Branch network

The philosophy boils down to “Think broadly, act locally.”

From recycling programs to LEED-certified branches and energy-efficiency loans for members, credit unions have found a wide variety of ways to go green for the sake of the planet.

Dover Federal Credit Union, Dover, Del., is joining a growing number of companies across the Blue Hen State to designate special parking spots for veterans of the U.S. military.

Credit unions across the country open their doors to non-members to cast ballots on Election Day, and while most aren’t expecting any trouble during this tense election season, it can create both challenges and opportunities for participating CUs.

The key to managing branches far removed from an institution’s headquarters, CUs say, is ensuring consistency for members and employees, regardless of where they’re doing business.

Sometime last month, scandal-plagued Wells Fargo decided to stop referring to its branches as "stores." It may have been a knee-jerk reaction to intense public scrutiny, but it may also be long overdue given retail banking's evolution.

Some analysts are suggesting Wells Fargo should start closing branches, in order to move beyond the phony-accounts scandal, make up for an expected drop in fee income from reduced cross-selling — and position itself for a digital future.

The storm claimed at least 33 lives, though credit unions appear to have not suffered much — if any — significant damage.

Several southeastern CUs have already closed or are planning closures as the storm approaches.

Banks are expected to spend more on technology in the coming year, with the cash earmarked for things like upgrading mobile apps and adding self-service tech in branches.

An unusual investment by the Minneapolis company shows how big banks are developing innovative partnerships to deliver financial services in low-income neighborhoods.

Fifth Third Bancorp said Tuesday that it plans to close 44 branches, a cost-cutting move that follows its recent shutdown of more than 100 branches.

Teller-less branches at SafeWay stores helped Boeing Employees Credit Union boost membership by nearly 50% between 2009 and 2015.

Credit unions in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas closed branches as a precaution, but no reports of major damage.

Banks in cities such as Seattle and New York are getting creative with branching, adding some that are smaller than modest apartments.

More than a dozen CUs closed or partially closed as state grapples with floods.

Banco do Brasil, the largest bank by assets in South America, wants to make more of a name for itself in the United States. It expects a new online banking platform to help draw mainstream consumers, and says an expansion from South Florida into the Northeast is likely.

The hit smartphone game Pokemon Go taught banks a lesson in mobile strategy this week: gamify it.

In 1999, the OCC issued a charter to the internet bank AeroBank, but the startup's efforts to raise capital were thwarted when dot-com-boom money went chasing shinier options. Nonetheless, the bank’s experiences resonate with fintech banks trying to obtain a national charter today.

Small banks are trying to figure out how to provide the digital services today's customers want while still retaining the human touch that distinguishes them from larger rivals. A small bank in Cincinnati says it has hit on the right formula.