COURTESY JPMORGAN CHASE

JPMorgan Chase and Johnson C. Smith University officials celebrated the opening of the bank's 13th Charlotte branch on Thursday. The bank also gifted $750,000 to Johnson C. Smith University to expand career pathways for students interested in financial services careers.

A new banking asset is available in Historic West End.

JPMorgan Chase’s newest branch, which opened Thursday at 2023 Beatties Ford Road, is its 13th in Charlotte since moving into the market in 2019 and will provide financial health workshops, community events and cooperative programming with Johnson C. Smith University. The staff of 10 will focus on helping more consumers in the region open accounts, manage their money, start businesses and buy homes.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this branch in the neighborhood where I grew up,” said Nicole Byers, a former resident of Beatties Ford Road and the branch’s manager. “I know this area well, and I know that by physically being here, we are becoming part of the Beatties Ford community with a vested interest in its growth, equity and financial stability.”

JPMorgan Chase also announced a $750,000 investment to JCSU to expand career pathways programs for students interested in financial services careers through work-based learning and post graduate job placement. The gift also will try to grow new talent pools for the financial services industry by tackling systemic racial wealth disparities and investing in Black-serving colleges and universities.

Earlier this year, Chase announced a multi-million-dollar investment in Black-owned Mechanics and Farmers Bank so that it can do more to serve its customers and clients, including by increasing lending and technology assets. Durham-based M&F has a branch on Beatties Ford Road.

“Our new Beatties Ford Road branch and philanthropic investment in Johnson C. Smith University show our commitment to Charlotte in action,” said Jennifer Roberts, Chase’s CEO of consumer banking. “Branches can help local residents build a stronger financial foundation, support small businesses as they grow, and help communities become more resilient. We’re committed to supporting the Beatties Ford community and are proud to officially open our doors here.”

Black Americans are underrepresented in the financial services sector, with less than 7% of professional-level employees identifying as such. The grant will support national efforts to grow a more diverse talent pool nationally as well as in Charlotte, a major financial services hub.

“As a veteran of both the financial services and higher education sectors, I know as well as anyone the value of a career-focused education and what that can mean for our students,” said JCSU President Clarence Armbrister. “JPMorgan Chase’s focus on helping our university and our students create pathways to financial services careers will help them land roles in a high growth, high wage industry.”

The investments – which are in addition to a $750,000 gift to Central Piedmont Community College to develop economically mobile career pathways – are part of Chase’s $30 billion commitment to boost bring more economic opportunity in communities of color through financial health, small business opportunities, and housing affordability.

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