A branch, banking center or financial center is a retail location where a bank, credit union, or other financial institution (and by extension, brokerage firms) offers a wide array of face-to-face and automated services to its customers.^{[citation needed]}

During the 3rd century banks in Persia (now Iran) and in other territories started to issue letters of credit known as Sakks, basically checks in today’s language, that could be traded in cooperative houses or offices throughout the Persian territories.^{[citation needed]} In the period from 1100-1300 banking started to expand across Europe and banks began opening ‘branches’ in remote, foreign locations to support international trade.^{[citation needed]} In 1327, Avignon in France had 43 branches of Italian banking houses alone.^{[citation needed]}

The practice of opening satellite branches was popularized in the early 20th century by Amadeo Giannini, then head of the Bank of America.^{[not in citation given]} Historically, branches were housed in imposing buildings, often in a neoclassical architecture style. Today, branches may also take the form of smaller offices within a larger complex, such as a shopping mall.^{[citation needed]}