By Rachel Louise Ensign, Christina Rexrode and Coulter Jones
Banks are closing branches at the fastest pace in decades, as
they leave less profitable regions and fewer customers use tellers
for routine transactions.
The number of branches in the U.S. shrank by more than 1,700 in
the 12 months ended in June 2017, the biggest decline on record,
according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal data.
Branch numbers fell again in the second half of 2017, according
to related data submitted to bank regulators and reviewed by the
Journal. That would add to the thousands of locations closed
following the financial crisis, and is the longest stretch of
closures since the Great Depression.
Many of the closings were in big cities and surrounding suburbs,
where branches were consolidated largely because of falling foot
traffic. Others were in rural areas, where some large regional
lenders are leaving town altogether.
While banks battered during the financial crisis such as
Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. started cutting branches
years ago, regional banks have only accelerated their closures more
recently. From mid-2012 to mid-2017, Capital One Financial Corp.
cut 32% of its branches, SunTrust Banks Inc. 22% and Regions
Financial Corp. 12%. For all three, the sharpest cuts came in the
most recent 12-month period.
Banks say they carefully consider which branches to close,
examining deposit levels at each branch and commute time to the
nearest location. "We continue to evolve and optimize our branch
network to ensure that we're operating as efficiently and
effectively as possible," a Capital One spokeswoman said.
For decades, banks needed to add new locations to grow, pushing
the number of U.S. branches to a peak in 2009. But in the aftermath
of the financial crisis, some started closing branches to save
money -- and then kept closing them to contend with low interest
rates and higher regulatory costs.
Along the way, lenders realized they could maintain their
deposit levels with fewer locations in a digital world where
customers often prefer banks' mobile apps and ATMs.
The shift in strategy is helping some banks reach profit
records.
For instance, Bank of America's adjusted earnings in 2017
matched its highest annual profit ever. The bank closed or sold
more than 1,500 branches since 2009, including the vast majority of
its rural branches. The closures have helped the bank save on
occupancy and employee costs, bringing down overall expenses. The
lower expense levels have bolstered bank profit.
Real estate auction firm Ten-X says more banks are using its
site to sell properties, many at a discount. The firm, which got
its start focusing on distressed real estate, is now considering a
new group dedicated to branches.
For example, Wells Fargo & Co., which preserved its branch
network even as rivals trimmed, has started cutting it back since
its sales-practice scandal imploded in 2016.
Regional banks Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
Regions, based in Birmingham, Ala., disclosed in regulatory filings
that they have been selling land that they had once bought for
future branch locations.
Banks are still opening new branches, just not enough to make up
for the ones they are closing. Bank of America, for instance, has
expanded into big cities where it previously didn't have branches.
JP Morgan Chase & Co. similarly announced plans to open as many
as 400 branches in new markets in coming years.
Some closures involve banks leaving rural areas because branches
there aren't profitable enough, according to the Journal analysis.
Since mid-2012, PNC has cut its branches in rural areas and small
towns by nearly one-third. SunTrust has cut its rural branches
almost by half.
When PNC closed its only branch in Jeromesville, Ohio, in 2015,
the bank told regulators in a letter that it was "due to limited
usage in a declining rural area." In a letter to customers, PNC
wrote that consumers were "using branches very differently today"
and that they have "more service choices than ever." While
Jeromesville has no remaining bank branches, it still does have a
PNC ATM.
"Limited usage is one of many criteria we look at when making
the difficult, but necessary decision to close a branch," PNC said.
"Other criteria include community needs and the closest nearby
branch." PNC has a branch roughly 8 miles from Jeromesville.
Some customers miss their branches. Bubba McKey, who runs a
grocery store in Centreville, Miss., population 1,667, banked at
the only Regions branch there for years until Regions closed it in
2016. He has since switched most of his banking to the only other
bank in town, a community lender called United Mississippi Bank,
but he can no longer walk just a few blocks to get change for his
store or deposit checks. "I have no qualms with the other bank,"
Mr. McKey said. "It's mostly just the fact that you don't have a
choice now."
Charlene LeBlanc decided to keep banking at Regions, but she has
to drive more than 30 miles to a Louisiana branch to cash checks.
She has used Regions' mobile app to deposit checks, but says she
doesn't like it:The old Regions branch still sits vacant.
"We understand that closing branches can create difficulties for
our customers in smaller communities," a Regions spokeswoman said,
adding that the bank tries to limit the impact of closings. For
example, it has donated branch buildings to a credit union with
locations throughout Mississippi.
When SunTrust pulled out of Muscle Shoals, Ala., last year it
left a different mark: its furniture, which it bundled onto the
side of the road. Employees at a business down the street, Alabama
Hose Products, got new filing cabinets.
A SunTrust spokeswoman declined to comment about the branch
strategy but said that when the bank closes a branch, excess
furniture is typically disposed of at the end of the day.
Write to Rachel Louise Ensign at rachel.ensign@wsj.com,
Christina Rexrode at christina.rexrode@wsj.com and Coulter Jones at
Coulter.Jones@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 05, 2018 05:44 ET (10:44 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024