Big Banks Moving Branch Emphasis to High-Population Areas

July 26, 2013 by Credit Union Times

Big banks and super-regional financial institutions are focusing their branch openings in high-population density markets, and they are closing branches in low to moderate population markets, according to a new SNL report.

Nevertheless, some of the big bank and super-regionals continue to open branches in low to moderate population regions even though there have been more net branch closings since 2006, the report issued this week said.

“The only markets that saw an increase in the number of branches fell within areas of high population density (more than 6,500 persons per square mile) due in part to the years preceding recession,” the SNL report stated. “Starting with a base of 11,855 (branches) in 2006, these markets saw an increase of 9.34% from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2013, with net openings of 1,107.”

Markets with low population density, less than 1,500 persons per square mile, saw more branches close than open with net closings of 47 branches since June 2006.

What’s more, markets with moderate population density of 1,500 to 6,500 persons per square mile had the highest amount of net closings at 795 branches in 2013.

SNL said banks with the highest number of net branch closings in low to moderate population areas from 2009 to March 31, 2013 were: Bank of America (675), Wells Fargo (508), Regions (221), PNC (171) , M&T Bank (161), RBS (144), SunTrust Banks (113), Old National Bancorp (91), Zion Bank (85) and Capital One (65).