Wachovia Corp New (WBPS) 10-Q 2003 Q2 Quarterly report

Exhibit (32)(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Wachovia Corporation (“Wachovia”) for the period ended June 30, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, G. Kennedy Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Wachovia, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of Wachovia.

/s/ G. Kennedy Thompson

G. Kennedy Thompson

Chief Executive Officer

August 14, 2003