Lateraling offices within same bank for personal reasons

Background: currently at regional office of EB working in a specific industry. I summer’ed at a different bank, but re-recruited for full-time. Currently in my second year at the firm and have received very great reviews, both verbally and indirectly through my bonus.

Situation: I love the industry I work in, but my entire family has moved to NYC (3 hour flight) and a family member is sick. I would like to move back to NYC to be closer to my family, but my current office culture does not seem welcoming to the idea. I have not brought it up yet because I am unsure about the reaction I will get.

Question: there is a contact from my college there currently, but he is only an analyst. I am a very high performing analyst, but there is no history of such a lateral. Is it worth the risk to bring up the topic (end goal is to stay in banking and will hopefully move to Associate year after next). In the past, any hint of a lack of commitment to the industry resulted in sub-par staffing. If so, any ways to approach the situation delicately and how does lateraling through the same bank actually work?

Thanks again.