First-Gen College Grad Builds Career in Wilmington, Now Ready to Give Back.
Trey Harris graduated from CFCC in 2017, later graduating from UNCW before beginning a successful career at PNC Bank. Now, he’s returning to Cape Fear to help students better achieve their financial goals.
When Trey visited Wilmington his senior year of high school, he knew it was the place for him. Coming from a small town just north of Chapel Hill, Trey said he was drawn to Wilmington not just because of its proximity to the beach, but also due to its rich history and diverse architecture.
“Wilmington is just like one of those towns where it’s just gorgeous when you visit here….I kind of fell in love with it.”
But when admission to UNCW seemed out of reach, Trey turned to CFCC as an affordable and accessible stepping stone towards his bachelor’s degree. He pursued his associate’s degree and began studying business at CFCC in 2015. Trey credits CFCC’s educational resources and guidance with helping him find his way after high school.
“I just didn’t know what I wanted to do. So you have to kind of steer and find your way and come up with some type of path and goal. I think all the staff and counselors here helped a lot to point me in the right direction.”
In 2018, Trey transferred to UNCW, where he later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and leadership. He attended UNCW part-time, looking to balance his pursuit of education with the necessity to support himself financially.
In 2021, Trey began working as a teller at PNC Bank before graduating later that year. Soon, he was promoted to banker, and eventually to senior branch banker.
As a first-generation college student, Trey was unfamiliar with the financial burden of higher education, but he did not let it stop him from meeting his goals. And he doesn’t think it should stop anyone else.
Giving Back
That’s why he aims to partner with CFCC in Spring 2026 to bring financial literacy workshops and resources to campus to provide students with the knowledge they need to set themselves up for a successful financial future.
“One thing that I hear all the time from older generations at the bank is ‘I wish I had known this when I was younger.’ The earlier you learn this stuff, the better prepared you are and the less likely you are to make decisions that set you back later.”
His baseline advice? Save.
“Save, save, save, anytime that you can save, just try to put something aside. Even if it’s $20 out of your paycheck, you’re not going to notice $20 gone, but it’s going to help you out longer.”
He also recommends establishing a line of credit early on, as it takes time for credit to grow and improve. “Our society runs on credit, so it has got to be a tool that you use if you’re going to function and buy things.”
More information regarding financial literacy workshops hosted by Trey and PNC Bank will be made available in Spring 2026. CFCC has financial literacy resources available.
