The signs, they are a changin’ in the Charlotte skyline, again. This time, the move came Sunday courtesy of Wells Fargo.

Helicopters hoisted individual 14-foot-tall letters spelling out Wells Fargo on two sides of the tower at 550 S. Tryon St. The former Duke Energy headquarters building is one of the tallest and best-known buildings in the city, famous for its handlebar roof and LED light show.

Two previously planned attempts to get the name in lights this year had to be scrapped due to weather conditions.

Wells Fargo first detailed plans for the sign on the building in September 2023 in a rezoning petition to the city. It’s the second tallest building in uptown.

The bank is based in San Francisco but has its largest employment base in Charlotte.

Wells Fargo had originally been prepping to install the sign April 6. But because high winds were forecast, the decision was made days before to postpone the installation, bank spokesman Josh Dunn told The Charlotte Observer. A second scheduled attempt last month also was postponed because of weather.

Mint Street, between First Street and Brooklyn Village Avenue, and First Street, between Mint and Tryon streets, were closed for construction for six hours on Saturday and one hour on Sunday, the city’s street closure map shows. The closing is listed as “Wells Fargo helicopter sign installation.”

Even after the sign is installed, Dunn said, it won’t be fully functional with lighting until after inspections.

More than a year in the making

In February 2024, City Council approved the sign, despite a recommendation from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission’s zoning committee to deny it.

The committee said that, while Wells Fargo’s plan is consistent with the Charlotte Center City 2040 Vision Plan, it offered concerns about the size of the signs and that it will “not increase the attractiveness of uptown.”

The Wells Fargo sign is the same height as Truist Center signage.

Three years ago, when Truist bank put its name and logo on top of its uptown headquarters at the former Hearst Tower, the building’s architect called it vandalism and a petition pleaded to take it down. But the Wells Fargo sign did not receive community opposition to its plan, the Observer previously reported.

The signage and enhanced lighting on the building are part Wells Fargo’s $500 million investment over five years in Charlotte.

Wells Fargo has about 27,000 workers in the Charlotte area, and more than 247,000 worldwide. More than 6,000 employees work in uptown and 10,000 work from the Customer Information Center complex.

About the Wells Fargo tower

The Wells Fargo building, completed in 2010, includes a 350-seat auditorium, 40,000-square-foot of retail and eight levels of underground parking with 2,100 spaces, according to TVS Design.

The 48-story, nearly 1.3 million-square-foot tower was developed by Childress Klein, based in Charlotte. The building architect was TVS Design and contractor Batson-Cook Construction, both based in Atlanta.

Wells Fargo last year unveiled renovation work on floors 46, 47, and 48 that are part of the bank’s large investment commitment announced in 2023.

The bank’s customer information center facility off West W.T. Harris Boulevard is part of the project.

The 2-million-square-foot facility includes new dining services, office space, amenities and a parking deck. Employees also will have access to more event space, a pavilion, and pickleball and volleyball courts.

This story was originally published June 15, 2025 at 1:33 PM.