Surprising Charlotte! Did you know Charlotte is a major financial center? In addition to being the financial capital of the South, only one other city in the U.S. has more financial resources (New York). Nine of the nation's top 200 banks operate in Charlotte; two of them rank in the top 10 (Bank of America and First Union) and are headquartered here. No other city in the Southeast can claim more of the top 200 banks.