news-record.com

(MCT) — Wells Fargo & Co. said Tuesday that it has named the local regional president for its revamped community-banking network.

Leslie Hayes will serve as the president for the bank's Triad West region, which consists of 16 counties, including Alamance, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin.

Hayes will be based in Winston-Salem. She will be responsible for retail banking, small-business banking, business-banking operations and community leadership.

Hayes will report to Stanhope Kelly, the regional president for community banking in the Carolinas and the highest-profile official based locally.

''We're very pleased to have a talented and seasoned banker like Leslie leading this important market for our company," Kelly said in a statement.

''She understands the needs of our local customers, teammates and the community and will provide continuity as we begin the process of combining the best of Wachovia and Wells Fargo."

Hayes most recently served as the regional president for Wachovia Corp. for Western North Carolina and Western Virginia. She has been with the bank for 29 years.

''My priority is to ensure a smooth merger transition for our customers and the community," Hayes said in a prepared statement.

The other counties in the region are Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, Haywood, Henderson and Rutherford.

The bank said that the region has more than 4,000 employees and 96 branches.

That includes 2,800 employees in Forsyth County, down 200 from when Wells Fargo bought Wachovia at the end of 2008, spokeswoman Christine Shaw said.