Tampa becoming a 'new city of finance'

Tampa is among 10 emerging U.S. cities where financial services firms are expanding and hiring, according to a new report by commercial real estate services firm CBRE Inc.

Pushed by heightened regulation and a need for skilled labor with technology prowess, banks and other financial-leaning companies are choosing Tampa, Jacksonville and other secondary markets for shared services offices, risk and compliance departments and IT divisions.

San Antonio, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Salt Lake City, Utah; Richmond, Va.; Columbus, Ohio; Phoenix; and Charlotte, N.C. also were cited by CBRE in its inaugural report on the financial services industry as less expensive, “active” markets.