The one bank you'd least expect to be hiring has just taken on 130 small business bankers

Bank of America, which just last week moved up its job-slashing time-table to eliminate thousands of jobs across the country, today announced that it has hired more than 130 small business bankers throughout Florida. Now, a 130 hires doesn't make up for the 16,000 jobs Bank of America plans to eliminate by the end of this year, but it still boggles the mind that both the recent hiring and firing are taking place in the retail branch sector.

Today's additions are part of the company’s previously announced plan to hire approximately 1,000 small business bankers nationwide, according to a statement the bank released.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local and national economy,” said Robb Hilson, Miami-based Small Business executive for Bank of America. “In today’s uncertain environment, it is crucial that a small business owner’s banking relationship is with someone who is knowledgeable about their local community. Bank of America small business bankers are engrained in the communities they serve, and have a real understanding of the needs of Florida businesses.”

These new small business banker hires were in the following regions:

• South Florida– 58 hires, including:- Miami-Dade County (24 hires).- Broward County (20 hires).

  - Palm Beach County (14 hires).

• Gulf Coast – 28 hires, including:-Saint Petersburg/Tampa area (15 hires).
• Central Florida – 34 hires, including:-Orlando area (21 hires).
• North Florida – 18 hires, including:-Jacksonville (six hires).

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are more than 2 million small businesses in Florida. These businesses represent more than 98 percent of all employers, more than 40 percent of the private-sector workforce and more than 75 percent of the state’s gross domestic product.