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Wells Fargo Enhances Mortgage Assistance for At-Risk Wachovia Pick-a-Payment Customers

^{Published on 2010-10-06 10:26:09 - Market Wire}
 

DES MOINES, Iowa--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) announced today that beginning Dec. 18, 2010, through June 30, 2013, at-risk Wachovia Pick-a-Payment customers may be eligible to earn principal forgiveness by making on-time mortgage payments. The company also will contribute about $24 million to eight states to enlist help in customer outreach, and to prevent or mitigate the impacts of foreclosures in these communities. The terms of this agreement have been contemplated in the companya™s financial projections, and are expected to have no impact on third-quarter financial results.

"Their willingness to add to their existing principal forgiveness program is important to help consumers facing hardships who are deeply underwater in their homes."

The program is part of an agreement with attorneys general in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas and Washington who expressed concerns about the manner in which pay-option mortgages were originally marketed by World Savings Bank and Wachovia, who originated these loans prior to merging with Wells Fargo in late 2008. The agreement expands on Wells Fargoa™s existing home preservation efforts. Through August 2010, at-risk Wachovia Pick-a-Payment customers already had been given almost $3.4 billion in principal forgiveness.

aIn light of the unprecedented changes in our economy, Wells Fargo will continue to work with leaders across the nation on steps to help stabilize communities,a said Mike Heid, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

aWe are pleased that Wells Fargo has stepped forward and agreed to work with us in avoiding another wave of foreclosures in our states,a said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, the attorney general who led the eight-state effort. aTheir willingness to add to their existing principal forgiveness program is important to help consumers facing hardships who are deeply underwater in their homes.a

By Dec. 18, 2010, the company will contact customers likely to be eligible for the new program via letters, and will maintain a dedicated helpline a" including Spanish-speaking specialists a" to assist borrowers. Borrowers who already have received a modification will not be eligible for the new program. Wells Fargo customers who originally took out mortgages through Wachovia or Golden West who are looking for information about the loan modification program can call 888-565-1422.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is the nationa™s leading mortgage lender and services one of every six mortgage loans in the nation. A division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., it has a national presence in mortgage stores and banking stores, and also serves the home financing needs of customers nationwide through its call centers, Internet presence and third-party production channels.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 10,000 banking stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 278,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked #19 on Fortunea™s 2009 rankings of Americaa™s largest corporations. Wells Fargoa™s vision is to satisfy all our customersa™ financial needs and help them succeed financially.