JPMorgan Chase Bank said it will open its first Hartford branch in downtown’s CityPlace II skyscraper in September.
Construction crews were seen Tuesday renovating the downtown space, formerly occupied by Bank of America, at 185 Asylum St., which flanks both Trumbull and Pearl streets.
Chase will become the skyscraper’s second new bank tenant in the last year or so. United Bank debuted a branch in the 18-story building last summer.
Chase Market Director Mark Telesmanick said Chase’s new Hartford location will feature a modern design with open, collaborative spaces for meetings and so-called “Chase Chats,” which are small group sessions focused on financial health.
Hartford is an important market that Chase said it’s been eyeing for several years, he said.
“We’ve been anxiously watching the city revitalization and now that we have” federal “approval we’ll be able to better service our clients with a retail presence in the state Capitol,” he continued.
Telesmanick said the bank is also opening an Avon branch at 201 West Main St. shortly after its debut on Asylum Street.
Meantime, Chase Bank has already received federal approval to operate new branches in South Windsor, Cheshire and Ridgefield. It also has locations in New Haven and Waterbury.
Chase is currently undergoing a national push to open up to 90 new branches and hire 700 employees by year-end 2019. In total, the Manhattan-based investment bank last year announced its plans to open 400 new branches and hire up to 3,000 workers by 2023.
According to Chase, its 5,000 branches and 16,000 ATMS serve 62 million households and over four million small businesses nationwide.
