Welcome to FirstUnion.com. In September 2001, Wachovia Corporation, which grew from an institution founded in 1897, and First Union Corporation, whose history dates back to 1908, merged to create one of the nation's top financial holding companies. Wachovia.com is now the primary Internet home page for all Wachovia and former First Union customers, as well as the many heritage organizations that make up the fabric of Wachovia. The spirit of our heritage remains as an integral part of the shared success that defines Wachovia today.

First Union had its beginning behind a roll-top desk in the lobby of Charlotte's Buford Hotel as Union National Bank on June 2, 1908. Its owner, H.M. Victor, developed a reputation as a conservative banker. His insistence on high credit worthiness among borrowers became a hallmark of the institution. It also developed a strong reputation for customer service through the years, growing with its merger with First National Bank and Trust Company of Asheville in 1958 to become the First Union National Bank of North Carolina. A quick succession of financial services-related mergers followed. Predecessor companies include the Bank of North America, the first bank proposed, chartered and incorporated in America in 1781 as well as the first bank in the country to open its doors in January of 1782.

Being a leader in banking and financial services is truly part of the heritage of today's organization. Wachovia established one of the first management training programs emphasizing customer service, set up the country's first time payment department to provide consumer loans, and became the first in the Southeast to computerize its operations. First Union was one of the first banks to offer a full line of mortgage and insurance products after merging with Cameron Brown in 1964. It was the first bank in the country to link its branches by satellite for data transmission.

As part of the Wachovia heritage, many of the features of the following First Union products are available:

• First Union Performance Banking
• First Union Senior Performance Banking
• First Union Essential IRA
• First Union Express Checking
• First Union Rapid Rollover

Wachovia Corporation is the fifth largest bank holding company in the United States based on assets and the third largest U.S. full-service brokerage firm based on client assets. We have 3,300 financial centers in 15 states and nearly 700 retail brokerage offices in 49 states and Washington, D.C. As of December 31, 2004.

We provide a broad range of banking services, including asset management, wealth management, mortgage loan services, credit card services, trust services, investment consulting and security brokerage services, financial planning services, bank account aggregation services, revolving credit services, and corporate and investment banking services. We also provide financial seminars, and distribute analytical data on equity investments, and periodical publications concerning banking, investments and other financial topics.