Midwest bank details its Charlotte and NC multi-million-dollar expansion plan
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- Huntington Bank plans 55 new branches in the Carolinas by end of 2027.
- Charlotte branch openings boost hiring, with 350 new roles expected regionally.
- Expansion includes community investments in small business, housing and education.
Huntington National Bank has bigger expansion plans in store for Charlotte and the Carolinas after the grand opening of its first branch in SouthPark Wednesday.
The Ohio-based bank expects to have five branches open by the end of the year in the Carolinas, Heath Campbell, Huntington executive managing director and regional president for the Carolinas, recently told The Charlotte Observer.
It’s part of Huntington’s three-year, multi-million-dollar expansion plan in the Carolinas. The bank did not provide additional details on the expansion cost.
On Wednesday, Huntington is celebrating its first North Carolina branch with a grand opening event at 6700 Fairview Road, Suite 113, Charlotte. The event is from 4 to 6 p.m.
“The SouthPark branch plays a critical role in how we enter and how we engage our customers in North Carolina,” Campbell said.
A second branch, previously expected to open this month in South End, will open by year’s end, Campbell said. He did not say why the bank opening has been delayed.
“I like to think this shows a really deep level commitment, and also reinforces why it’s time to enter Charlotte and the Carolinas,” Campbell said.
Charlotte has seen several other regional and national banks enter one of the largest banking centers in the U.S. The market is dominated by Bank of America and Truist, both headquartered in Charlotte, and San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, with about 27,000 workers here.
But Huntington remains confident it can carve out a place in the Charlotte market. The bank already has quickly grown since entering Charlotte and the Carolinas market a decade ago, Campbell said.
About Huntington National Bank’s SouthPark branch
The new branch doesn’t look like a traditional bank with a formal teller line. The look and feel reflects where the bank is going with modern digital experiences combined with local service.
“It’s more like small offices. When you walk in, it’s going to be a conversation,” Campbell said. “It’s not about transactions. It’s about relationships.
The branch provides digital capabilities, investment banking, wealth management, mortgage and insurance services, according to Campbell.
Why a Midwest bank is expanding in ‘banktown’
It was about one year ago that Huntington announced its Carolina expansion plan to open 55 branches over the next three years.
Huntington has offered financial services for over 10 years in the Carolinas and has over 30,000 customers here, Campbell said. “Now we can deliver our financial services, when, where and how they want to interact with Huntington Bank,” he said.
Huntington accelerated its original five-year plan because of its “momentum,” hiring skilled bankers in North and South Carolina, said Campbell, noting Charlotte’s population and economic growth. There are now about 400 Huntington employees in the Carolinas, Campbell said.
Huntington expects to add another 350 employees as branches open across the Carolinas.
The first Carolina branch debuted May 2 in Spartanburg, S.C., followed by SouthPark on May 12. Huntington last month opened a Raleigh hub with wealth capabilities, wholesale and consumer capabilities.
Huntington bank’s community focus
Huntington’s multimillion-dollar growth strategy includes investing in the community from focusing on small businesses and affordable housing, as well as education.
Huntington launched an “Ignite the Classroom” this summer, sending 100 Mecklenburg and Union County educators on an expense-paid trip to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta for professional development. Clark, a native of Chocowinity in eastern North Carolina, is an American educator, author and motivational speaker.
“We believe our best way to invest in our community is to invest in education,” Campbell said.
So while Huntington is a Midwest-based bank, Campbell said it’s personal for him as a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School.
“We’re a national bank that believes in investing locally, locally in our colleagues and our clients and our communities,” Campbell said.
More banks opening branches in Charlotte
In addition to Huntington, other banks are opening branches here as well.
U.S. Bank opened its seventh Charlotte-area branch last month at 1801 South Blvd. in South End. Another branch will open next year in Matthews.
In July, Florida-based BankUnited Inc. debuted by hiring three corporate banking and commercial real estate executives here. The bank is eyeing SouthPark to build its first branch.
The largest U.S. bank, JPMorganChase, debuted its 5,300-square-foot branch in SouthPark in July. The bank is adding more than 15 branches by the end of 2026 and hiring hundreds of people.
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM.
