The ECB reports a 2.62% decline in EU bank offices and a 0.8% drop in employees by year-end 2025 amid ongoing consolidation.
The number of bank branches in the European Union declined by 2.62% in 2025, continuing a multi-year trend of consolidation. The ECB’s latest structural financial indicators show 122,889 branches remained at year-end, with 86.13% located in the euro area. Declines were recorded in 23 of 27 member states, ranging from 0.2% to 12.16%.
Banking sector employment also fell, dropping 0.8% across the EU. The reduction was observed in 16 countries, though the pace of job cuts varied. Meanwhile, banking concentration levels remained uneven, with the share of assets held by the five largest institutions spanning from 34.37% to 95.2% across member states.
The data reflects ongoing shifts toward digital banking and cost-cutting measures, though regional disparities persist in market structure and workforce trends.