Banking in Germany

I sat and watched a news documentary piece last night on Channel One (ARD) from here in Germany.  The item?  German banks are downsizing their 'footprint'.  Ten years ago in a region......you might have had X number of banks.  A town with a thousand people would easily have a bank within their city limits.

Well.....times have changed.....and people got new habits.  Banks kinda figured out that more people use ATMs than ever.  Most people with computer access do their banking requirements via the computer.  So an actual building is no longer required.

The news guys pulled out a map and showed how bank after bank were closed down.  People were interviewed and were kinda dismayed....for decades....they had access in their village to such-and-such bank.  Now.....the bank is gone.  In some cases, the bank didn't even leave an ATM machine, which means a visit to the next village of any significant size.

But this all leads to a curious new invention which I hadn't seen before.

There has been an effort to create 'agents' for the post office system in Germany.  You'd have a town of 3,000 people and the post office folks would make a decision to shut down the postal unit.   Folks still wanted some postal functions in the area.....so the post office created 'agents' (contracted services via a local business).  You could be a grocery store, a drug store, or even a bicycle-rental shop....but on the side.....you'd operate a small postal unit.

So, the banks are creating 'agents' in various communities where they vacated the building.  You go to a grocery operation, a tea shop, or a bakery.....and there's the stand where you can do X number of functions related to your banking requirements.

The truth is.....compared to thirty years ago....everyone is skipping the need to visit a bank.  I looked over myself and the past thirty years.  I can remember when I joined the Air Force in 1977, and there was a visit to the bank every single week....requiring roughly forty-five minutes of my time.  Over the past year, I've been to the banking establishment one single occasion.  Most actions require my use of an ATM machine.  Either via the phone or computer.....I can conduct ninety-nine percent of my business with the bank.

My forecast in Germany is that more and more bank structures will shut down.  If you are lucky.....you get to keep an ATM machine.  It is part of the evolution of society.