The Pony Express of banking will soon put its mark on North Georgia.
Nearly two years after buying Wachovia Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. plans this fall to put its name on 280 bank branches across Georgia and 17 bank locations in Tennessee, including seven branches in Northwest Georgia.
Wells Fargo, which the FDIC says is behind only BB&T in deposits in metropolitan Dalton, will convert all three of its Dalton offices, along with other branches in Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, LaFayette and Chatsworth, Ga., to Wells Fargo-brand outlets by late October.
Wells Fargo bought Wachovia for $2.1 billion at the end of 2008 and has or is in the process of adding about 20 percent more tellers and bankers in the renamed Wells Fargo bank branches, which the lender dubs bank stores.
In North Georgia, the staff additions will mean 35 more jobs for the region, bank spokesman Ryan Hill said. Wells Fargo bank stores also offer new homeowners and renters insurance policies, identity theft protection and credit card and payroll services for small businesses.
Wachovia in Northwest Georgia* Whitfield County -- Three branches in Dalton* Catoosa County -- Branches in Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold* Walker County -- Branch in LaFayette* Murray County -- Branch in Chatsworth
"We're working hard to be the best local bank in Dalton with all of the advantages of a great national bank," said Glen Kelley, the community bank president for Wells Fargo in North Georgia.
As part of the change, Wachovia customers will soon see automatic teller machines changed to envelope-free ATMs that eliminate the need for deposit slips or envelopes for up to 30 checks or 50 cash bills. The ATMs also extend the deadlines for check deposits as late as 8 p.m. to be credited for that day.
Wells Fargo has previously completed name and ATM conversions in five states in the Midwest and West. Wachovia Securities was previously converted to Wells Fargo Advisors and Wachovia's Mortgage offices were renamed to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.