PRESS RELEASES

Contact: Mollie Shook
(704) 383-7157

March 03, 1997
First Union Selected as a "Premier 100" Company on the Internet by Computer World
Only North Carolina Company Selected by the Magazine

CHARLOTTE -- To be named a Computerworld "Premier 100" company, one must have an innovative internet application that utilizes creative, efficient and cost-effective methods of sharing information and conducting business via the web. First Union fit the bill and was named a "Premier 100" company by Computerworld February 24, 1997 and was the only North Carolina company honored by the publication.

According to Alan Alper, Computerworld magazine's group editor, "Premier 100 organizations are using the Internet and related technologies to build on their relationships with their customers and suppliers to improve communications within their organization, and to open up new business frontiers."

"To be recognized by our peers for the work we have done is an honor," said Edgar Brown, senior vice president for First Union's Relationship Access Products. "We have worked to maximize the design and interactivity of our web site and it has paid off - for our customers on a day-to-day basis and for First Union Corp. through this award."

Computerworld reviewed the internal applications of 10,000 companies and determined that the "Premier 100" applied their internet technology with greater productivity and performance than the other businesses.

Other companies on the "Premier 100" list include: Federal Express; United Parcel Service; McDonald's; Saturn; Spiegel, Inc; and Whirlpool.

Charlotte-based First Union Corp. provides financial products and services to more than 12 million corporate and retail customers nationwide. First Union is the nation's sixth-largest bank holding company with assets of $140 billion as of December 31, 1996.

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