Why Charlotte beat Atlanta to land NYC banking giant's new hub, 200 jobs. Updated October 27, 2026 2:58 PM Gift Article Clearing House Payments Co., the oldest banking association and payments company in the U.S., plans to invest $11.5 million to create a hub in Charlotte and create 200 jobs. The N.C. Economic Investment Committee on Tuesday approved a Job Development Investment Grant valued at up to $3.24 million over 12 years for the firm's expansion. The company plans to establish a strategic workplace and client engagement hub in Charlotte, said Mark Poole, director of commerce finance at the N.C. Department of Commerce, during the committee's meeting. The company has pledged to make the investment by Dec. 31, 2030. The new jobs will be created from 2028 to 2031 with a minimum average wage of $162,322, well above Mecklenburg County's average salary of $90,706. "We're excited to open a new office in Charlotte, one of the nation's leading banking and financial services hubs," The Clearing House CEO and president David Watson said in a statement from Gov. Josh Stein's office. "With its deep talent pool and strong financial services community, Charlotte is an ideal location for The Clearing House." The roles in Charlotte will include finance, legal, risk and compliance, payments expertise, client relationship management, Clearing House spokesman Greg MacSweeney told The Charlotte Observer on Tuesday. The office will be located in uptown Charlotte, he said. Why Charlotte? Charlotte was chosen by the financial services provider over Atlanta, as well as other semifinalists Dallas, Texas, and Tampa, Fla., based on "quality of life, New York City connectivity and workforce comparisons," Poole said. Additional tax incentives include $385,000 for training and about $210,000 in combined local incentives from the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The company currently has 216 employees in Forsyth County. The Clearing House Payments, founded in 1853, is based in New York, N.Y., with 530 workers companywide. Owned by major commercial banks, it clears and settles over $2 trillion daily, according to the company. This story was originally published October 27, 2026 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Why Charlotte beat Atlanta to land NYC banking giant's new hub, 200 jobs." October 22, 2026 12:30 PM October 13, 2026 11:58 AM The Charlotte Observer Catherine Muccigrosso covers retail, banking and other business news for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers in the Carolinas, Missouri and New York.

The Clearing House to invest $11.5 million in Charlotte expansion, add 200 jobs. Governor Josh Stein announced that The Clearing House Payments Company will invest $11.5 million expanding operations in Charlotte with plans for 200 new jobs supported by a state grant program. Local leaders highlighted benefits for employment growth while officials noted broader economic impacts. Yesterday, 7:58 a.m. Tuesday, Oct 27 By I. J. Sanchez Governor Josh Stein announced on Oct. 27 that The Clearing House Payments Company L.L.C., a financial services provider, will expand its operations in Mecklenburg County by investing $11.5 million and adding 200 jobs. "Charlotte is the second-largest financial center in the nation," said Governor Josh Stein. "The Clearing House can capitalize on our state's top-ranked business climate and top-tier talent that support the growing financial services ecosystem of our state." Founded in 1853, The Clearing House operates U.S. payment infrastructure clearing and settling more than $2 trillion each business day through wire, ACH, real-time payment, and check-image exchange services. Its expansion aims to establish a modern presence supporting long-term growth, client engagement, operational resilience, and employee experience. "We're excited to open a new office in Charlotte, one of the nation's leading banking and financial services hubs," said David Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Clearing House. "With its deep talent pool and strong financial services community, Charlotte is an ideal location for The Clearing House to build on our longstanding presence in North Carolina and strengthen relationships with clients in the region while creating new opportunities to connect with financial institutions across the country. We look forward to becoming an even more active part of the area's thriving banking and financial services industry." North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said, "North Carolina is a national hub for the finance and fintech sectors. Companies like The Clearing House can bank on the opportunities, workforce, and strategic advantages that North Carolina offers growing financial firms." Average annual salaries for these positions will be $162,322 - higher than Mecklenburg County's average - and could result in an annual payroll impact exceeding $32.4 million. The expansion will be supported by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), approved earlier by the Economic Investment Committee; over twelve years it could grow North Carolina's economy by $1.3 billion with potential reimbursement up to $2.43 million based on performance verification each year by Commerce and Revenue departments. Because Mecklenburg County is classified as Tier 3 under North Carolina's economic tier system, up to $810,000 from JDIG may go into the Industrial Development Fund - Utility Account for rural infrastructure upgrades statewide. "This announcement highlights the important role that financial services play in supporting job creation in Mecklenburg County and in the state," said Senator Caleb Theodros. Representative Becky Carney said, "We appreciate the investment The Clearing House is making in Charlotte... This expansion brings new jobs, strengthens our business environment, and reinforces the positive impact the financial services sector has on our economy." In addition to involvement from multiple local partners including Commerce's Division of Workforce Solutions and local government bodies such as Mecklenburg County Commission - the Office of Governor serves all North Carolinians as chief executive officer executing laws; leads Council of State; directs budgets; grants pardons; appoints officials; influences policy decisions; serves as commander-in-chief of National Guard - according to official information from the Office of Governor.

Quant rallies 16% on renewed RWA interest - Can QNT's $200 support hold? How renewal in RWA discussions on Quant Network sparked a double-digit rally. Updated 23:00 EDT October 26, 2026 Quant Network [QNT] is up more than 16% in the past 24 hours amid renewed social sentiment around its real-world asset (RWA) activity. It is the largest gainer of the day among the top 100 cryptos by market cap, even outpacing Bitcoin [BTC]. There have been more than 9.43K mentions and engagements over the past 24 hours among top influencers. Quant Network's renewed RWA discussions. A month ago, Quant Network won two deals to settle bank transfers using the blockchain on the Ethereum [ETH] ecosystem. As per the chain, over $2 trillion will be settled on Quant after it was picked to run the tokenized deposit network for US and UK banks. These renewed discussions around its RWA come amid clear timelines where banks will get access in the first half of 2027. This move, which happened in September, led to a rally from $100 to $370, followed by a deep pullback. Speaking after the announcement of this partnership, the CEO of Quant, Gilbert Verdian, said, AMBCrypto is proud to partner with The Clearing House in the US to set a new standard for tokenized deposits everywhere. However, this action does not establish whether participating banks will need to purchase or hold QNT. But the firm affirmed this move by launching Multi-Ledger Rollup on its 10th anniversary, named Layer 2.5. With Layer 2.5, a bank token can serve as collateral in DeFi with no bridge. As a result, even the network activity increased with daily transfers jumping over 22% to reach 5,640. Holders also slightly rose during this period. Furthermore, Quant's daily trading volume more than doubled from the previous day's reading, surpassing $112 million. However, there is no guarantee if this bullish strength can be sustained, especially after QNT broke above $191. Will the triangle breakout hold? On the charts, QNT broke above a falling wedge, which was a correction pattern. The altcoin successfully retested $188, and it is facing immediate resistance at $213. The Bull Bear Power (BBP) has flipped green as the weekend came to an end. Moreover, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) sharply rose from -0.30 to 0.10, indicating capital inflows. Therefore, staying above $200 increases the odds of clearing the $213-$220 zone, which exposes levels above $250. The ultimate target for bulls in the short term remains well above $320. Final summary. * Quant Network rallied over 16% in the past 24 hours amid renewed discussions around its RWA sector. * QNT broke out of a falling wedge pattern and successfully retested $188, but it remains a challenge to hold above $200.