NATION

NATION
Wachovia looks to buy
WASHINGTON -- Banking giant Wachovia Corp. is reportedly in talks to buy regional lender SouthTrust Corp. for at least $11.5 billion. The discussions were ongoing late Sunday and a deal had not been reached, according to online reports by The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Wachovia is the nation's fourth-largest bank, providing financial services in 11 states on the East Coast. SouthTrust is a Birmingham, Ala.-based lender, with 717 financial centers in nine states.
The deal would strengthen Wachovia's presence in states such as Florida and Georgia, as well as give the Charlotte, N.C.-based company an entry into Texas.
Associated Press