Fewer, smaller branches the norm Fewer, smaller branches the norm 09 July 2021 5:58AM Big banks continue to take advantage of their customers’ move to online banking in response to COVID lockdowns, with ongoing branch closures and the development of new smaller branch designs. In an update on its branch network yesterday, NAB said it has completed 26 branch overhauls so far this year and would work on another 50 this year. Its investment spend on branches this year will be A$100 million, on top of $60 million spent last year. NAB had 646 retail branches and business banking centres at March 31 – a reduction of 5.8 per cent over 12 months.