As much of corporate New York settles into hybrid schedules, Wall Street has gone the other way. The major banks have reinstated five-day, in-office attendance, making finance the city's strictest sector on the question of where work happens.

Executives at the fictional firm Keel Brothers argue that apprenticeship and risk management require people in the same room, especially for junior staff learning the trade. The mandate has reshaped commuting patterns and filled the restaurants and bars of the Financial District.

Not everyone is thrilled. Recruiters say some talent has drifted to firms with more flexibility. But the banks are betting that the prestige and pay of a Wall Street job are enough to keep the seats full.