The evolution of temporary bank buildings

In the past, trailers were a staple in the banking industry, bank trailers had been placed in regional markets where banks were considering opening full branches. The bank would set up a trailer at an intersection and see how many customers it attracted. In the event that the temporary branch attracted well and the market was strong, the bank would set up a permanent branch; if, on the other hand, the market turned out to be weak, the bank would close up the trailer and move it a few miles down the road and start the process all over again.

Now of course this is not the usual scenario as full bank branches appear on practically every corner, occasionally a couple of branches are located on a single corner and they all fight for real estate space around the intersection with pharmacies and gas stations . Along with stand-alone branches, banks are setting up shop in supermarkets and kiosks in shopping malls. In addition, you will find Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) installed inside pharmacies, gas stations and restaurants.

Although you don’t see many bank trailers anymore, they are still performing an important service. Plus, bank trailers aren’t the tiny, dark converted mobile homes some of us remember visiting with our families to set up an account and get a free toaster. Today’s temporary bank buildings are purpose-built modular structures that start with a heavy-duty 12″ reinforced frame to carry all the extra equipment needed in a bank, like a safe, for example. Today’s modular bank buildings are they are built to meet commercial codes in the region where it is placed, whether it be snow loads in the north or wind loads in the south.

Inside today’s temporary bank building, you’ll discover glossy finishes on sturdy materials suitable for commercial use. In well-insulated ceilings you’ll find bright lighting, large insulated windows, commercial glass doors, full bathrooms, and break areas for bank staff. Additionally, the building comes fully furnished with teller windows, mailboxes, and cash registers.

While you will typically no longer find the temporary bank buildings used to test the markets, banking institutions will rent them out to use as temporary space during bank branch renovations. Contractors can upgrade or rebrand a bank branch much more quickly and safely if they don’t have to work with bank customers and employees. Modular bank buildings are also ideal branches on military bases and in remote areas such as the men’s camps now being developed in North Dakota, temporary banks are also found at large events such as the Olympics or in shopping malls. of automobiles during sales periods.

Temporary modular buildings found in other types of commercial applications are typically reused as they travel from site to site and market to market; however, temporary buildings found in financial markets, as well as in health care institutions, are extremely specialized and consequently purpose-built. Since these are specially designed, availability can occasionally be limited, especially after a catastrophe when banks have to keep their branch open and accessible. As a result of the nature of these buildings and their potential availability, it is advisable for banking institutions to have a disaster recovery agreement with a temporary modular bank provider so that they can be sure to have a high quality temporary bank building available at the time. case. of a bank branch that suffered significant damage and was unable to serve affected customers.