Unit and branch banking are the two popular types of banks.
Key Takeaways
- Unit banking involves standalone, independent banks operating in a single location, while branch banking features a central bank with multiple branches.
- Unit banks focus on personalized service and local community engagement, while branch banks provide standardized services and broader geographic coverage.
- Branch banking benefits from economies of scale, risk diversification, and better resource management, while unit banking allows for quick decision-making and flexibility.
Unit Banking vs Branch Banking
Unit banking is a system where each bank branch operates independently, with separate management and operations. In contrast, branch banking is a system where multiple branches operate under a single banking institution with a centralized management system.
Unit banking is independent of any other entity and can be one of the bank’s many branches. This unit is independent of any other and is not connected to any other bank, branch, or financial institution.
In branch banking, branches or banks are often located outside the area of their customer’s domains. They are controlled and supervised by a larger parent company.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Branch Banking | Unit Banking |
|---|---|---|
| Geographical Coverage | Banks operate in many places and reach out to clients through a network of branches. | Services are geared to the local community through a single outlet. |
| Independence of Service | Each brand is answerable to a parent company for resources and directions. | Everything happens at the outlet level, with no larger company to oversee operations. |
| Operational Stability | Stable and more resilient to any economic downturns. | Are highly susceptible to the shocks and downturns which affect the area of operations. |
| Resource Base | Derives its financial resources from numerous sources. | Its economic mainstay is the local unit. It has a narrower base as such. |
| Decision Making | Slower decision-making because of the need to consult the head office | Faster and more reliable decision-making as this does not involve any consultation. |
| Skill and Expertise Levels | Highly skilled labor and expertise. This stems from the complex operations and the vast resource base. | Less skilled labor and expertise. The units lack the resource base to hire specialized staff. |
| Interest Rates | Fixed at the head office level and with the directions of the central bank | The unit bank has the leeway to determine its rate of choice. |
What is Unit Banking?
As explained above, unit banking provides banking and financial services through a single branch or outlet.
In this instance, the services are confined to a narrow geographical area only. Similarly, each bank contains its shareholders and a board of management.
What is Branch Banking?
Banch banking refers to providing standard banking services through a branch or a network of banks.
These are scattered far and wide and transcend various geographical boundaries at a time. All these branches are held together by a central command or head office.
Main Differences Between Unit Banking and Branch Banking
1) Management
Unit banks are easier and more effective to manage than branch banking. This stems from their autonomy which gives them the leeway to make far-reaching decisions single-handedly.
2) Geographical Scope
By its nature, the unit bank is intended to impact only the local geographical locale.
The branch banks, however, reach out to a broader scope of potential customers who have spread abroad.
3) Decision-making
Given their autonomy, the unit banks can easily make swift and far-reaching decisions.
The branch banks have to consult with the head office and wait for quite some time to arrive at any decision.
4) Competition and Dominance
Unit banks are generally smaller in size. They are, as such unlikely to develop any monopolistic tendencies. The exact opposite, however, applies to the branch banking approach.
5) Resource Transfer and Distribution
Given their limited reach and meager resource base, unit banks can make almost no contribution to the distribution of resources.
The branch banks do this well because of their more extensive operational reach.
6) Operational Flexibility
By all accounts, unit banks are more flexible. They can easily adjust their operations to mirror the client base’s needs.
In the case of branch banks, you must go through a very tedious bureaucracy to get through.
7) Diseconomies of Scale
Any large firm confronts some unique problems which arise from its sheer large size. These are called diseconomies of scale.
Unit banks suffer less from these problems when compared to branch banks.
8) Risk Distribution
Closely related to the above is the issue of risk distribution. Unit banks are affected by external risks in worse ways than branch banks.
That is because they have nowhere else to operate.
9) Sphere of Influence
Unit banks have a comparatively limited sphere of influence. These are primarily concentrated in urban areas and local communities.
On the other hand, the branch banks have a broader and deeper reach.
10) Interest Rates
Interest rates fluctuate and vary widely from one unit bank to another. There is no central command to vary these rates.
As for branch banks, the rates are uniform regardless of the area of operations.
11) Competition
Since unit banks are run by and independent of each other, they tend to compete undesirably. Branch banks are unique though, even when they belong to different parent companies.
They are hence less likely to pose any unhealthy competition among each other.
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
ok ok. I got the difference with the help of infographics