1


                                                                EXHIBIT 23(a)



                        Consent of Independent Auditors




We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Wachovia 
Corporation for the registration of $1,000,000 of Junior Subordinated 
Deferrable Interest Debentures and $1,000,000 of preferred equity securities
of Wachovia Capital Trust VI, Trust VII and Trust VIII and to the 
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated January 20, 1998, 
with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Wachovia 
Corporation incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for
the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission.


                                                         /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                                         --------------------
                                                         Ernst & Young LLP

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
September 8, 1998