Your 15-Point Site Selection Checklist for Smarter Branch Growth

Site selection is one of the most pivotal decisions in any branch growth strategy. Get it right, and you unlock long-term performance. Get it wrong, and no amount of design, staffing, or technology can make up for it. 

Smart site selection replaces guesswork with a proven framework—evaluating every opportunity through a strategic lens to serve your ideal members.

Use the following checklist to get a clearer picture of a location’s potential (score each category from 1–5).

Site Selection Checklist

• Daytime population & income mix: Are there nearby workers and residents with real deposit or advisory potential?
• Community fit: Is it near schools, nonprofits, or public spaces with similar customer demographics?
• Co-tenancy anchors: Is it near any high-traffic retailers (grocery stores, pharmacies, or big-box stores)?
• Foot traffic & peak split: Is volume steady throughout the week, with strong weekday morning and evening peaks?
• Competitor density & cannibalization: Are rival branches—or your own—too close?
• 5-8‑minute drive‑time coverage: How many target households or businesses fall within a 5-8-minute radius?
• Parking ratio: Are there enough stalls to handle peak lobby and drive-thru traffic?
• Drive-thru feasibility: Can you stack 5–8 cars per lane without blocking other access points?

• Ingress/egress: Can drivers enter and exit easily from both directions?
• Visibility & signage: Will the branch be clearly visible from major approaches? Is monument and building signage allowed?
• Digital complementarity: Is there space and infrastructure for ITMs, ATMs, EV chargers, or smart lockers? Is fiber internet available?
• Cost to build & operate: Evaluate land, fit-out costs, utilities, staffing model, etc.
• Site constraints: Consider parcel size, floodplain risks, and landlord reliability.
• Zoning: Are timelines or approval conditions likely to delay the build?
• Security & risk: Assess lighting, sightlines, and local crime data.

The best sites aren’t always on the “busiest corner.” They’re where your brand, your members, and real-world behavior align.