Fury As Major US Banks Axe 311 Branches In End Of Year Massacre

The phrase “Fury as major US banks axe 311 branches in end-of-year massacre” refers to a viral headline and social posts highlighting a wave of planned U.S. bank branch closures, not a single catastrophic event on one day.​

What the headline is about

The wording comes from a Daily Mail–style headline that has been reposted on X, Facebook, and Reddit, warning that 311 U.S. bank branches are being shut as part of a broader, year‑end round of closures and asking “is YOURS affected?” These posts are tapping into public anger over accelerating branch shutdowns but do not themselves list all 311 locations or a single official announcement.​

Context: US branch closures

Branch closures have been rising for years as banks push customers toward apps and online banking, especially after the pandemic. Analysts and regulators have noted that hundreds of branches are being closed each year, and projections in 2024 suggested around 1,300 U.S. branches could shut by year‑end if trends continued.​

311 figure and 2025 data

Separate reporting in 2025 shows more than 320 U.S. bank branches marked for closure in just the first 13 weeks of the year, involving institutions such as Flagstar, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. Industry data for early 2025 also show a pickup in the pace of net closures, with 148 net branch closings in the first quarter alone and large banks like U.S. Bancorp, Wells Fargo, Citizens, Bank of America, PNC, and Huntington among the most active closers.​

Why banks are closing branches

Banks cite changing customer behavior and cost‑cutting: more people use mobile and online services, allowing banks to reduce the expense of maintaining physical branches. This shift particularly worries communities and older or rural customers who rely on in‑person services and may face longer travel times when local branches disappear.​

How to check if yours is affected

To see if a specific branch is closing, the most reliable steps are:

• Check your bank’s official website or recent emails/notices, where closure or consolidation plans are normally announced.​

• Search recent “branch closure” notices or OCC weekly bulletins, which track approved branch shutdowns in the U.S. banking system.​

The banks closing the most branches in 2025 are led by U.S. Bancorp (U.S. Bank), followed by Wells Fargo, Citizens, Bank of America, PNC, Huntington, and then Flagstar and TD Bank among other regionals.​

Top closers by early–mid 2025

• U.S. Bancorp (U.S. Bank) reported about 50 net branch closures in the first quarter of 2025 alone, the highest in the industry, and is on track for roughly 40–50 closures over the year in multiple states.​

• Wells Fargo closed 23 net branches in Q1 2025 and more than 20 additional branches later in the year, with filings showing plans for 30‑plus more closures.​

• Citizens Financial Group closed 21 net branches in Q1 2025, placing it third in net closures for that quarter.​

Other major banks with many closures

• Bank of America, PNC Financial, and Huntington each reported 18 net branch closures in Q1 2025, making them part of the most active large‑bank closers.​

• Flagstar recorded 16 net branch closures in Q1 2025 and signaled further rounds of consolidations later in the year.​

• TD Bank announced plans to close 51 branches across 13 states in 2025 as part of a broader “reimagining” of its physical network.​

Important caveats

Public tallies are usually based on regulatory filings (OCC, FDIC) and industry data, so rankings can shift as the year progresses and more closures are announced or effective. Net closures also reflect openings; some banks simultaneously add branches in growth markets even while cutting more locations overall.​