Branch network

Orange County Bancorp has identified two neighboring counties for expansion.

Barred by regulators from adding assets for at least another six months, the bank has only one main lever to pull to boost returns.

It will also invest in mortgage and small-business lending and in neighborhood revitalization efforts there. The moves are part of a nationwide expansion by the largest U.S. bank.

When the Birmingham, Ala., bank was rethinking its branch strategy, it had to reconsider the role of its tellers. Ultimately, it decided to transition those workers to a more general banker role that emphasizes meaningful conversations with customers and continuous career progression.

Some are relying on a national, digital strategy. Others say the right balance of costs and growth comes from more traditional means such as targeted branch openings and out-of-market expansion.