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This is the thirty-eighth in a series of informative monthly articles for North Carolina businesses from PNC in collaboration with BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA magazine.

When PNC Regional Presidents Weston Andress and Jim Hansen reflect on the sectors fueling North Carolina’s success in business, the state’s robust higher education system and banking industry rank among the most prominent, with significant connectivity and collaboration between the two.

“As a business leader and native North Carolinian, I have always recognized and appreciated the clear correlation between an educated workforce and a vibrant, sustainable landscape for our state’s financial services industry,” says Raleigh-based Hansen, who leads PNC’s Eastern Carolinas market. “There is little question North Carolina’s banks and businesses benefit from the many efforts of North Carolina’s schools, colleges and universities to equip students for successful careers.”

Just as North Carolina’s higher education ecosystem is cultivating a veritable talent pipeline for finance and business, banks are investing in programs, resources and infrastructure to help bolster and enrich the student experience at local academic institutions.

“As one of North Carolina’s largest banks, PNC is actively engaged with colleges and universities throughout the state in a variety of meaningful ways,” says Charlotte-based Andress, who leads PNC’s Western Carolinas market. “Delivering banking services and financial education to students, funding academic programs and resources, and helping finance essential infrastructure assets are some of the ways we help support the continued excellence of higher education in North Carolina.”

EQUIPPING STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL EDUCATION

While the college years represent a formative time for students to develop and refine smart money habits, they are unlikely to find Financial Literacy 101 among their schools’ course offerings. To help prepare students for financially secure futures, PNC and its dedicated University Banking team collaborate with institutions to deliver tools and resources, including PNC My Finance Academy, to help students learn how to budget, manage credit and build financial knowledge and confidence.

“Money management is a core life skill that can help today’s students achieve their future financial goals,” says Jim Redilla, vice president and University Banking relationship manager. “Financial literacy is like any other form of education: It’s meant to help students improve themselves, make better decisions, and succeed in whichever paths

they choose.”

PNC maintains University Banking relationships with more than 500 higher education institutions nationwide. In North Carolina, PNC is the Official Bank of North Carolina State University and enjoys University Banking relationships with Fayetteville State University and North Carolina Central University.

“These alliances have created meaningful opportunities for PNC to engage with students, while also supporting institutions that contribute significantly to the state’s economy and talent pipeline,” says Redilla. “For today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce, establishing a foundation for financial education is crucial for future success, and PNC is committed to providing resources and tools to help build that foundation.”

CONTRIBUTING TO CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE

In addition to helping students create a foundation for financial wellness, PNC’s North Carolina-based team has played a role in building the physical foundation for campus resources, including student housing, to meet the needs of students and campus communities.

“PNC’s Public Finance Group is committed to serving the financial needs of the public sector, including institutions of higher education,” says Kyle Huber, senior vice president and relationship manager for PNC’s Public Finance group.

“For example, as regions throughout North Carolina see their populations grow and demand for housing increases, we recognize an institution’s ability to grow enrollment is dependent on a supply of high-quality affordable student housing. And we are doing our part to help finance the development of this necessary infrastructure.”

COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOPING STUDENT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES

As colleges and universities evolve to address the unique needs of today’s students and employers, opportunities to create interdisciplinary learning environments abound, and PNC is among the companies investing in resources designed to help develop future bankers and business leaders.

“As students prepare for careers in finance, experiential learning opportunities represent an increasingly important element of academic rigor,” says Hansen, who in January 2025 joined Andress and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School faculty, students and alumni to commemorate the naming of the PNC Capital Markets Lab.

The PNC Capital Markets Lab, named in recognition of a grant from the PNC Foundation, enables students to leverage sophisticated research and analytics tools, including Bloomberg terminals, to explore financial markets in real time and manage real funds in equity and fixed-income portfolios.

Faculty members describe the lab as a bridge between the theoretical and the practical – where academia and real-world business meet.

Outside the lab, an electronic stock ticker board visually displays the dynamics of the market, bringing both timeliness and relevance to the instruction and learning taking place within the lab’s four walls.

“Banking and higher education are both sectors that have flourished in North Carolina thanks to a legacy of innovation and a vision for the future,” says Andress. “Collaborating with higher ed institutions provides an opportunity for PNC to honor this legacy and contribute to the future success of a state that means so much to us.”

This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. PNC urges its customers to do independent research and to consult with financial and legal professionals before making any financial decisions.Bank deposit products and services provided by PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

PNC is a registered mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”).

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