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The financial services industry is at a turning point as digital transformation, AI integration, and hybrid work become standard. Companies are rethinking their real estate strategies, moving beyond simple location and cost concerns to focus on talent access, innovation, flexibility, and sustainability, according to a new JLL report.
Corporate real estate (CRE) now plays a vital role in supporting business goals, the “Financial Services Portfolio of Tomorrow” report shows. Firms are choosing locations that connect them to key talent pools and technology hubs.
Global banks are bringing AI teams closer to product developers, while wealth managers target areas near universities to find new talent. Cities like Bengaluru, Toronto, and Dallas are becoming important financial services centers due to lower costs and growing workforces.
Traditional financial hubs remain important — New York leads with over 627,000 financial jobs — but newer markets are gaining ground. Vancouver’s fintech growth, Warsaw’s role in shared services and automation, and Toronto’s tech-focused developments stand out. Singapore and Atlanta are also growing, supported by strong universities and regional leadership.
Data shows a growing focus on AI and tech roles, with top banks increasing AI staff by 12% in six months. Despite higher tech spending, labor productivity has slightly declined over the past decade, highlighting the need to rethink workplace design.
To compete, financial firms are pursuing four key strategies for their commercial real estate properties: redesigning spaces to support teamwork and deep technical tasks, creating environments that help move AI projects from testing to real-world use, expanding into talent-rich locations, and using creative financing to manage costs while growing.
Real estate choices are becoming crucial for financial services companies aiming to attract skilled workers, boost innovation, and build lasting strength in a competitive, digital world.
