Ted Wolfe, President, TowneBank Charlotte

In an interview with Invest:, TowneBank Charlotte President Ted Wolfe emphasized the bank’s steady focus on relationship-driven service amid economic shifts. With Charlotte as its fastest-growing market, TowneBank is expanding through the Dogwood State Bank acquisition, deepening its offerings in SBA lending and its regional presence. “No matter what’s happening in the broader economic environment, we consistently see demand for our relationship-based model,” Wolfe said.

What changes in the economic or banking environment over the past year have impacted how TowneBank operates in Charlotte?

I’d start with what hasn’t changed, which is our focus on relationship banking. Charlotte continues to be the growth market for TowneBank across our entire footprint. The region’s ongoing economic strength — I’ve seen numbers showing a net 157 people moving here daily — supports everything happening across the community.

No matter what’s happening in the broader economic environment, we consistently see demand for our relationship-based model. We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We certainly offer the latest technologies, but our members, which is what we call our clients, value accessibility, long-term thinking, and a team that knows them personally. Through good times and tough times, we remain disciplined and focused on people who want that high-touch experience.

What opportunities does TowneBank’s merger with Dogwood State Bank create in the Charlotte market?

Joining with Dogwood creates important opportunities as we grow our presence in North Carolina, including here in Charlotte. Their culture and business philosophy are a great fit for us, with highly experienced relationship managers who operate with the same client-first mindset.

Our partnership became official in January, with Dogwood operating as “a division of TowneBank” until we fully integrate systems in 4Q26. One major benefit from our partnership is the strong SBA lending team from Dogwood that is based here in Charlotte. Their offerings and expertise fill a gap for us as we expand the tools we have available for small businesses with 7(a) loans. We’re excited for this partnership.

The acquisition also fills key gaps in our geographic footprint, particularly in Fayetteville, Wilmington, and South Carolina markets like Greenville and Charleston. We’ve always been disciplined about only doing business where we have a real community presence — where our bankers see members at events, on boards, or even at the grocery store. This expansion strengthens our ability to serve people in those markets while preserving our local decision-making and personal touch.

Where are you seeing the most demand for services in Charlotte? Are there areas you are targeting for growth?

We’re intentional about offering services where we can truly add value; not pushing products, but understanding needs and tailoring our approach. On the personal side, wealth management is a key growth area. We’re consistently among the top banks nationally in assets under management through our partnership with Raymond James. Our team provides deep expertise around succession planning, generational wealth transfer, and broader financial strategies.

We also own the largest bank-owned insurance brokerage in the country, Towne Insurance. That is a huge asset for our clients. We provide highly specialized advice, whether someone needs coverage for unique assets like artwork or a small business is trying to manage employee benefits or control rising insurance costs. We approach these situations collaboratively, not just with quotes but with customized, long-term plans.

Mortgage is another area of focus. While rates have cooled demand somewhat, it’s a market-share opportunity. We’re hiring and growing, and we offer tailored mortgage programs for professionals, doctors, and other members through our private banking team.

On the commercial side, we’re growing in employee benefits, commercial insurance, and treasury services. Treasury is an increasingly complex space, especially with the explosion of technology and integration with ERP systems. Our job is to help clients navigate that, and to be the human voice they can call when something doesn’t work. That’s where we differentiate.

Another area is merchant services. It’s a competitive space, but one where we add real value. We don’t just give clients a rate; we help them understand how they can reduce processing costs and guard against fraud. This aligns with everything else we focus on: it’s about relationships, advice, and support, not just transactions. That’s who we are.

How is TowneBank addressing the growing importance of fraud prevention in treasury services?

Fraud is a huge area of focus. While banks have strong tech safeguards, fraudsters are turning to social engineering, infiltrating client systems and impersonating people to create a wedge between them and the bank.

That’s where relationship banking makes a real difference. We recently had a situation where someone tried to authorize a wire fraudulently. Because our team knew the client personally, they immediately recognized the voice on the phone wasn’t his and stopped the transaction. It wasn’t technology that caught it, it was the strength of the relationship. That member will be with us for life now.

We also host fraud prevention seminars and work one-on-one with clients to help them tighten their internal protocols. It’s about more than just firewalls. It’s about being proactive and vigilant on all sides.

TowneBank has committed over $3 million to local causes. How do these community investments align with your strategy in Charlotte?

Giving back is a core part of our identity. This year alone, we committed $1.5 million to support the renovation of Symphony Park, which is now known as TowneBank Symphony Park. That’s a big piece of how we’re planting our flag in Charlotte and showing our commitment to the region.

Since we entered the Charlotte market in 1998, we’ve given around $5 million to local causes. Our focus is on upward mobility and education. For example, I serve on the board of the Augustine Literacy Project, which partners with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and has shown incredible success in helping at-risk students reach grade-level literacy.

We also support organizations like the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, which partners with schools to offer STEM programming. Beyond financial support, we offer space in our financial centers for nonprofits to use free of charge, host monthly “Lunch & Learn” events at our Myers Park office, and encourage our team to serve on boards and volunteer. We want to be a true community asset, not just a bank.

What are your top priorities over the next two to three years?

First and foremost, continuing to deliver world-class, relationship-based service. That’s our foundation. We track member feedback closely, and we’ve been honored to be named “Best Bank in Charlotte” by Charlotte’s Best for two years running, which is a testament to that commitment.

Second, we want to expand the number of relationships we have, while going deeper with our existing members. That means learning about their evolving needs and finding new ways to support them.

Third, successfully welcoming our new teammates from Dogwood State Bank. We’ll learn from each other and come out stronger as one team.

And finally, we want to stay deeply involved in the Charlotte community. Whether that’s through our team’s engagement, our nonprofit partnerships, or our continued investment in the region, we want to be more than a financial institution. We want to be a trusted partner.