BNCCORP, Inc. (BNCC)

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10 things disappearing from America

The country is evolving at a rapid pace, and that means some aspects of life that our parents and grandparents counted on are getting cast aside.

<go to #9 out of 12>

Traditional bank branches

Do you grouse about the five minutes you have to wait in line at the bank to make a teller transaction? Well, technology is making it so that you increasingly don't -- but that's taking its toll on traditional branches and the workers who staff them.

According to financial researcher SNL Financial, U.S. bank branches dropped by 390 during the third quarter of this year -- about the same number eliminated in the second quarter. Only two states -- Iowa and Nebraska -- added branches.

Meanwhile, banks including Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC) and PNC Financial (PNC) are experimenting with smaller "express" branches utilizing video technology and smaller in-house staffs to maintain a physical presence.

The trend comes as more Americans are turning to mobile forms of banking, using smartphone cameras to deposit checks and relying on various online services to manage their money. According to Accenture, roughly 32 percent of American banking customers "use mobile banking at least once a month."

http://money.msn.com/investing/10-things-disappearing-from-america

*For FYI industry trend reading only. Not meant as a comment on BNCC or any of the banks we invest in directly.