For Immediate Release: Oct. 25, 2010

Wells Fargo, Wachovia combine banking operations in Atlanta and across Georgia

Georgia first on East Coast to change to Wells Fargo; Charitable contributions of more than $1 million announced

Contact: Jay Lawrence
Phone: (314) 541-0359
E-mail: jay.h.lawrence@wellsfargo.com

Atlanta Regional President of Wells Fargo Jerome
Byers shakes hands with Mike Young, CEO of
Grady Memorial Hospital. Wells Fargo announced
a large donation to Grady at the event.

Wachovia financial centers across Georgia became Wells Fargo stores over the past weekend as a result of the largest bank merger in U.S. history. More than 2.9 million customers in Georgia can now take advantage of over 350 Wells Fargo locations and 646 ATMs across the state, with added products and services and continued support to local communities.

To mark the occasion in Atlanta, Wells Fargo announced charitable contributions of more than $1 million. It recognized several of the recipients at a ceremony to permanently light the largest sign on any Wells Fargo building anywhere – atop the company's Atlanta headquarters in Atlantic Station. The grants announced included $500,000 to Grady Memorial Hospital; $200,000 to Resources for Residents and Communities; $100,000 to the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership; and $50,000 to CredAbility. Also, the company announced it would be making some 240 donations of $1,000 each to Atlanta-area non-profits selected by team members in bank stores and in other business lines through its program known as Days of Giving.

Before the Georgia transition, the changeover took place in late September in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. These three states followed Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, and Texas where Wachovia has already transitioned to Wells Fargo. The Wachovia brand will become Wells Fargo in other Eastern states throughout 2011.

"We are proud that the Wells Fargo stagecoach has officially arrived in Atlanta, and we are eager to continue offering our customers outstanding service and even more products to help them succeed financially," said Jerome Byers, Wells Fargo's Atlanta regional president. "Our team members have been planning and working for nearly two years to make this transition go as smoothly as possible. I thank them and our customers, who continue to trust us with their business."

Already the change to Wells Fargo has brought new benefits to Georgia: Wells Fargo is adding 500 new jobs across the state, most in community banking and most already hired; customers now have more choices in checking and savings and other products ranging from renters and auto insurance to identity theft prevention; and environmentally green ATMs that accept stacks of cash or checks and don't use paper envelopes or deposit slips have been installed.

In addition, all banking stores in Georgia have been remodeled to the Wells Fargo open layout to improve the customer experience and to help the environment by using green materials and systems.

Local communities and non-profit groups are also benefiting immediately from the changeover to Wells Fargo. The Days of Giving program to recognize local non-profit groups will take place across the state. Other charitable contributions will be announced at the same time as appearances by the Wells Fargo stagecoach and horses in Atlanta and several other cities, at which children will receive rides. In all, Wells Fargo is set to make $5 million in donations to some 500 non-profits across Georgia this year.

The origins of the changeover in Georgia began on Dec. 31, 2008, when Wachovia Corporation merged with Wells Fargo & Company. At that time, there were six states where both Wells Fargo and Wachovia had retail banking operations: Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, and Texas. Colorado was the first state to transition to Wells Fargo in November 2009. Banking stores in Arizona, Nevada, and Illinois made the change in March, California in April, and Texas and Kansas followed in July. The Wachovia retail banking transition to Wells Fargo in the East will continue through 2011.

About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, nine neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center - and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Care Center and Burn Unit, Grady Health System has the only level I trauma center in the region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady, as well.

The Diabetes Detection & Control Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Primary Stroke Center and Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center are also notable components of the health system. Moreover, Grady's Infectious Disease Program was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Other exceptional medical services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, a dedicated 60 Plus service line for older adults, Teen Services, and the Rape Crisis Center.

About Wells Fargo
In Georgia, Wells Fargo serves customers at more than 350 locations including its bank stores, and the company employs 6,700 in the state, including 5,000 in Atlanta. The company has more than 2 million customers in Atlanta and serves half of Atlanta households. Wells Fargo & Company is a nationwide, diversified community-based financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, consumer, and commercial finance through more than 10,000 banking channels, 12,000 Wells Fargo and Wachovia ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With 278,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America.

Wells Fargo &anp; Company was ranked #19 on Fortune's 2009 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy all our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially.

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