[disordinary]

Interesting that they say the number of tellers is up because the amount of branches is up, because where I live (New Zealand) it's practically impossible to find a bank branch now days, they've all been shut and replaced with internet banking and ATMs. I can't remember the last time I used a cheque, for instance, probably 20 years, so the requirement to physically go into banks is low, but when you do need one they're not around.

[isolli]

A friend (in France) recently had to walk into a branch to declare a stolen check book (couldn't do it online). While the branch was open, it was physically closed and you could only get in with an appointment. He had to negotiate and explain his situation before they let him in and processed his case.

[Semaphor]

Here in Germany, most traditional banks still have branches (assuming you are in a city). Not many, but still quite some (and it depends on the bank, some have more than others). FinTech banks like N26 never had any.

[carstenhag]

Funnily enough some german banks are experimenting with something called a "banking bus".

It has an integrated ATM and 1-2 bank employees. Each half day it is at another village/small town.

[disordinary]

That's a good idea, one of the tough things about banks closing - espeacially in small towns where there isn't any around for miles, is the elderly struggle with technology.

[Semaphor]

That does sound like a rural area thing, makes sense there I guess. Reminds me of the "Bücherbus" (library bus) when I was a kid.

[d12bb]

My employer (in a ~40k town on the border of a metro region) rents out space to the local Sparkasse, who have 3 or 4 banking buses and a small non-public office there. I can see these buses come and go every day.

That said, last time I visited an actual bank branch was like 10 years ago to terminate my account with Sparkasse, have used an online-only one ever since.

[flemhans]

In Denmark, the traditional banks closed the branches. My bank (Danske Bank) has two branches left in the whole country.

[martyvis]

Same here in Australian country towns. Here the post office (which is often now actually an agency within a general store or the like) are setup to do the normal cheque, passbook and cash transactions that people previously expected a bank branch to fulfil.

[disordinary]

We've even lost our post offices, I couldn't tell you where a post office is in the city I live in, they've been slowly disappearing for the last ten years or so. But small businesses like service stations and convenience stores often are post agents.

[odiroot]

Here in England, it seems, after coronavirus many shops on high street closed and were replaced by bank branches. But there's a tight competition with gambling parlours and Poundlands.

[baud147258]

> I can't remember the last time I used a cheque

Here in France I'm still using cheques to pay for my electricity bills (which not the usual way, I'd wager most people just pay by internet), but I never have to go to the bank for the checkbook, I order it online and receive it by mail within a fortnight.