Upstarter Profile

Erald Sino knew he couldn’t live in New York much longer. A particularly snowy February in the city was what settled it for Erald and his family, who prefers warmer weather. Erald grew up in Albania, which enjoys a much milder climate than the Northeast United States.

Erald and his family left the city on a blustery winter day for a trip to Greenville, South Carolina. It took about two hours in the city for them to know it was where they wanted to live.

“We left New York City in a full-blown snowstorm and just a few hours later we were sitting outside in downtown Greenville, eating burgers and watching people walk by in light jackets,” he said. “It was a no-brainer.”

During his time in New York, Erald found a job at JPMorganChase, a global financial institution with more than 250,000 employees worldwide, and earned an MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business. When he made the move to Upstate South Carolina, just six months after the birth of his first child, Erald was able to continue working at JPMorganChase as the firm expanded into the region with a new commercial banking office in Greenville.

So, did Upstate South Carolina live up to their expectations? “It met our expectations, and better,” recalled Erald. However, there were a few surprises.

“I knew about BMW, I knew about Michelin and I knew there was an international company presence here. For me, as someone who wasn’t born in the U.S., I knew that meant it would be a welcoming place.

“The implications of having international companies here goes beyond having people from other countries walking around,” he continued. “It contributes to a culture where people are more accepting and genuinely interested in my life story and how I ended up here. It’s like New York in that way. That, and the restaurant scene is very diverse.”

Another surprise coming from New York was just how much there is to do in the Upstate.

“There’s really a lot to do and you can find anything you want—from local stores to restaurants and activities. The downtown has a very European feel and it’s very walkable. Living in New York, we didn’t have a car, so we liked that aspect,” he said.

Erald and his family rented an apartment for the first six months and have since established themselves in a new house in one of the many wonderful new neighborhoods of Greenville.

In the time since Erald moved to the Upstate, he continued to work with JPMorganChase as they grew their South Carolina footprint.

In 2025, Erald joined Fifth Third Bank to help continue the bank’s growth and success story in the Upstate. With an expanding branch network and outstanding Middle Market growth, the Bank is committed to the region through investments in the community and beyond.

When he’s not working, Erald stays busy with activities throughout the Upstate by taking advantage of his proximity to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, where he walks, runs, and explores the bars and restaurants with trail access.

Erald is an avid CrossFit-er and has been practicing for the past eight years, participating in various competitions both in and out of state. He also completed the first race of his life in May 2023,the Mountains to Main Half Marathon from Travelers Rest to Downtown Greenville, after four months of training on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. He has since repeated that race and beat his personal record.

Erald is also in his fifth season of playing coed soccer through the Greenville Sports Leagues with a group of 15-20 young professionals from the area.

It’s a family affair for Erald, his wife, and his three children. Erald notes that Upstate South Carolina is “such family-friendly place where people appreciate children and genuinely care about them. Whether at work, or walking around the city, everyone interacts positively with the kids.”

Erald and his family are members of the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Greenville Zoo, and he volunteers as a  coach for his son’s soccer team at the local YMCA. “There are so many events and festivals going on,” he added. “There’s a farmers’ market in the summer where they close down three blocks of Main Street and it’s just rows of vegetables, cheeses, meats, flowers…We just love it.”

“It comes down to quality of life,” Erald said of what makes Upstate SC different from other places he has lived. “Affordability, air quality, activities for the kids, and the attitude of the people here.”