News Summary: Trying to make the bank branch cool
News Summary: Banks aim to make branches cool and tech-driven, even as they shut others down
WHAT'S NEW AT THE CORNER BANK: Banks big and small are giving their branches tech-savvy makeovers, with features like ATMs that dispense exact change and machines that count cash so tellers don't have to.
WHY THEY'RE GETTING FLASHY: The redesigns encourage customers to perform simpler transactions, like making deposits, themselves. That allows the banks to hire fewer tellers, a key consideration at a time of unimpressive loan demand and increasing regulatory costs.
IN LOW DEMAND?: At the same time, many banks are trimming the number of branches that they operate. They're expensive to run and customers don't use them as often.
