Reports: Wachovia in talks with potential buyers

NEW YORK (AP) -- At least two major banks were reportedly in talks Sunday to buy Wachovia Corp., the latest U.S. bank to be the focus of investor anxiety over mounting losses tied to toxic assetsThe New York Times reported on its Web site that Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. are bidding in a possible emergency takeover of Wachovia, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Wall Street Journal also listed Spain's Banco Santander SA as a possible bidder. In London, meanwhile, British media reports said that Santander was expected to buy the retail banking operations of troubled mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley, which was being nationalized.
Both papers cited people familiar with the talks, whom they did not name.
Wachovia spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown declined to comment on the reports, as did Citigroup spokeswoman Christina Pretto. Wells Fargo spokesmen could not immediately be reached for comment.
Wachovia's shares fell 27 percent in regular-session trading on Friday, and shed an additional 15 percent in after-hours dealings to end the week at $8.50, as investor worries heightened.
Wachovia's current problems stem largely from its acquisition of mortgage lender Golden West Financial Corp. in 2006 for roughly $25 billion at the height of the nation's housing boom. With that purchase, Wachovia inherited a deteriorating $122 billion portfolio of Pick-A-Payment loans, Golden West's specialty, which let borrowers skip some payments.
But like many other banks, Wachovia stands to benefit from the passage of the government's proposed $700 billion rescue plan -- the details of which were emerging from Washington on Sunday.
This summer, Wachovia reported a $9.11 billion loss for the second quarter, announced plans to cut 11,350 jobs -- mostly in its mortgage business -- and slashed its dividend. Wachovia also boosted its provision for loan losses to $5.57 billion during the second quarter, up from $179 million in the year-ago period.
Earlier this month, Wachovia said it was on track to reduce securities and outstanding loans on its balance sheet by $20 billion this year, which will free up $1.5 billion in capital.
Additionally, Wachovia still expects to reduce expenses by $2 billion by the end of 2009.
However, the second-half expense benefit will be more than offset by $525 million to $650 million in severance and benefit costs related to previously announced job cuts, Wachovia said.