This webinar is now available to watch on-demand.
Bank branches in the US have been closing steadily for over a decade, but that trend accelerated during the pandemic. Online and digital banking may be out of reach for those without digital devices, broadband, and digital literacy skills. A lack of access to physical banking services can create banking deserts, or geographical areas where there is a significant lack of access to traditional bank branches. Lack of access to physical branches may create challenges for lower-income, rural, older, and disabled customers, and can restrict opportunities to improve their financial health and build wealth.
During this presentation, speakers will share research on bank branch closures and the value of in-person banking. They will also talk about the Fed’s Banking Deserts Dashboard, which analyzes where the deserts are (and could potentially be) located. The panel will also discuss potential solutions for grappling with these issues.
Mike Anderson
Senior Vice President
BankOnBuffalo
Alaina Barca
Community Development Research Analyst
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Caleb Bobo
Supervisory Examiner
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wes Burns
Executive Vice President
Midwest BankCentre
Miguel Lopez
Marketing Strategy Executive
Southern Bancorp
Sydney Diavua
Assistant Vice President, Community Development
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
moderator
Real people. Real research. Real conversations.
Connecting Communities is a Federal Reserve-sponsored webinar series providing timely information on community and economic development issues. It complements Fed community development outreach initiatives conducted through the 12 regional Reserve Banks and Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Have questions about the program? Contact us.