which one is your favorite, and cast your vote. And stay tuned for further integration news!

UPDATE: Hey, thank you all so much for voting and for your great comments about the commercials! (We think the kids are cute, too.) The poll is now closed, and the winner is..."With You When"! Stay tuned for the date and time of the prime time TV show when we'll be airing it. And thanks again!

Matt Wadley

Last year, Wells Fargo and Wachovia team members combined to volunteer over 1.4 million hours of their time to help local organizations and communities! They also served on 16,000 nonprofit boards and raised a record $39.3 million during the Community Support/United Way campaign.

As separate companies, Wells Fargo and Wachovia were equally dedicated to giving back to the community — combined, we have become twice as strong.

Whether we're helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity, providing funding for a program that supplies professional clothing for folks going out on job interviews, or supporting non-profits that depend on automobiles for food delivery programs during the gas crisis last year, my colleagues continue to make a difference every day in local communities across America.

And as we integrate our two companies, we've learned that Wells Fargo and Wachovia have operated their community support programs in very similar ways: By putting the decision making at the local level, both companies have allowed the needs of the local community to dictate how funds and volunteer hours are best used.

These local commitments are a key part of each company's culture, and we plan to honor and stay involved in Wells Fargo and Wachovia communities across the country.

So what's next? Well, the Wachovia Foundation will stay active into 2010, but will eventually merge and become part of the Wells Fargo Foundation. And, of course, we are always looking at ways to increase our focus on volunteerism.

But probably the most important thing is continuing to listen to the needs of our neighbors.  So when challenges arise, our team members have the flexibility to respond to the immediate, and often unexpected, needs of our local communities.

We're here to help.

Lovester Law

This Saturday, America's patriotism is on full display: Our red, white and blue show boldly throughout communities all over the U.S., in small towns and big cities alike. It's a day when we share a special connection with our country — our past and our future. We enjoy the food, the fireworks, our families and friends.

And we create memories that last a lifetime.

I will always remember the July 4th parade traveling down Main Street in my home town of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. Growing up, all of those special sights were dazzling to me. Toss in the sounds of gatherings and smells of incredible bar-b-que wafting from almost every backyard, and it became even more amazing — a holiday to be cherished and remembered.

Wells Fargo has a longstanding tradition of being involved in our communities, and this July 4th, we're proud to help create some new holiday memories: The Wells Fargo Stagecoach will appear at 25 events across the country, from New Hampshire to New Mexico. In doing so, the Stagecoach — an Independence Day reminder of our country's pioneering spirit — will be seen and celebrated by a million people.

Again, to see if the Wells Fargo Stagecoach is appearing near you this holiday weekend, take a look at that schedule. I hope you can join us. And please have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!