Branch banking

Queensborough National Bank & Trust did not expect that its branches would be in the path of Hurricane Helene. Getting its buildings up and running again was a physical and technological ordeal.

Bank of America is planning to open 165 new branches by the end of 2026. As brick-and-mortar locations remain critical for adding new customer accounts, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo are also making targeted additions to their branch networks.

St. Mary's Bank in New Hampshire tries to serve members as it has for 116 years, while dealing with today's cybersecurity and fraud concerns.

Independence Bank of Kentucky said 14 customers had reported receiving the bills, which included text such as "for motion picture purposes."

The Ohio-based bank said it would hire 350 people to operate retail banking and wealth management businesses in a region where it recently launched commercial banking.

Branches are being closed at a record pace because of mergers and financial reasons. If a closed branch is in a good location and meets certain other conditions, it can represent a low-cost way for a community bank to expand.

Currently sitting at 2,500, the in-store branch count appears fated to continue dropping, as customers opt for digital channels and banks shy away from models that emphasize overdraft.

NCR Atleos and Diebold Nixdorf are leveraging the rise of branchless financial institutions and putting pressure on traditional banks to maintain access to paper.

First National Community Bank CEO Ryan Earnest said his institution would likely use its entry into Paulding County, an Atlanta suburb, as a template for future expansion.

Susser Bank has proved successful attracting business from small and midsize companies the past two years. It's hoping a successful capital raise and continued branch expansion can extend the trend.

U.K. banks are testing machines that can accept deposits from multiple machines.

As high interest rates continue weighing on banks' balance sheets, some are selling branches to real estate firms and leasing them back. The strategy is helping lenders that want to restructure their underwater bond portfolios.

The bank said it would reduce its physical footprint by nearly 15% as part of an effort to reduce overlapping operations, drive cost savings and meet profitability targets tied to its May acquisition of Lakeland Bancorp.

Dickinson Financial in Missouri has no intention of departing from its expansionary mindset as it lays plans for de novo branches and scouts new acquisition opportunities.

Branch office deposit data is among the most confidential information at a bank, especially those with many branches. Why have regulators made this sensitive competitive data public for banks and thrifts annually for over 50 years but not for credit unions?

The Charleston-based company agreed to pay $267 million to acquire Piedmont Bank in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. It's United's 34th deal, but the first since 2021.

Branches won't succeed without significant investment in mobile and in-branch technology; but failing to invest in bankers themselves is just as big a problem.

Instead of painting unionization as a barrier to business success, we should consider it an opportunity to rebuild trust, integrity and responsibility within the banking sector.

Based on the pace of deals through late March, the banking industry is on track for the most branch sales since 2021. Buyer interest has mounted alongside the need to acquire deposits, following hits to funding bases last year.

In the wake of multiple successes in 2023, the labor movement in the U.S. is continuing its efforts to expand. Recent successful union elections at Wells Fargo branches should be a wake-up call to the industry.