The data: U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo recorded the highest net branch closures nationwide in 2025, per Office of the Comptroller of the Currency data cited by U.S. News.

US banks overall shuttered a net total of 339 branches as of December 15—a small figure compared to the pandemic era, with a net total of nearly 3,000 closures in 2021.

Trendspotting: The national branch network is shrinking overall: For every branch opened in 2024, two closed, per American Bankers Association data cited by CoStar. But the steady decline is not just tied to reducing fixed costs.

• Banks are opening or renovating branches: PNC, for example, plans to open more than 300 new or renovated branches by 2030. And JPMorgan Chase says it will open 500 branches in that period, while Bank of America has announced 150 new “financial centers” by the end of 2027.
• Closures reflect evolving network design: As banks redesign branches around customer needs and preferences, they no longer need to accommodate the transactional foot traffic that has shifted to digital.
• Business objectives differ: PNC is growing its branch network to pursue retail deposits, while Truist and JPMorgan are building or redesigning branches to appeal to wealthy consumers. BMO is reorganizing its branch footprint to focus on California.

Our take: With digital channels handling much routine banking, banks should prioritize maximizing value from branches rather than minimizing them as costs. The branch is a key marketing channel, demonstrating a bank’s customer centricity and technological sophistication—which many institutions fall short on today.

Banks should monitor branch ROI: how much local brand awareness the branch drives, its foot traffic demographics, customer needs, and how customers convert.