A WELLS Fargo bank branch in Pennsylvania is set to close within months.
The outlet in Bethlehem, located around 60 miles from Philadelphia, will shut up shop on August 28.
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It’s just the latest major bank branch to close as more and more Americans shift toward online services.
But locals shouldn’t despair as the chain has other premises located a mile away from the closing-down branch.
And Wells Fargo chiefs have stressed they are still committed to its customers, per WFMZ-TV.
“Wells Fargo remains committed to Bethlehem and branches continue to play an important role in the way we serve our customers in combination with our online and mobile channels and ATMS,” a spokesperson said.
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"As customer preferences and transaction patterns change, so will our branches."
A sign has revealed there will still be an ATM outside the building once the bank has closed, per The Morning Call.
The branch has been a Wells Fargo outlet since 2008.
It is inside a grand-looking building inspired by the Greek Revival architecture era synonymous with the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Customers have been saddened that the bank is moving out of the structure
“Beautiful building, architecture is lovely, lots of history,” a fan said.
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“Hopefully they will not be empty soon. Sad to be losing banks, it is difficult to find a branch near me, sometimes you need one!”
“I hope they don’t demolish this building too, I’m sure they can leave the structure and renovate the inside,” another chimed.
Others have said the closure is part of a growing trend.
"Unfortunately, brick-and-mortar banks are going the way of brick-and-mortar stores," one customer said.
Wells Fargo still has a branch at the Westgate shopping mall located in the city.
The chain also has premises in Allentown – located around six miles from Bethlehem.
The U.S. Sun has approached Wells Fargo for comment.
Pending Wells Fargo bank closures
Major banks such as Wells Fargo and Chase continue to trim their portfolio of branches as more and more Americans shift toward online, rather than in-store services. Bank closures are listed in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s weekly bulletin. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of Wells Fargo branch closures that were disclosed at the start of June.
- Red Bank, New Jersey
- Trenton, New Jersey
- Willingboro, New Jersey
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Citrus Heights, California
- Torrance, California
- Seattle, Washington
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bosses at Wells Fargo have also announced a series of store closures, per the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s weekly bulletin for June 1.
Branches in New Jersey, Arizona, California, and Seattle are to close in the coming months.
Last month, OCC chiefs revealed notice that Wells Fargo execs planned to close down branches in Palm Harbor, Florida, Maple Shade, New Jersey, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Amarillo, Texas.
In March, Wells Fargo bosses closed a branch in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Bosses explained that customers were told about the decision in November last year, as reported by the Corridor Business Journal.
“Because we currently have bank branches so close to each other, we are consolidating them into fewer locations,” Mike Slusark, a vice president and lead communications consultant for the company, said.
Banking chiefs at JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have also announced store closures.
At least 400 branches have already closed this year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Last year, more than 2,400 branches shut up shop, per S&P Global Market Intelligence data cited by the outlet.
But, financial giants are also opening branches.
Chase expanded its portfolio of stores after a branch in Groton, Connecticut, opened its doors earlier this week.
In April, a new state-of-the-art Wells Fargo branch opened in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
The branch features a digital wall that shows users how to use online platforms, per CCX Media.
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The bank also contains more rooms that give customers the chance to talk about their accounts in private.
Major banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo announce plans for store openings in the OCC’s Weekly Bulletin.
