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Insights — Research Paper

The Economics of Branch Networks in 2026

By James Whitcombe — Principal, Retail Banking

FormatPDF
Length28 pages
AuthorJames Whitcombe

Abstract

Quantifies what a branch visit actually costs and delivers in 2026, challenging cost-per-transaction as the dominant branch closure metric and proposing a decision-authority-weighted alternative that accounts for the customer issues branches resolve that digital channels can't.

Read the full paper for the complete argument, evidence, and recommendations.

James Whitcombe — Principal, Retail Banking

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