Wachovia Names Robert K. Steel CEO and President

CHARLOTTE, NC – July 9, 2008 – Wachovia’s Board of Directors announced today that it has appointed Robert K. Steel, 56, who most recently served as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance for the U.S. Department of Treasury, as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, President and member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately.  Lanty Smith will continue in his role as Wachovia’s Chairman of the Board.  All business unit and staff functions will report to Steel.

Smith, who has been serving as interim Chief Executive Officer and who led the Board’s search committee, said, “Bob is a distinguished and widely respected leader in the financial services sector whose vast experience and deep knowledge make him the ideal candidate to lead Wachovia.  The Board is unanimous in its decision that Bob is the right person to provide sound leadership to build on Wachovia’s core strengths and successfully manage the company through the current environment as a strong and independent company. We are pleased to welcome Bob to Wachovia.  I also want to thank Ben Jenkins for his service as Interim Chief Operating Officer; I have been very fortunate to have his counsel and support during my tenure as interim CEO.  Ben will continue to serve as Vice Chairman and President of the General Bank and his strong leadership of this industry-leading franchise is extremely important today and in the future.”

Steel said, “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Wachovia, one of the nation’s premier retail, brokerage, asset management and investment banking franchises.  Clearly, there are challenges ahead in our current climate, but I am encouraged that most areas of the company continue to perform well, and this performance is a testament to the quality of Wachovia’s employees and the longstanding excellence of service to customers and clients.  In Wachovia, I see an institution with great strengths.  Under the leadership of the Board, the management team has recently been taking decisive actions to face current challenges head on, and I am delighted to have an opportunity to build on that progress.  I look forward to working with a talented team companywide to restore value to Wachovia’s shareholders, promote transparency and continue delivering outstanding service to Wachovia’s customers.”

Smith continued, “The Board, the entire management team and I have conducted a thorough and candid assessment of our core businesses.  As a result, we believe we have a clear picture of both the company’s fundamental strengths and challenges.  We have taken important steps to improve Wachovia’s position in the face of an increasingly difficult environment.  The Board and I are confident Bob will do an exceptional job leading Wachovia through these tough and turbulent times.”  

Steel was appointed Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance in October 2006. In that capacity, he served as the principal adviser to the Treasury Secretary on matters of domestic finance and led the Treasury Department’s activities with respect to the domestic financial system, fiscal policy and operations, governmental assets and liabilities, and related economic and financial matters.  

He had a long and distinguished career at Goldman Sachs, from which he retired as a vice chairman in February 2004.  He joined Goldman Sachs in 1976 and served in the Chicago office until his transfer to London in 1986.  He became a partner in 1988.  In London, he founded the firm’s Equity Capital Markets group for Europe and was extensively involved in privatization and capital raising efforts for European corporations and governments.  He later assumed the position as head of Equities for Europe.  In 1994, he relocated to New York and served as head of the Equities Division from 1998 to 2001.  In 1999, he joined the Management Committee.  Upon his retirement from Goldman Sachs, he assumed the position of advisory director for the firm and then senior director in December 2004.  From February 2004 to September 2006, Steel served as a senior fellow at the Center for Business and Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  He chairs Duke University’s Board of Trustees and he has previously served on the board of Barclays Bank.  

Steel received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his MBA from the University of Chicago.  He and his wife, Gillian, will relocate to Charlotte.

Smith also said, “We believe that at this time it is important to provide an update about Wachovia’s expected second quarter results which we will announce on July 22. Wachovia and the industry experienced continued deterioration in the mortgage and credit markets.  While it was a difficult quarter, we are pleased that Wachovia’s capital and liquidity provide a solid foundation in the face of these challenges.”

   
About Wachovia
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB) is one of the nation’s largest diversified financial services companies, with assets of $808.9 billion as of March 31, 2008. Wachovia provides a broad range of retail banking and brokerage, asset and wealth management, and corporate and investment banking products and services to customers through 3,300 retail financial centers in 21 states from Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas and California, and nationwide retail brokerage, mortgage lending and auto finance businesses. Globally, clients are served in selected corporate and institutional sectors and through more than 40 international offices. Our retail brokerage operations under the Wachovia Securities brand name manage more than $1.1 trillion in client assets through 18,600 registered representatives in 1,500 offices nationwide.

Online banking is available at www.wachovia.com; online brokerage products and services at www.wachoviasec.com; and investment products and services at www.evergreeninvestments.com.