What vow is worth now.

Seven years ago, Ken Thompson promised Winston-Salem 3,000 jobs. He did it to generate support for Charlotte based First Union's takeover of Twin City pillar Wachovia, and it worked. Wachovia merged with First Union, even surrendering its name. Winston-Salem shed about 1,300 jobs when the headquarters moved to Charlotte, but it might have been worse if not for Thompson's pledge. Wachovia still has heavy concentrations of workers there in its wealth-management, Carolinas banking and Internet-technology divisions. But with Thompson's ouster as CEO in June, city officials fear his word might be out the door with him. Wachovia executives aren't commenting.