ED GORDON, host: I'm Ed Gordon, and this is NEWS & NOTES.</s>JOSHUA LEVS reporting: This is Joshua Levs in Atlanta.</s>JOSHUA LEVS reporting: One of the nation's largest banks this week apologized for its historical      ties to slavery.  Wachovia Corporation said two institutions that      ultimately became part of Wachovia owned slaves.  The North      Carolina-based bank said it commissioned a private firm to investigate      the bank's history, and the records are incomplete, but the historical      research firm The History Factory found that the Georgia Railroad &      Banking Company owned at least 162 slaves.  The Bank of Charleston      accepted at least 529 slaves as collateral on mortgaged properties or      loans and acquired some when customers defaulted.  Wachovia Chairman and      CEO Ken Thompson issued a statement apologizing to, quote, "all Americans      and especially to African-Americans and people of African descent. We are      deeply saddened by these findings," he said.</s>JOSHUA LEVS reporting: Wachovia said it commissioned the study after some major cities,      including Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, passed laws requiring      companies that do business with them to conduct this kind of research.      Previously, New York-based JP Morgan Chase found two banks that later      became part of it had accepted slaves in Louisiana as collateral.  Chase      followed with a $5 million scholarship program for Louisiana students.</s>JOSHUA LEVS reporting: Wachovia said it will work with community partners who have expertise in      furthering awareness and education of African-American history and      culture. It said the effort will include a commitment of financial      resources.  CEO Thompson said, quote, "We know that we cannot change the      past and we can't make up for the wrongs of slavery, but we can learn      from our past and begin a stronger dialogue about slavery and the      experience of African-Americans in our country.</s>JOSHUA LEVS reporting: For NPR News, I'm Joshua Levs in Atlanta.
Wachovia Corp. CEO Ken Thompson apologizes for the nationwide banking chain's past links with slavery. Two companies that would eventually become part of Wachovia reportedly owned slaves.