US Bank said it is “aggressively adding” more wealth management professionals to serve its expanding client base and prospects in Naples and the surrounding area. The new office is located at 9105 Strada Place, Suite 3200 in Mercato and comprises 10 investment and private banking professionals offering investment management, private banking, trust and estate services, financial planning, and multi-generational wealth planning.

The branch reports to Sandra Fleming, Florida market leader at the Private Client Reserve, who in turn reports to east region president Heidi Steiger.

“The expansion and relocation of our Naples office reflects US Bank’s continuing commitment to HNW clients in Florida,” Steiger said. “We are also offering full-service banking in the new Naples office to meet the banking needs of our wealth management clients.”

The most recent US Bank hires in Naples include Jack Randall, a senior vice president and wealth management advisor; Dana Lazich, a wealth management banking associate; and Jonathan Wheeler, a wealth management banking associate. Jeanne Melheim was also added this month as a trust associate from US Trust in Naples.

Florida proved an attractive place for wealth managers to launch offices and hire staff last year and so far 2013 looks like it's heading down the same route. As reported elsewhere on Family Wealth Report today (this website's sister publication), Tampa, FL-based Beacon Asset Management has an advisory office in Naples - a move it sees as an “exciting opportunity” for it on Florida's southern Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, according to a recent study by WealthInsight, which looked at ultra high net worth state populations, Florida came out fourth with an UHNW population of 2,597, highlighting the prospects in the region. Ahead of Florida was Texas (3,828), New York (4,363) and, in first place, California (4,929).