Wachovia Reviews in Atlanta, GA Area

Pros

Job at the time was pretty good. Very sales oriented environment, however. But, that goes along with working during the housing boom. Compensation was not capped at the sales level in the branch. This was bitter / sweet.

Cons

At times, it was apparent that promotions were based on favoritism and not on personal achievements / merit. You have to make a name for yourself then the rest will follow.

Advice to Senior Management

During the time I worked for Wachovia, the environment seemed very transactional and not focussed on building long term relationships. Camaraderie was difficult to achieve at the branch level.

Pros

Benefits are good, great choices, 6% 401k of company stock

Cons

I can't imagine a worse place to work than Wachovia right now. Management only cares about "solutions"...not how you're getting them. In my market people are screwing customers and the company blind and manage could care less. They recently promoted one individual that was blatantly manipulating compensation and hurting customers. Management is a joke they ask 10 times a day what you are doing, and how many "solutions" you have. They don't care about work life balance, most employees talk about binge drinking and going to therapy to deal with the stress of insanely high goals and ridiculous activity expectations.

Do NOT work for this company....it's not worth the terrible salaries they offer.

Advice to Senior Management

Get your head out of your rectums and listen to your employees. You can search the web for employee reviews and not find one employee in the past 12 months that is happy. Everyone I know is looking for other jobs and talking about it openly.

Pros

Good Benefits. Opportunity to rise into management without a college education (huge con in my opinion). Chance to meet a lot of clients who can see your potential and offer something better.

Cons

Incompetent management. Lack of genuine concern for employees. Large turnover. Ongoing errors and miscommunication with merger. Management will dangle that carrot in front of you forever, but you will never reach it. Inability to speak to upper management in confidence.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide proper training. Provide an anonymous outlet for employs to speak out about what is going on in their branches. There is a reason your turnover is high and your old employees are leaving... do something about it.

Pros

Good place to work..NAME RECOGNITION...

Cons

but like so many places to work, they need to get their act together. The customer/client DOES not come first..but SALES does. Why do this to yourself, when you can go independent... Its all about the relationship..

Advice to Senior Management

Change your thinking as people are smarter these days... The days of sell em' and move on does NOT work..

Pros

this is a good place to work. my paycheck cashes every week. I enjoy the competitive atmospher. a a a

Cons

traffic is overbearing in Atlanta on many days of the week, leading to an overconsumption of fuel, which I have to pay for

Advice to Senior Management

I would love an increase in salary, and PTO days. also managment is stale, but the WF merger may change things

Pros

Good chances for incentives. As far as balancing and getting good referrals. Benefits were ok, even though they are a bit expensive. Good chance for advancement,IF they LIKE you. The game of favoritism and kissing butt will work in your favor. It will get you raises and promotions. So kiss,kiss,kiss away!

Cons

Too much favoritism, underqualified individuals getting paid more than you, even though you've been there for % years and they were there for 2 or 3 without experience. Too much pressure to ask for accounts from people you see EVERYDAY. They dont want n e more goshdammit! Keep raising their goals even in tough economic times, not sayin to lower them, but keep them steady until things pick up.

Advice to Senior Management

Kissassers, hypocrites,lazy, never responding to employee phone calls, and you get paid like what? Over $100,000 a year? Id love to get paid that much to do nothing and get away with everything.

Pros

A practical sales and product training program provides a good foundation. Hours are fixed and reasonable which would be ideal for balancing time with family. Large company facilitates ability to move and work anywhere in the country. Good chance to demostrate sales behavious and top 2-4% may crack six-figures. Reputation for exceptional customer satisfaction is a proud point for working at this company.

If you are comfortable taking directives without question, this may be the job for you.

Cons

Once you are an FS, always an FS. Do not enter this position expecting transfer out of the retail sector or potential for advancement. Additional titles such as "Licensed", "Senior", or "Small Business" may be added to your business card, but you remain responsible for the same basic functions and tied to a base salary that changes very little. Managers numbers are based on their bankers performance, so they have little desire to help advance your career if you are a producer.

Two years ago I was selling clients on appointments to discuss six to seven figure retirement balances. Today I am calling on the same client and harping on the importance that they open and use a Wachovia Visa Debit Card. Since the Wells Merger, the FS roll no longer is a respected banker responsible for lending, investing, and deposit accounts. Strong focus on checking/savings accounts, online banking activations, checkcards, etc... As decisions are being made for management, managers are micromanaging and changing directives to the point of insanity. Activity checkout calls are acceptable, hourly activity reports submitted throughout the day is a waste of time. New "focuses" are added every day with no explanation which focuses are no longer important and overtime is absolutely forbidden.

Incentives (commision multipliers) continue to be reduced.

Advice to Senior Management

There is a lack of accurate communication concerning the roles/salaries/structure after the merger. Provide better training for low level managers!

Pros

You get some good training, if you are smart you can learn a lot!!!

Cons

Wachovia is not a very friendly place to work for... They put a lot of preassure on you when you produce or when you dont produce.

Advice to Senior Management

I think management should listen more to their employees, regionals usually tend to be very close mind to sugestions and when you have a complain about a manager they do not listen to you.

Pros

I have really enjoyed working for this company. They reward top performers and you are promoted based on merit. I feel as though I have been treated with respct and feel valued as an employee. I entered the company with no banking experience and felt the training program at wachovia was solid. My leadership team has stressed a strong work/life balance throughout my tenure with the company. Overall, a great company to work for

Cons

being in the banking industry at this time is scary because of the economy. With the wells merger, it is scary not knowing if our jobs will be in tact.

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

Flexible work schedule; good teammates.

Cons

Being taken over by Wells Fargo. Everything is changing. There is little clarity around new structure yet. Many people anxious and fearful about downsizing and restructurings yet to come.

Advice to Senior Management

More communication; get the job cuts over with; quit dragging it out.