More Bank Closures: Wells Fargo, US Bank Close Branches, Reduce Hours During Coronavirus Pandemic

Wells Fargo (WFC) and US Bank have modified their branch hours and closed some bank locations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wells Fargo said in a statement that some of its bank branches have been temporarily closed while some hours of operation have also changed. Specific branch information can be found here. The company said that its call centers will remain open, but wait times may be longer than normal based on higher call demand.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Wells Fargo has implemented enhanced cleaning procedures at all of its locations.

"I want to assure you that Wells Fargo will do everything in our power to continue to serve our customers and support our communities - through digital and mobile, by phone and in offices and branches as prudent," Charlie Scharf, Wells Fargo CEO said in a statement.

US Bank has also made changes at its branch operations. The company said that it has reduced hours and expanded cleaning at open locations. Those bank branches that do not have a drive-up service or glass divider in the teller area have been closed and consolidated into a nearby branch location. Specific branch information can be found here.

Banking transactions can be conducted through the drive-up lanes at some branches with hours of operation slated for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Branches open later or closed earlier will adhere to their normal schedule, US Bank said.

The company is still answering phone calls but warns that customers may experience longer than normal wait times due to increased call volume.

"Like many companies, we have already limited employee travel, postponed large events and asked our employees to stay home if they aren’t feeling well," Andy Cecere, chairman, president, and CEO at US Bank said in a statement. "We have expanded our flexible leave policies to allow them the time they need to take care of themselves and their family members, and we are giving them the tools they need to stay healthy.

"If you visit our branches in person, you will see more hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and spray, and other personal protective items as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of course, if you would prefer to bank digitally, you can connect to your accounts online, in the app, by phone, and with your Amazon Alexa or Google Home device," he added.

Wells Fargo and US Bank join JPMorgan Chase (JPM) in closing branches and modifying banking hours.

Shares of Wells Fargo stock were up 2.28% as of 2:04 p.m. EDT on Wednesday while shares of JPMorgan Chase stock were up 5.07% at the same time.