To cope, banks have closed branches and cut staff by 25 percent or more.

He announced 4,300 layoffs and closed more than 200 branches.

The new program comes after Keycorp has already closed 83 branches this year.

It plans to cut costs by closing 15 branches and consolidating computer operations.

The plan for the combined company would include closing about 20 branches, chiefly in Memphis.

His hands searched on either side of him for something to grip, and closed around needle-heavy branches.

Corestates said the combined company would close or sell 115 branches and trim nearly 2,000 jobs, about 10 percent of its staff.

They are also attacking their costs by cutting more jobs and closing more branches.

Mr. Hashimoto also said he intended to close 20 branches.

But there is relatively little geographic overlap in the two systems and thus little opportunity to close branches.