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First Union and Wachovia

Advertising Contact:   Shika Raynor
(704) 715-3213

Mullen:   Siobhan Olson
(336) 774-9308

January 03, 2003
WACHOVIA LAUNCHES NEW RETAIL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Campaign Focuses on Money Management, Financial Relationships and Small Business

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Wachovia Corporation, marking another milestone along its merger timeline, launched a new retail advertising campaign to promote Wachovia Bank N.A.

This campaign focuses on money management, financial relationships and managing small businesses. In addition to seven new television commercials, the campaign includes print, outdoor and radio advertising.

"This new campaign shows Wachovia is a company that cares about its customers and wants to take all that they know and all that we have learned to create shared success," said Kirt Hibbitts, director of marketing communications for Wachovia Corporation.

"Uncommon Wisdom for shared success," is the foundation for all of Wachovia's new corporate advertising. The basis of this campaign explores several compelling questions about the lessons that can be learned from common things and events in the world around us.

"Consumers are looking for a fresh voice in the financial services industry," said Denzil Strickland, executive vice president and creative director at Mullen, Wachovia's advertising agency of record. "They are looking for relevance. The Uncommon Wisdom campaign is about living in this world. By learning from the real world, and by applying that knowledge to financial issues, Wachovia stands apart from other financial institutions."

The campaign also recognizes that a significant portion of the South Florida population is Spanish speaking. Therefore, some of the ads in the campaign have been transcreated — with the help of Zubi Advertising in Miami, Florida — to be culturally relevant to the Hispanic community.

"Wachovia understood the importance of the Hispanic market and made it a priority from the campaign's inception," said Michelle Zubizarreta, Zubi Advertising's Chief Administrative Officer. "The analogy concept for the Wachovia campaign, created by Mullen, resonated with the Hispanic market, and we helped to make the subject matter, images and copy more relevant." 

The new advertising will appear in Wachovia's East Coast footprint according to Wachovia's merger integration schedule, beginning in Florida and ending in the Northeast in late summer.

About Mullen

Mullen, part of the Interpublic Group of companies, is a $640 million full-service agency known for its interdisciplinary team approach to building brands. The agency's clients include Wachovia, General Motors, Nextel, Sealy, Eddie Bauer, Swiss Army, Four Seasons Hotels, TJ Maxx and American Management Systems (AMS). Headquartered in Wenham, Mass., the agency operates full-services offices in Winston-Salem, NC, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Visit Mullen on the web at mullen.com.

About Zubi Advertising

Founded in 1976, Zubi Advertising is a full-service agency that pioneered Hispanic advertising. With estimated billings of $125 million in 2002, the agency has offices in Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit and Dallas. Zubi's client list includes major advertisers such as American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Masterfoods, Olive Garden, S.C. Johnson, Western Union, and Winn-Dixie.

About Wachovia

Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB), created through the September 1, 2001, merger of First Union and Wachovia, had assets of $334 billion and stockholder's equity of $32 billion at September 30, 2002. Wachovia is a leading provider of financial services to 20 million retail, brokerage and corporate customers throughout the East Coast and the nation. The company operates full-service banking offices under the First Union and Wachovia names in 11 East Coast states and Washington, D.C., and offers full-service brokerage with offices in 49 states and global services through more than 30 international offices. Online banking and brokerage products and services are available through wachovia.com.


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