The staid bank branch is getting a makeover.
As competition for deposits intensifies, a number of banks are trying to capture customers' attention by revamping their buildings to look more like coffeehouses and retail boutiques, and less like the stodgy brick-and-mortar operations of old. The new designs stress more open spaces and softer lines to create a less-formal environment, and more common areas and activities to encourage people to linger longer -- and get them to shop for more banking products.
Big banks, too, are remaking their branches. Wachovia Corp.'s new outlets include more common areas for children and parents, and traditional teller stations are replaced by long desks that resemble hotel concierge desks. Wachovia plans to build 70 to 100 of the redesigned branches this year. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s PNC Bank is unveiling more than 40 newly designed branches this year that feature amenities such as Internet cafes and coffee bars.
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