PNC is introducing its new Wilmington market offices this week, showing clients and the business community the space it now occupies at 1404 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 200.
 
The 15 to 20 employees in wealth management, retail banking management, business banking, corporate banking, mortgage and human resources in the new suite formerly worked in PNC’s downtown office at 101 N. Third St. That office closed in mid-May, when its lease was up, because of plans to demolish the building to make way for a new five-story office building on the site. Front-line retail banking employees from the downtown branch were transferred to PNC’s branch at 2015 S. 17th St.
 
PNC looked at various options before deciding on the Commonwealth Drive location for its management functions, said Dennis Blue, PNC’s senior vice president and wealth management director, who is based in Raleigh and oversees the bank’s wealth management group in the eastern Carolinas.
 
“Certainly the Mayfaire area is very convenient to the Wilmington market,” Blue said of the Commonwealth Drive offices.
 
“Client services are at the top of our list of priorities,” said Nick Becton, PNC’s vice president and senior relationship manager, who’s based in the new suite. The market he oversees extends from Morehead City south to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, and includes Florence, South Carolina and Laurinburg, Lumberton and Fayetteville to the west.
 
Becton said that Wilmington has been very welcoming to PNC and the services it brings.
 
“Our goal is to continue our commitment to clients and their communities,” he said.
 
“Our commitment to the Wilmington market is broad and deep,” Blue said, noting that PNC has contributed more than $250,000 to community development, early childhood education and arts and culture since it came into the market through its purchase of RBC’s U.S. retail banking operations in March 2012. “We support the Smart Start program in New Hanover County through grants and volunteerism. We support Cucalorus and Riverfest. Our commitment is very strong.”