Wachovia Corporation, a financial holding company, provides commercial and retail banking services, and other financial services in the United States and internationally. Its deposit products include savings, NOW, money market, and interest-bearing checking accounts, as well as noninterest-bearing deposits and other consumer time deposits. The company’s loan portfolio comprises commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; real estate construction and mortgage loans; lease financing; and real estate secured loans; student loans; and installment loans. Wachovia Corporation also offers corporate lending and commercial leasing services. In addition, the company provides investment banking services, such as equities, merger and acquisition advisory services; provision of interest rate, leveraged finance, high grade, structured, and nondollar products; and investing in private equity securities, mezzanine securities, and funds sponsored by select private equity and venture capital groups. Further, it provides treasury management products and services, as well as international trade services; and engages in domestic and international correspondent banking operations. Additionally, Wachovia Corporation offers wealth management services comprising private banking, personal trust, investment advisory services, charitable services, financial planning, and insurance brokerage; and capital management products and services consisting of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities, reinsurance, asset management accounts, and other investment products and services, and asset management services comprising mutual funds, customized advisory services, and defined benefit and defined contribution retirement services. As of December 31, 2007, it operated 3,400 retail banking offices in 21 states in the United States, as well as 40 offices internationally. The company was founded in 1879 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.