Press Releases

With the rise in phishing attacks, Wachovia is letting its customers know that they will never request or communicate sensitive account information to them through e-mail. Instead, Wachovia will securely communicate with customers about important account and servicing information through the Message Center. Customers can also initiate communications with Wachovia Customer Service by logging into Online Services and using the Message Center.

“It is clear that customers like the convenience of e-mail, but not the threats associated with it,” said Lawrence Baxter, Wachovia’s chief eCommerce officer. “Wachovia’s secure Message Center gives our customers the expediency of e-mail without the threat or questions of authenticity.”

Customers will receive an e-mail notifying them that a message has arrived in their Wachovia Online Services Message Center inbox, but this e-mail will not provide an active link. Once they log in to their online account, they can communicate with Wachovia by sending and receiving secure messages.

Wachovia's commitment to leveraging this channel can be seen later this year as it plans to launch a more robust Message Center for it's commercial customers. In 2006, Wachovia plans to enhance its message center functionality for retail customers.

About Wachovia
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB) is one of the largest providers of financial services to retail, brokerage and corporate customers, with retail operations from Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas, and retail brokerage operations nationwide. Wachovia had assets of $511.8 billion, market capitalization of $78.2 billion and stockholders’ equity of $47.9 billion at June 30, 2005. Its four core businesses, the General Bank, Capital Management, Wealth Management, and the Corporate and Investment Bank, serve 13 million household and business relationships primarily through 3,126 offices in 15 states and Washington, D.C. Its full-service retail brokerage firm, Wachovia Securities, LLC, also serves clients through 699 offices in 49 states and five Latin American countries. Our Corporate and Investment Bank serves clients primarily in 10 key industry sectors nationwide. Global services are offered through 33 international offices. Online banking and brokerage products and services also are available through Wachovia.com.