This U.S. Bank branch on wheels brings new meaning to mobile banking

Our newest mobile banking technology includes wheels – 10 of them to be exact.

Over the past decade, the U.S. Bank Mobile Banking Unit has put on tens of thousands of miles crisscrossing the country to ensure customers and communities have access to banking services when natural disasters or other events have made branches inoperable. 

For example, we’ve deployed our mobile unit in the wake of flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Fargo, North Dakota; a tornado in Joplin, Missouri; and wildfires in Paradise, California; as well as following civil unrest in Minneapolis, where the mobile unit rotated between two locations. 

“We are committed to being a part of relief and recovery efforts by ensuring that our customers have access to banking services,” said Jodi Richard, vice chair and chief risk officer for U.S. Bank. “A mobile banking unit is one of the many ways we can demonstrate that commitment.” 

This month we rolled out a new U.S. Bank Mobile Financial Center.

The new, custom-built Mobile Financial Center includes all the features of a brick-and-mortar branch at a smaller scale and is ADA accessible. It has two customer support stations where customers can make deposits, withdrawals and other transactions with the help of a banker and an engagement area for advisory conversations inside the unit. 

It also has a walk-up ATM, as well as a lift for those who require assistance accessing the unit. With more square footage in the new mobile unit, additional features include a fully enclosed engagement office, where customers can also process transactions, a third exterior facing customer support station, and wi-fi. Additionally, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the mobile unit incorporates design changes focused on protecting the health of customers and employees, including plexiglass barriers, signage to encourage social distancing, along with daily cleaning.

“Having a variety of ways to be able to interact with customers is essential,” said Richard, “particularly in disaster recovery situations. Customers who need to conduct a quick transaction can do so through the walk-up ATM or outside-facing customer support stations, while others who need a space to discuss more sensitive topics can do so in our engagement office. We designed the mobile unit to ensure all of these options are available, so we can support our customers however they need in that moment.”

When deployed, the U.S. Bank Mobile Financial Center is staffed by local bankers – those who have the closest connection with the impacted communities. In addition to providing access to financial services during times of crisis, the Mobile Financial Center may also be deployed when a branch is undergoing renovations or for community events. 

“The Mobile Financial Center is something we hope we don’t have to use, but we want it to be available if the need arises,” said Richard. “I believe it truly represents our core values as a company – that we are committed to putting people first and doing the right thing when our customers need us the most.”