THE FUTURE OF BANK BRANCHES WITH IT
What will bank branches look like in the next 10 years? By Henry Okunrobo Business Analyst The Royal Bank of Scotland's chief executive has ruled out any further branch closures for now, arguing that the group's 800-strong UK network is "about the right size and shape to meet the needs of our customers". But just what is the right shape for a branch as we move deeper into the digital era? In a bank branch in Oregon, a small group of people are lying on orange mats, with legs stretched in the air and hands clenched behind their heads. It is a yoga class, one of a number of innovations introduced by Umpqua Bank to attract the public into their "stores" on the high street. Its "store-as-community-hub" idea, launched in the mid-1990s, created gathering spots for members of the public to enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee, surf the internet, or stage events such as movie nights. "At the time, branches were often intimidating - marble floors and