Branch banking

Some credit unions have closed branches as demonstrations continue following the death of George Floyd last week.

The Ohio company said the decision reflects branch overlap and lower customer usage of the locations being shuttered.

After nearly two decades with the company, Hanisch is the longest-serving member of the executive team at CO-OP Financial Services.

Our second monthly survey found a smooth transition to remote work and digital customer access channels — but technology issues still arose. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a strong digital presence across all retail sectors, including financial services.

Often overlooked in narratives about essential workers, branch and call-center employees are responding to challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. They’ve processed emergency-relief loans late into the night, coached customers unfamiliar with mobile banking and made house calls to elderly account holders.

The Summerville, S.C.-based institution will also close two branches as part of a broader strategic effort to better service members.

COVID-19 diagnoses in McKinley County, which includes Gallup, account for nearly a quarter of the state's cases. That has forced officials to take drastic action.

Credit unions moved quickly to reduce branch access as the coronavirus crisis worsened. The harder decision will be when and how to begin lifting those restrictions.

U.K. ATM operator LINK reported that its cash withdrawals have fallen by 60% over the past month ending April 27 when compared to the same period one year earlier.

Financial institutions are finding that on-screen agents can offer most services that occur in a branch, but with a more personal touch than the phone or internet.