JPMorgan Chase marked the opening of its 1,000th new branch since beginning a national market expansion in 2018, with a ceremony held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Executives and local community members attended the event to underscore the bank’s growing role in increasing access to financial services.
“Every day, nearly one million customers visit our branches to manage their finances or get advice on how to save, spend and grow their money,” said Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking. “We are very proud of the role we play to serve these customers while providing opportunities for long-term economic growth through construction, community investments and local hiring.”
The bank stated it will continue expanding into low-to-moderate income and rural areas that have limited access to traditional banking. Cities such as Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Raleigh, and Washington, D.C. are among those targeted for further branch openings.
Since 2018, Chase has opened more branches than any other large U.S. bank combined. According to the company, this expansion means that 68% of Americans now live within a reasonable driving distance of a Chase branch. The firm aims to open 500 additional locations by early 2027 as part of a broader plan to reach 75% of the national population within an accessible drive time and over half the population within each state.
Chase reports that its branches contribute significantly to local economies by originating billions in business and home loans annually. With around 50,000 customer-facing employees across its network, the bank claims it supports substantial job creation in host communities.
Branches see about 300 million customer visits per year and process roughly 900 million transactions annually. Internal research cited by JPMorgan Chase indicates that areas with new branches experience increased retail activity, higher mortgage originations, greater business activity, and higher household incomes compared with similar areas without a Chase presence.
“We've long recognized that our branches serve as storefronts for all our capabilities across the firm, from banking to lending to wealth management and business formation,” Roberts added. “What's truly exciting is seeing them act as catalysts for economic activity in the communities we serve.”
When its current expansion concludes, Chase will have opened more than 1,100 new branches since 2018 while renovating thousands more locations nationwide. The initiative includes entering approximately 80 new markets and adding over 10,500 employees.
“Our commitment to local communities extends beyond providing financial services,” said Tom Horne, Head of Consumer Branch Banking at Chase. “From construction to day-to-day branch operations, we hire locally, ensuring that our expansion directly contributes to the economic vitality of the areas we serve. We’re not just building branches; we are investing in the long-term health and future of our communities.”
To support these efforts, Chase is actively recruiting staff for new locations. Minimum base pay ranges from $20–$25 per hour depending on location for overtime-eligible employees; benefits average approximately $19,500 per employee each year.
Branch formats vary according to community needs—some feature private meeting rooms while high-volume sites offer multiple transaction windows. In addition to standard locations, Chase operates 19 Community Centers nationwide designed specifically for underserved populations as part of its network of about 300 community-focused branches.
Chase is also expanding services aimed at affluent clients through new J.P. Morgan Financial Centers planned across several markets; it expects to operate 31 such centers by late next year.
Currently serving nearly 80 million consumers and close to six million small businesses nationwide with offerings including personal banking products, credit cards, mortgages and investment advice—as well as payment processing—Chase continues broadening both physical access points and service lines.