SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)
                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                      Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant                              [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant           [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary proxy statement.
[ ] Confidential, for use of the commission only (as permitted by Rule
    14a-6(e)(2)).
[ ] Definitive proxy statement.
[ ] Definitive additional materials.
[X] Soliciting material under Rule 14a-12.

                              Wachovia Corporation
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                       N/A
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)


Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.

[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
     (1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
     (2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
     (3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
              pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on
              which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
              determined):
     (4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
     (5)      Total fee paid:

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
    Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
    fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
    statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
    (1) Amount Previously Paid:
    (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
    (3) Filing Party:
    (4) Date Filed:



                                                             Date: June 27, 2001

This filing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but
are not limited to, (i) statements about the benefits of the merger between
Wachovia Corporation and First Union Corporation, including future financial and
operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, and accretion to reported
earnings that may be realized from the merger; (ii) statements with respect to
Wachovia's and First Union's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and
other statements that are not historical facts; and (iii) other statements
identified by words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates",
"intends", "plans", "targets", "projects" and similar expressions. These
statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Wachovia's and
First Union's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking
statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the
forward-looking statements: (1) the risk that the businesses of First Union and
Wachovia will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more
difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected revenue
synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized
within the expected time frame; (3) revenues following the merger may be lower
than expected; (4) deposit attrition, operating costs, customer loss and
business disruption following the merger, including, without limitation,
difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be greater than
expected; (5) the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the merger on the
proposed terms and schedule; (6) the failure of Wachovia's and First Union's
stockholders to approve the merger; (7) competitive pressures among depository
and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect
on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (8) the strength
of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies
in which the combined company will conduct operations may be different than
expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality or
a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the combined
company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (9) changes in the U.S.
and foreign legal and regulatory framework; and (10) adverse conditions in the
stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including
changes in interest rate conditions) and the impact of such conditions on the
combined company's capital markets and asset management activities. Additional
factors that could cause Wachovia's and First Union's results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found
in Wachovia's and First Union's reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the SEC's Internet site
(http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
concerning the proposed transaction or other matters attributable to Wachovia or
First Union or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in
their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Wachovia and First Union do
not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect
circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements
are made.

The proposed transaction will be submitted to Wachovia's and First Union's
stockholders for their consideration, and on June 27, 2001 First Union filed an
amended registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC containing a preliminary
joint proxy statement/prospectus of Wachovia and First Union and other relevant
documents concerning the proposed transaction. Stockholders are urged to read
the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available, and
any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or
supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.
You will be able to obtain a free copy of the registration statement and the
joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing
information about Wachovia and First Union, at the SEC's Internet site
(http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the SEC
filings that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a
request to Wachovia, Investor Relations, 100 North Main Street, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27150 (888-492-6397), or to First Union, Investor Relations, One
First Union Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0206 (704-374-6782).

Wachovia and First Union, and their respective directors and executive officers
may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the
stockholders of Wachovia and First Union in connection with the merger.
Information about the directors and executive officers of Wachovia and their
ownership of Wachovia common stock is set forth in Wachovia's proxy statement on
Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on March 19, 2001. Information about the
directors and executive officers of First Union and their ownership of First
Union common stock is set forth in First Union's proxy statement on Schedule
14A, as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2001. Additional information regarding
the interests of those participants may be obtained by reading the definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it
becomes available.



JOINT PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY WACHOVIA CORPORATION AND FIRST UNION ANNOUNCING
THEIR JOINT MERGER PROXY STATEMENT DECLARED EFFECTIVE BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION. PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROXY STATEMENTS TO BEGIN
IMMEDIATELY.


[FIRST UNION LOGO]                                               [WACHOVIA LOGO]



Wednesday                       Media Contacts:

June 27, 2001                   First Union:    Mary Eshet       704-383-7777
                                Wachovia:       Ed Hutchins      336-732-4200


                                Investor Contacts:

                                First Union:    Alice Lehman     704-374-4139
                                Wachovia: Robert S. McCoy Jr.    336-732-5926
                                          Marsha Smunt           336-732-5788


                FIRST UNION AND WACHOVIA TO MAIL PROXY MATERIALS

                Merger Proxy Statements Declared Effective by SEC

Charlotte and Winston-Salem, N.C. - First Union Corporation (NYSE: FTU) and
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) announced today that their joint merger proxy
statement has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Printing of the proxy statements will begin immediately and distribution to
Wachovia and First Union shareholders is expected to begin by the end of this
week. First Union's annual meeting of shareholders is scheduled for July 31,
2001, and Wachovia's annual meeting of shareholders is scheduled for August 3,
2001.

L.M. Baker Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Wachovia, said, "In our
view, the merger of equals with First Union is a thoughtful, strategic
combination designed to give Wachovia shareholders the same Wachovia dividend
rate and potential for superior earnings. We believe the case for our merger is
compelling, and we welcome the opportunity for shareholders of both companies to
review this proposed combination."

Ken Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer of First Union, said, "The
mailing of the proxy statement is an important milestone in the merger process.
The integration planning process continues at full speed, and we are more
enthusiastic than ever about the growth prospects for the new Wachovia. We look
forward to the votes on July 31st and August 3rd, when we shareholders of both
companies will have the opportunity to vote on this combination."


First Union: (NYSE:FTU), with $253 billion in assets and stockholders' equity of
$16 billion at March 31, 2001, is a leading provider of financial services to 15
million retail and corporate customers throughout the East Coast and the nation.
The company operates



full-service banking offices in 11 East Coast states and Washington, D.C., and
full-service brokerage offices in 47 states and internationally. Online banking
products and services can be accessed through www.firstunion.com.

Wachovia (NYSE: WB) is a major interstate financial holding company offering
banking and financial services to individuals primarily in Florida, Georgia,
North Carolina South Carolina and Virginia and to corporations and institutions
throughout the United States and globally. Wachovia Corporation is headquartered
in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Atlanta and had assets of $75.6 billion at March 31,
2001. Wachovia Web site is located at www.wachovia.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without
limitation, (i) statements about the benefits of the merger between First Union
Corporation and Wachovia Corporation, including future financial and operating
results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, and accretion to reported earnings
that may be realized from the merger; (ii) statements with respect to First
Union's and Wachovia's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other
statements that are not historical facts; and (iii) other statements identified
by words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends",
"plans", "targets", "projects" and similar expressions. These statements are
based upon the current beliefs and expectations of First Union's and Wachovia's
management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual
results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.


The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the
forward-looking statements: (1) the risk that the businesses of First Union and
Wachovia will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more
difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected revenue
synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized
within the expected time frame; (3) revenues following the merger may be lower
than expected; (4) deposit attrition, operating costs, customer loss and
business disruption following the merger, including, without limitation,
difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be greater than
expected; (5) the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the merger on the
proposed terms and schedule; (6) the failure of First Union's and Wachovia's
stockholders to approve the merger; (7) competitive pressures among depository
and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect
on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (8) the strength
of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies
in which the combined company will conduct operations may be different than
expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality or
a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the combined
company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (9) changes in the U.S.
and foreign legal and regulatory framework; and (10) adverse conditions in the
stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including
changes in interest rate conditions) and the impact of such conditions on the
combined company's capital markets and asset management activities. Additional
factors that could cause First Union's and



Wachovia's results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in First Union's and Wachovia's reports
(such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current
Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent
written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the proposed transaction
or other matters attributable to First Union or Wachovia or any person acting on
their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary
statements above. First Union and Wachovia do not undertake any obligation to
update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that
occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.



Additional Information

The proposed transaction will be submitted to First Union's and Wachovia's
stockholders for their consideration, and, on June 27, 2001, First Union filed
an amended registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC containing a joint
proxy statement/prospectus of First Union and Wachovia and other relevant
documents concerning the proposed transaction. Stockholders are urged to read
the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when available and any other
relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements
to those documents, because they contain (or will contain) important
information. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about
First Union and Wachovia, at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the SEC filings that have
been or will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a
request to First Union, Investor Relations, One First Union Center, Charlotte,
North Carolina 28288-0206 (704-374-6782), or to Wachovia, Investor Relations,
100 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27150 (888-492-6397).



First Union and Wachovia, and their respective directors and executive officers,
and others may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
the stockholders of First Union and Wachovia in connection with the merger.
Information about the identity of participants in the solicitation and a
description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or
otherwise, is set forth in an exhibit to the registration statement and in the
joint proxy statement/prospectus.




                             Additional Information
The proposed transaction will be submitted to First Union's and Wachovia's
stockholders for their consideration, and, on June 27, 2001, First Union filed
an amended registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC containing a
preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus of First Union and Wachovia and
other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. Stockholders are
urged to read the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes
available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any
amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain
important information. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the
registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as
other filings containing information about First Union and Wachovia, at the
SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and the SEC filings that will be incorporated by reference
in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by
directing a request to First Union, Investor Relations, One First Union Center,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0206 (704-374-6782), or to Wachovia, Investor
Relations, 100 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27150
(888-492-6397).

First Union and Wachovia, and their respective directors and executive officers,
and others may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
the stockholders of First Union and Wachovia in connection with the merger.
Information about the directors and executive officers of First Union and their
ownership of First Union common stock is set forth in First Union's proxy
statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2001. Information
about the directors and executive officers of Wachovia and their ownership of
Wachovia common stock is set forth in Wachovia's proxy statement on Schedule
14A, as filed with the SEC on March 19, 2001. Additional information regarding
the interests of participants may be obtained by reading the registration
statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the
proposed transaction when it becomes available.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without
limitation, (i) statements about the benefits of the merger between First Union
Corporation and Wachovia Corporation, including future financial and operating
results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, and accretion to reported earnings
that may be realized from the merger; (ii) statements with respect to First
Union's and Wachovia's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other
statements that are not historical facts; and (iii) other statements identified
by words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends",
"plans", "targets", "projects" and similar expressions. These statements are
based upon the current beliefs and expectations of First Union's and Wachovia's
management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual
results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the
forward-looking statements: (1) the risk that the businesses of First Union and
Wachovia will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more
difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected revenue
synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized
within the expected time frame; (3) revenues following the merger may be lower
than expected; (4) deposit attrition, operating costs, customer loss and
business disruption following the merger, including, without limitation,
difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be greater than
expected; (5) the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the merger on the
proposed terms and schedule; (6) the failure of First Union's and Wachovia's
stockholders to approve the merger; (7) competitive pressures among depository
and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect
on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (8) the strength
of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies
in which the combined company will conduct operations may be different than
expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality or
a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the combined
company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (9) changes in the U.S.
and foreign legal and regulatory framework; and (10) adverse conditions in the
stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including
changes in interest rate conditions) and the impact of such conditions on the
combined company's capital markets and asset management activities. Additional
factors that could cause First Union's and Wachovia's results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found
in First Union's and Wachovia's reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the SEC's Internet site
(http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
concerning the proposed transaction or other matters attributable to First Union
or Wachovia or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in
their entirety by the cautionary statements above. First Union and Wachovia do
not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect
circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements
are made.


                                       ###