Branch Banking: Introduction, Advantages and Disadvantages

Branch Bank is a type of banking system under which the banking operations are carried with the help of branch network and the branches are controlled by the Head Office of the bank through their zonal or regional offices. Each branch of a bank will be managed by a responsible person called branch manager who will be assisted by the officers, clerks and sub-staff. In England and India, this type of branch banking system is in practice. In India, State Bank of India (SBI) is the biggest public sector bank with a very wide network of 16000 branches.

According to Gold field and chandler,” A branch bank is a baking corporation that directly own two or more banking agencies.”

Thus branch banking is a system in which a bank renders its banking activities at two or more places. Head office has the overall control over the working of various branches.

Advantages of Branch Banking: Branch banking system has the following advantages:

1. Economies of Large Scale operations: Branch banking enjoys the advantages and economies of large scale operations. Under branch banking system economies can maintained through large scale of operations and wider geographical coverage increase public confidence in the banking system.

2. Economy of Cash Reserves: Under branch banking system a particular branch can operate without keeping large amounts of reserves. In time of need, resources can be transferred from one branch to another. It is not easy for a .unit bank to draw on another unit bank.

3. Proper use of capital: There is a proper use of capital under the branch banking system. Since the resources are transferred from one branch to another. So the capital can be properly used by investing in the profitable branches.

3. Economy of Costs: Branch banking has the advantage of effecting remittances of funds from one place to another with greater ease and at a lesser cost than unit banking, for inter-office indebtedness can be far more easily adjusted.

4. Risks-spreading Economy: The spreading of risks geographically is another major advantage of the branch banking system. In branch banking, losses incurred one branch can be offset by profits earned by the profit making branches which is not possible in case of unit banking.

5. Easy and cheaper transfer of funds: Since the branches of bank under branch banking are spread all over the country, it is easier and cheaper, for it to transfer funds from one place to another.

6. Greater Safety and Liquidity: Branch banking also offers a wider scope for the selection of diverse securities and varied investments, so that a higher degree of safety and liquidity can be maintained.

7. Balanced economical growth: Under branch banking, the banking facilities can be made available to all cities, towns, and even backward areas in the country. Thus, branch banking is very helpful in achieving a balanced growth of the country's economy.

8. Convenient for the Central Bank's Supervision: Under a system of branch banking it is more convenient for the central bank or the government to regulate and supervise the activities of banks, as control becomes more effective and easier since only the head office is to be dealt with for the purpose.

9. Provision for Training the Personnel: Finally, branch banking provides the best training ground for personnel. A person may be trained in a small branch Where the pressure of work is less and he may be transferred later to an active branch.

Disadvantages or Demerits of Branch Banking: Branch banking generally suffers from the following limitations:

1. Danger of Mismanagement: Under the branch banking system a number of difficulties as regards management, supervision and control, a number of branches undue expansions lead the danger of mismanagement.

2. Delays in Decision-making:  The system of branch banking also suffers from red tape and delay on account of the inadequate authority of branch managers. Usually, application for big credits has to be referred to the head office by the branch manager. This causes delay and gives little initiative to branch managers.

3. Lack of Personal Contact: A large bank tends to become more and more impersonal in its dealings. The general managers have hardly any personal contact with the local people or the staff of different branches.

4. High operating and maintenance expenses: Branch banking is very expensive, because with the opening of too many branches, establishment and maintenance charges of the branches are bound to be high and, as a result, profits may shrink.

5. Concentration of Monopoly Power in the hands of few banker: Branch banking sometimes creates monopoly power in the hands of few large bankers. Such a monopoly power in the hands of a few big bankers is a source of danger to the community whose goal is a socialistic pattern of society.

6. Lack of initiative: Branch banking lacks initiative. No branch office can take independent decisions and also branch manager has limited powers.

7. Regional imbalances: Branch banking encourages regional imbalances. The financial resources of economically backward areas tend to get transferred to industrial and business centres. Due to which backward areas continue to be neglected and remain over backward.