The 2019 Summary of Deposits Survey showed an increase in deposits and a decrease in the number of branch offices, continuing recent trends. The reduction in the number of bank offices occurred nationwide, but the number of counties with a banking office has remained relatively stable over the past five years. The rate of decline was faster among offices in metropolitan counties, limited-service offices, and offices with lower reported levels of deposits. This article examines characteristics of the offices of operating banks that close versus those that are sold or leased, and of offices that close versus those that remain open after bank acquisitions. The rate of deposit growth increased for both community and noncommunity banks, but the merger-adjusted or “organic” rate of deposit growth at community banks exceeded that of noncommunity banks for the third consecutive year. For selected topics, comparative information about credit unions is included.
Last Updated: November 20, 2025