Bank branches, a little less common, but still necessary

A dental care center, a children’s clothing store, an association: in all three cases, the building housed, a few months ago, one of the agencies of the French banking network.

They continue to close branches to cut costs. But everyone assures us that it is not a question of taking weight loss drugs too far, because neither clients nor banks are ready to do without a “physical” presence.

“We need agencies: for individuals, this is still a very valuable “reinsurance” subject, moreover, we still win the most customers, and for professionals, traders and craftsmen, contacts with the business manager are very frequent. Therefore proximity is mandatory »Nicolas Draux, Director of BNP Paribas “Sitalo” summarizes.

France had 34,298 bank branches at the end of 2022 according to data published on 1.^Eh by the European Central Bank in June, i.e. 3.9% less than in 2021. A slightly less noticeable drop than in the whole Eurozone (–4.4%), which confirms that the hexagon remains, together with Spain and Italy, one of them. The best “equipped” countries of the continent. Conversely, Germany, despite a 22% larger population, has fewer than 21,000 branches.

Increase attendance

More closely, the French fabric also benefits from the increase in traffic: a study published on May 25 by the consulting firm Colombus Consulting in partnership with the Opinion Way Institute shows that 72% of respondents will visit a branch at least once in 2022. , this figure is up 4 points from 2021, when it fell in previous studies.

Guillaume Larmaro, head of financial services at Colombus Consulting, partly explains this change in trend during the development of online banks and neobanks in the context of inflation and rising interest rates: “Customers need reassurance and more support, and they express very individual expectations, especially under 35.”he explains.

An observation shared by Eric Montan, Deputy Managing Director responsible for Bred’s commercial division: “In recent years, studies have shown a 6% to 7% drop in branch visits over the years, but in reality ‘banking’ has been changing: now customers no longer want to wait for a routine transaction, but on the contrary, they We need, much more than yesterday, direct contact with the advisor to make a decision.”