Banks see mostly favorable conditions for Tampa Bay

Both BMO Capital Markets and The PNC Financial Services Group have issued fairly upbeat reports about the area’s economy.

BMO projects Florida’s growth will exceed the national average this year, with strength in employment growth a “big positive” for job seekers, said Dave Maraman, Florida regional president-business banking, BMO Harris Bank. BMO said nonfarm payrolls rose 2.9 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter, and construction employment is rising at a very strong clip, up 9.4 percent… …read more