Bank of America Corp (BAC), JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM), Wells Fargo & Co (WFC): Why We Still Need Bank Branches

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Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC)Many of the nation’s biggest banks have been trimming expenses since the financial crisis, and one spot that’s been heavily pruned is the bank branch location. Since 2010, big banks have shuttered more branch locations each year than they opened, a complete turnaround from the pre-crisis days.

Doubtless, mergers and acquisitions caused bloat that needed to be reduced. Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) has been a leader in divesting itself of branch locations, and overall, banks reduced these sites by almost 2,300 last year alone.

Are banks going too far? One thing is for certain: The effects of these closures are beginning to be felt, and not in a good way.

Low-income areas lose out
As branch locations close, banks have reinvented the concept, creating smaller spaces with self-serve options for customers, as well as access to loan officers and other banking specialists. To get the most bang for their buck, banks are placing these new sites in high-population areas — where, most often, the residents sport lofty incomes.

Meantime, low-income consumers are seeing big banks decrease their presence in their neighborhoods. According to Bloomberg, more than 90% of the branch reductions since 2008 have been in areas that have incomes below the national median. JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) has nudged its percentage of branches in more upscale areas to 63%, compared to 61% in 2008. Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), however, notes that 30% of its branches reside in less affluent neighborhoods.

Consumers still want the branch experience
Bank customers may be participating more in online and mobile banking, but they still crave the branch experience. A recent survey found that consumers use the availability of convenient bank branches — rather than ATM locations — to decide which bank to use for their checking accounts. Interestingly, those that chose checking accounts with the highest monthly fees were the most apt to require handy branch locations.

Those most enamored of bank branches are small businesses. A study by BAI Research revealed that small businesses conduct more than half of their transactions at branch locations, and want the personalized service available at those sites. Small business people seldom use mobile banking services, preferring a face-to-face banking experience.



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