The digital transformation of the banking industry continues to move forward, and Bank of America has taken another step in that direction by confirming the closure of multiple branches during the first week of March 2025. This decision reflects a growing trend among major financial institutions: reducing physical locations to strengthen digital services.
According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), these closures are not isolated incidents. In fact, more shutdowns are expected in the coming weeks as part of a broader strategy to focus on online operations. While digital banking offers convenience and efficiency, the shift also raises concerns, particularly for customers who still rely on in-person services.
Why is Bank of America closing branches?
The change is largely driven by evolving customer habits. Today, most banking tasks—transfers, payments, investments, even balance inquiries—can be completed in seconds using a mobile app or computer. The need to visit a branch has diminished significantly, prompting banks to reconsider the necessity of maintaining a large physical presence.
A 2024 report by Self Financial revealed that since 2018, an average of 1,650 bank branches have closed each year in the United States. If this trend continues, experts predict that physical banking locations could disappear entirely by 2041.
Branches that closed in March 2025
Between March 2 and March 8, 2025, Bank of America shut down branches in four different states:
- California: 702 Mission Ave., Oceanside
- Florida: 8181 West Broward Boulevard, Plantation and 16686 SW 88th Street, Miami
- Oregon: 14400 SW Allen Boulevard, Beaverton
- Tennessee: 3741 Winchester Road, Memphis
Since this closure process began in 2022, the bank has permanently closed approximately 200 locations nationwide.
These closures pose challenges, especially for older adults or individuals without reliable access to technology, who may find it difficult to adapt to fully digital banking services. There are also concerns for local economies, as branch closures often result in job losses that impact entire communities.
While bank branches are not disappearing entirely—at least for now—the trend clearly points toward a future where fewer, smaller offices focus on specialized services, while fully digital banking continues to grow. Bank of America has already made significant investments in technology and cybersecurity to ensure that customers can manage their finances from anywhere, at any time.
