At least 273 bank locations closed across the United States in May, while 46 opened that month.
Many major banks have announced that they’re closing down branches in 2023, as more and more customers are making deposits via their phones or to keep tabs on their balances, all without leaving their homes.
Others still rely on physical bank branches to do to the bulk of their transactions, and these closures will affect how many conduct their financial affairs. The only branch openings in May were by Big Poppy Holdings and Pinnacle Financial Partners, each of which opened two branches.
Bank Branch Closures Spike in 2023
There were 227 net closings last month, up from 79 in April and the trailing-12-month average of 132, according to a June 30 report from S&P Global Market Intelligence. U.S.-based banks had a total of 78,121 active branches nationwide at the end of May.
U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank NA, led the way in bank closures, as the lender shuttered the largest number of active branches in the country in May with 133 closings, all in California, and no openings.
The Minneapolis-based lender increased the pace of branch closings again, after slowing down in the months before it completed its acquisition of San Francisco-based MUFG Union Bank NA in December last year.
Over the past 12 months, the bank has closed 194 branches and opened only seven new locations, according to data from S&P Global.
U.S. Bancorp consolidated dozens of branches while it transferred Union Bank customers to its own systems, Jeff Shelman, senior vice president and head of enterprise external communications for U.S. Bank, told S&P Global.
“Both Union Bank customers and U.S. Bank customers have gained access to branch and fee-free ATM locations through the consolidation,” Shelman wrote in an emailed statement. “Of the branches that were consolidated, more than [50 percent] were located within a half mile of another branch and [80 percent] were within a mile of another branch.”
Online Bank Transactions Leading to Fewer Physical Bank Locations
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo & Co. will close the second-largest amount of active locations, and has shuttered 38 branches while just only opening one.
Since early February, Wells Fargo has informed the OCC Bulletin of plans to close roughly 90 branches this year, with more on the docket, reported Best Life. OCC documents do not include closing dates, but banks are required to give at least 90 days’ notice ahead of branch closures.
“Branches continue to play an important role in the way we serve our customers,” a company spokesperson told Best Life.
“Additionally, customers use our wide range of digital capabilities for many of their banking needs and, as a result, more transactions are happening outside the branch. As such, we continuously evaluate our branch network in light of changing customer needs, the increase in the use of digital banking, and market factors.”
Regarding its consumer banking operations, Wells Fargo will continue to rationalize its branch footprint strategy, CFO Michael Santomassimo said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call.
“Our branch network will continue to be the key to the business. But our customers expect us to provide them with increasingly digitized and seamless banking experiences across all channels,” said Wells Fargo president and CEO Charles Scharf to investors.
PNC Financial Services Group, which closed the most branches in March and April, landed in third in May with 30 closings and two openings. The bank is planning to close 30 more branches across seven states in July and is shuttering a total of over 200 locations nationwide, this year.
“PNC recognizes that branches continue to play an important role for many customers when it comes to conducting certain transactions and holding important in-person financial conversations with our banking experts, which is why we routinely evaluate our branch network, together with our other available methods of banking, to determine if we are most effectively meeting our customers’ needs,” a spokesperson told Best Life.
They added, “After a careful review of our business model, PNC’s strategic goals and the potential impact to our customers, the decision was made to close the locations you have listed. We remain committed to delivering on our purpose to move all forward financially, and we are confident that we can meet or exceed our customers’ needs at nearby branch locations, alongside other available methods of banking.”
Santander Bank confirmed that it would shutter 17 locations in July and August, all in Massachusetts, as more of its clients do their business online, CBS News Boston reported. The lender currently has 165 branches in the Bay State.
“Like many industries, our customers’ preferences have changed, with more customers choosing to bank with us online,” Santander wrote in a statement to CBS.
“Therefore, we are reimagining the customer and employee experience by simplifying our processes, refining our branch footprint, and increasing our investment in digital capabilities to align with the evolving needs of our customers.”
The bank told Best Life, “Like many industries, our customers’ preferences have changed, with more customers choosing to bank with us online.”
“Therefore, we are reimagining the customer and employee experience by simplifying our processes, refining our branch footprint, and increasing our investment in digital capabilities to align with the evolving needs of our customers.”
Number of Bank Closures Varies Across the US
Bank branch closures varied by region throughout the country. The West recorded the largest number of net branch closings, with 158 locations being shuttered. The Northeast was at second with 32 closings, followed by the Southeast region with 20.
On a state level, California booked the most net closings at 138, while New Jersey logged 17 closings. New York will shutter 19 branches this summer, as lenders cut back on in-person banking for online transactions.
About 8,000 bank branches were in operation throughout New York in 2000, but that number was halved by 2022, according to FDIC data.
Nine states, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, and Nebraska opened one branch each this year so far.
The Epoch Times reached out to U.S. Bancorp and Wells Fargo for comment.
Article cross-posted from our premium news partners at The Epoch Times.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
