Loading ...The End Of Bank Branches: How Europe’s Digital Euro And Stablecoins Are Reshaping Finance
Ten years ago, German banks operated more than 35,000 branches. A quarter-century ago, that number was closer to 60,000. Today, only 18,933 remain.
The digital age is dawning. Repetitive tasks are being automated, and technologies like artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles are reshaping our daily lives—just as the financial sector is undergoing a profound digital transformation. The slow disappearance of physical bank branches is one of the clearest signs of this upheaval.
The desertion of Germany’s town centers is a symptom of this new era. High rents, shrinking consumer power, and demographic decline—especially in rural areas—collide with the shockwaves of e-commerce and a rapidly digitalizing economy. More and more of our consumer habits are migrating online, and the banking industry, long anchored by its brick-and-mortar branches, is no exception.