Wachovia Wealth Management plans to move into California, Arizona and Colorado with satellite offices over the next two years. The bank's parent last week acquired Oakland-based Golden West Financial Corp, making the move especially timely, said Anne Doss, managing executive of Wealth Management Services. "We want to enter new markets in parallel with the general bank," Doss explained, noting a "universal bank model" in conjunction with the wholesale and retail bank.

Wachovia utilizes locally-based wealth management teams within roughly a one hour proximity of their client base. It will hire regional directors, supported by four to six relationship managers, for each hub, as well as credit and trust advisors, financial planners and investment strategists.

Calibre, the firm's multi-family office arm, may also look to expand to the west coast.