Connect with the author: andrew.hovet@curinos.com
Too many institutions still treat network strategy as cost-cutting, but in 2026 it’s a growth lever. Across the industry, national banks are launching de novo expansions, while fintechs are building pseudo-networks through partnerships and digital convenience. Regional FIs that view their physical presence through a purely defensive lens are likely to lose ground.
De Novo Branch-Driven Growth
Source(s): Bank of America, JPMC, Huntington Bank, Fifth Third Newsroom | Curinos Analysis
These days, winning in network transformation requires:
- A market-based strategy, not simply cuts at the branch level
- Combining distribution, marketing and pricing as one integrated model
- Creating perceived convenience through branches, digital, ATM and targeted marketing
- Aligning salesforce roles and incentives to match the new network footprint
The data make it clear: institutions with coordinated physical and digital strategies outperform those optimizing only one channel.
How Curinos Can Help
Curinos Distribution Analyzer provides market-level insights, branch performance benchmarks and scenario modeling that help banks shift from incremental decisions to holistic network design.
Get access to the data that informed this article