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Molly Murphy

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.

Matt Wadley

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....

Matt Wadley

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....

Molly Murphy

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!

Jason Menke

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!

Ann Marie Quinn

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....

Molly Murphy

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!

Matt Wadley

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.

Matt Wadley

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....

Molly Murphy

On August 4th I posted A Wachovia Possibilities Rewards® Program Update, and a couple of you made some comments about keeping the Earn More Mall^SM site. (Special thanks to Jamison and Ryan for your respective thoughts!)

The Earn More Mall program in Wachovia Possibilities Rewards allows rewards cardholders to earn bonus points (these are in addition to the regular points you'd get) and get exclusive discounts for purchases made at participating merchants. You simply log in to the rewards web site to take advantage of these offers.

The participating stores (there are close to 500!) include online places you are likely to shop, such as Target , Macys  and iTunes. It also includes in-store offers at places like DSW , Sally Beauty , and others.

With the integration, we have reviewed the features of both the Wachovia and the Wells Fargo rewards programs to determine what will be offered on a go forward basis at Wells Fargo.

I'm happy to let you know the Earn More Mall program will continue for Wachovia card holders as it has in the past. Also, Wells Fargo was so impressed with this program we also launched an initial version of the Earn More Mall site for our Wells Fargo customers last month!

Having access to new features and programs is one of the benefits of the integration of Wells Fargo and Wachovia. For more information, visit either the Wells Fargo or Wachovia Earn More Mall sites.

And as always, please keep letting us know what you think!