First Union Hires Conn. Cost-Cutter

First Union Corp. has hires United Systems Integrators Corp. of Stamford, Conn., to improve the efficiency of its branches, offices, and customer service centers.

That includes 3,300 sites covering more than 40 million square feet, according to United Systems.

The five-year contract began June 14 and will pay United Systems more than $15 million, said Julie Williams, director of marketing for United Systems.

United Systems will put a team of 17 people in First Union's Charlotte, N.C., headquarters and its Philadelphia office, she said. "We expect USI to find significant savings," said Mary Eshet, a First Union spokeswoman. In the past, a series of companies helped First Union manage its real estate expenses, she said. -- Dan Weil