"Paraphrasing Mark Twain, the demise of brick-and-mortar branches has been over-reported. While it’s true that the number of bank branches is declining, branches still remain an important, albeit expensive, delivery channel." Continue Reading

"Many banks and credit unions are winding down branch network size and downsizing existing branches while expanding digital service channels to support customers. This makes sense: Nearly three-quarters of bank shoppers believe they’ll do all their banking virtually in the future." Continue Reading

"Last week, Barclays announced the layoffs of 1,700 branch employees and blamed the rise of mobile banking. Cashiers, personal bankers, operations specialists, branch managers and assistant managers will all lose their jobs throughout 2014, the U.K. bank said." Continue Reading

"Intelligent machines could replace human bank staff in high street branches within five years, the Telegraph has learnt. Several major banks are understood to be in talks to introduce "express" branches, which would be similar to self-service checkouts in supermarkets. These smaller outlets would be almost completely devoid of human interaction." Continue Reading

"As mobile banking is gaining traction, traditional banks are struggling to adapt to the new reality where physical in-store interactions are no longer the status quo. With Barclay’s reportedly laying off 1,700 of its retail employees in response to the rise in mobile banking, the traditional teller may be nearing extinction." Continue Reading

"Transactions at RBS branches are down almost 30% since 2010 and the bank needs to offer "smarter solutions" for its customers, Ross McEwan said. In one of his first speeches in the role, Mr McEwan said RBS has to confront "seismic shifts" in banking. The use of mobile apps and "self-service centres" can increasingly meet the needs of customers, he said in an address to delegates at a business conference at the Scottish Parliament." Continue Reading

"Many American consumers know what to expect when they see a bank branch. Typically, the front lobby has a few ATMs, followed by bankers sitting at their desks and tellers standing behind the counters. However, the advent of online and mobile banking has transformed the way we perform financial transactions, and visits to the branch are less frequent." Continue Reading

"Though banks may be closing branches at a rapid pace, many customers say they still want bank locations open. According to Reuters, 32 percent of U.S. bank customers use mobile banking at least once a month but even with that new banking option, nearly four of five customers say they will visit bank branch offices just as frequently five years from now." Continue Reading

"For past generations, the word bank meant stately buildings, mahogany walls and plush leather chairs, a critical destination for people seeking loans, safeguarding their savings and planning their or their company’s financial futures. Client needed to physically show up at their bank to conduct any business.

Today, many hold their banks in the palm of their hand with technology radically altering the way consumers take care of their financial needs and the way bankers conduct business. The digital revolution has redefined the world for those on both sides of what used to be the teller’s window." Continue Reading

"Bank customers are turning to online and mobile banking while shunning bank branches, according to a new report. 'U.S. banks continued to shutter more branches than they opened in the third quarter, extending a multiquarter trend, as customers do more routine banking business online and reduce the relevance of traditional branches,' said a report by SNL Financial." Continue Reading

"Barclays is set to axe 1700 customer-facing jobs from its branch network over the next year, citing the rise of new customer channels, particularly mobile banking. The bank told staff yesterday that cashiers, personal bankers, operational specialists, branch managers and assistant manager roles will all be cut throughout 2014.

Explaining the move, a bank spokesperson says: 'More and more people are choosing to use smart phones and technology for everyday transactions – using branches only when they need access to expertise. We are responding by investing in the channels that customers are increasingly using, whilst improving customer service.'” Continue Reading