Schwab Picks Austin for New Call Center

AUSTIN—Discount broker Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., is coming to Austin. The company confirmed plans to lease 115,000 sf of new office construction at Research Park Plaza in northwest Austin. Earlier this year, Schwab eyed the Lone Star State to house its fifth national call center and subsequently started negotiating with developer Cousins Stone. The world’s largest discount securities brokerage firm may also sign for another 170,000 sf in the 10-acre development at Research Blvd. and Oak Knoll Dr. Historically, Schwab’s call centers employ 1,500 to 2,500 people. The center is being added to the firm’s reported 75,000 new accounts per month, GlobeSt.com has learned. The lease marks Schwab’s second Austin deal since January, when it bought CyBerCorp. Inc., an on-line stock brokerage firm.