Ames ranks nationally as one of the best places for bank data-security.

Ames is the seventh best place in the country for banks to locate data-secure offices, according to the Boyd Company, a consulting firm in Princeton, N.J., hired to advise banks nationwide.

Ames placed above Tulsa, Okla.; Des Moines; and Charlotte, N.C.

Boyd Company based their rankings on several factors, including operational costs, available workforce and accessibility.

Many cities from the Midwest were ranked on the list because of their central location. This means they can reach both coasts quickly, and do not experience as many natural disasters as states located along the coast.

Ames was also favorable because of its connection to Iowa State.

“This is a fantastic acknowledgment for Ames,” said President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce Dan Culhane, “especially in light of the other communities on the list. We live in a time where bank data-security is of utmost importance, so it’s reassuring to know Ames competes among the best.”

Two other Iowa cities were ranked in the top 10: Council Bluffs at the sixth spot and Des Moines in the ninth.