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Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - Deutsche Bank is pushing ahead with the planned closure of around every fifth branch and the thinning of the Postbank locations.
In both cases, the company agreed a reconciliation of interests with the employees, as Germany's largest financial institution announced on Monday upon request.
In total, 1190 full-time jobs are to be cut in a socially acceptable manner.
«More and more customers are making use of digital banking services.
This trend has accelerated due to the corona pandemic, "said the head of the private customer business of the Deutsche Bank brand, Philipp Gossow, of the German press agency.
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As announced, 97 of the 497 Deutsche Bank branches in the home market are to be closed by the end of the year.
Around 450 full-time positions are to be eliminated net.
The agreement with the works council provides for severance payments, partial retirement and early retirement.
«We want and will be present across the board.
400 branches are a good number for this, which should remain largely stable in the coming years, ”said Gossow.
At Postbank, which is part of the group, almost 20 percent or 740 jobs at the counters are to be cut by the end of 2022.
As planned, 50 of the last 800 branches are to be given up there this year and next.
"The customer frequency for postal services is falling, on the one hand due to customer behavior and on the other hand due to the increasing digitization and automation at our partner Deutsche Post DHL", wrote Lars Stoy, Head of Postbank Private Customers, in an employee letter.
A contract with Swiss Post caps the number of Postbank branch closings to a maximum of 50 per year.
Gossow emphasized: “Personal contact is and will remain important.
Today, however, it no longer necessarily takes place in the branch, but can also be used by telephone or video connection. "
Many customers rarely come to a branch.
"We react to the changed customer behavior."
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Some of the remaining 400 Deutsche Bank locations could also change.
"In the future, a branch will no longer have to look like a classic branch with a bank counter, safety glass and self-service zone with machines," said Gossow.
“We're looking at different new formats.
For example, an office floor is conceivable where customers are only given advice. "
Seven branches are to be converted into so-called investment centers.
"Customers no longer have to go to a branch for simple transactions or to get cash."
Reason is rather the special like the construction financing, the planning of the old age provision or an investment in securities.
According to Gossow, more shared use of the infrastructure with Postbank is also conceivable.
In the future, Deutsche Bank customers will also be able to use Postbank's self-service devices for simple transactions.
"But there will be no joint branches."
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The downsizing is included in the figures that the Executive Board announced for all divisions and regions in July 2019.
By the end of 2022, the number of full-time positions in the Group is to be reduced by around 18,000 to 74,000 worldwide.
The number of banks and branches in Germany has been shrinking for years.
The entire industry is trying to find the right balance between expensive branch networks and digital offers.
The corona crisis gave digitization a further boost.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210412-99-175472 / 2
Deutsche Bank on branch closings during the corona pandemic
Current information on Deutsche Bank branches
Bundesbank on the development of branches in Germany