[Alberta's Child]

And yet branch banks are basically extraneous liabilities in the banking business. Hardly anyone ever uses them anymore. Heck -- the banking industry wishes it could just eliminate them entirely.

I had a senior bank executive explain to me how this works:

1. Very few bank customers use branches at all.

2. And yet most local customers -- individuals and small businesses -- will only do business with a bank that has a local branch.

3. So the banking industry opens and maintains these local branches simply to have a local presence to show that they exist, and to be there in case anyone has an unusual banking need that requires a personal visit.

That's why you can walk into a local bank and find almost no staff there even though there are plenty of desks and teller windows around.

[ronniesgal]

our credit union is the opposite. Tons of staff, but usually 1 or 2 customers tops, unless it is payday.