July 8 (Reuters) - Citigroup ( C/PN ) plans to create 510

new jobs in Charlotte, Josh Stein, governor of North Carolina

said on Tuesday.

The bank will invest $16.1 million in an office facility in

Mecklenburg County, expanding its workforce in personal banking,

finance and marketing, the governor added.

Bloomberg News was the first to report Citigroup's ( C/PN ) expansion

in Charlotte.

Even as digital banking gains prominence, U.S. banks view

branch networks as essential tools for fostering and sustaining

client relationships.

"Charlotte stood out as a location where we had a unique

opportunity to invest by establishing a formal presence," said

Edward Skyler, Citi's head of enterprise services & public

affairs.

The average salary for the new positions is projected to be

$131,832, according to the official release.