net branching
n.— «Under the scenario, NARES was one of several shell corporations that operated under the name of “Pacific Bancorp.” The owners and directors of Pacific Bancorp granted franchise rights to do business in North Carolina to unlicensed lenders who, regulators say, operated without meaningful controls, undercutting state oversight. Moreover, by using the shell corporations, Pacific Bancorp was able to shield its involvement and potential liability in the lending process.» —“North Carolina fines mortgage lender North American Real Estate Services for ’illegal scheme'” by Lee Weisbecker Triangle Business Journal (Charlotte, North Carolina) July 6, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Melissa in Greensboro, North Carolina, has been sparring with the Gen Z members of her family over the shifting meanings of words. Her kids use aesthetic as an adjective to mean “aesthetically pleasing,” as in That’s so aesthetic. They also refer to...
Nikki in Charlotte, North Carolina, shares the story of a man who casually told passersby You dropped your pocket, prompting them to check for something that wasn’t there in the first place. That silly saying reminds her of playing pool and trying...