Japanese bank chooses uptown Charlotte tower as new HQ for 2,000 employees
Major Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp has found a home for its second U.S. headquarters in Charlotte. An uptown building familiar to many as “the jukebox building,” because of its distinctive top.
SMBC Group is subleasing about 200,000 square feet at 301 S. College St. and plans to move in the fall, according to a news release from the bank. Monetary terms and the length of the lease were not disclosed.
The lease solidifies SMBC’s entry into the city. In April, the bank announced that Charlotte would be the home for its second U.S. headquarters, after considering Jacksonville, Florida.
The bank committed to bringing 2,000 high-paying financial services jobs from 2028 through 2032. The new jobs will pay an average of $165,316.
And the financial institute plans to invest $50.5 million into the new headquarters by the end of next year.
SMBC has an office in uptown but the new space in 301 S. College St. will be bigger to accommodate its larger operations. The bank plans to hire about 1,800 people locally, in addition to the 160 people already employed at the Charlotte office.
About 301 S. College St. in uptown Charlotte
With the lease from SMBC, 301 S. College St. is becoming a banking headquarters again.
The 42-story tower was the East Coast hub for Wells Fargo and was once the One Wells Fargo Center.
Wells Fargo left the building, and Two Wells Fargo Center, to consolidate operations at Three Wells Fargo Center and the former Duke Energy building at 550 S. Tyron St.
With the move-out, 301 S. College lost its major tenant and rent payer. The building fell into receivership in 2023.
This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Japanese bank chooses uptown Charlotte tower as new HQ for 2,000 employees."
