WaMu Teams Up With Magic Johnson

Washington Mutual, Seattle, has announced that it is teaming up with former basketball great Earvin "Magic" Johnson to celebrate the grand opening of three home loan centers and a loan processing center in the San Francisco Bay Area.WaMu said the event will kick off a new phase of its commitment to boost homeownership in underserved communities by introducing Solid Start, a free, four-part financial education and credit building program. The thrift institution said it is the first time that Mr. Johnson, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson Development Corp., has expanded his community development efforts to Hispanic and Asian communities. "Economic growth is the key to solving many problems faced by minority community residents, and by joining forces with Washington Mutual, we hope to help rebuild urban communities, stimulate local economies, and bring much-needed services to residents," Mr. Johnson said.