Monday, April 10, 2006

Wachovia Corp. Raises Prime Interest Rate

WACHOVIA CORPORATION RAISES PRIME RATE CHARLOTTE, N.C. –

Effective today, Wachovia Corporation raised its prime interest rate to 7.75 percent from 7.50 percent at Wachovia Bank, National Association and all of its other banking subsidiaries.
The prime rate is a benchmark used to set interest rates on various forms of corporate and consumer credit. It is one of several interest rate bases used by Wachovia, which lends at interest rates above and below the prime rate. The prime rate last changed on Jan. 31, 2006.
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services companies, providing 13.4 million household and business relationships with a broad range of banking, asset management, wealth management and corporate and investment banking products and services.

Wachovia operates as Wachovia Bank through 3,131 offices in 15 states from Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas, and, until merger integration activity is completed, will continue to be known as Western Financial in California. Two core businesses operate under the Wachovia Securities brand name: retail brokerage in 49 states and six Latin American countries, and corporate and investment banking in selected industries nationwide. Globally, Wachovia serves clients through more than 40 international offices. Online banking is available at wachovia.com; online brokerage products and services at wachoviasec.com, and investment products and services at evergreeninvestments.com. Wachovia had assets of $520.8 billion, market capitalization of $82.3 billion and stockholders' equity of $47.6 billion at December 31, 2005.