(RALEIGH) -- One day after Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group announced it is buying Raleigh-based RBC Bank, the debate continues over the impact the merger will have on North Carolina. NC State University economist Dr. Mike Walden said the merger was no surprise to him.

"This had been rumored for a while and I think long run this will be good.  The combined bank will be stronger, obviously, RBC, it had some financial problems.  The head folks say there will be minimal job losses.  We'll have to wait and see 'cause typically it's the headquarters and main office facilities that suffer when you have this kind of merger," said Walden.

PNC Chairman and Chief Executive James Rohr plans to visit Raleigh on Tuesday to talk about the merger plans.  RBC employs around 500 people at its Raleigh headquarters, but the bank operates a data center in Rocky Mount that employs about 1,000 workers.