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The article reports on the decision of financial institution JPMorgan Chase to close down its branches in Chicago, Illinois and expand to wealthy areas. Chase plans to open a second location in Lake Forest, Illinois in December 2018. The move in Lake Forest shows that it is competing harder with financial services group Northern Trust. It is said that 2018 was one of Chase's most aggressive years in the Chicago market for branch closures.

New York State-based Commerce Bank, in keeping with its strategy of taking high-profile locations, has just signed a lease for 7,500 square feet of space at 155 Canal Street, on the northwest corner of Bowery, New York City, as of June 26, 2003. Canal Street space includes 5,000 square feet on the ground floor and 2,500 square feet on the second floor. The development also includes six stories of residential space and three other retail units, 3,000-square-foot and 2,500-square-foot portions on the mezzanine level and a 5,000-square-foot space on the lower level. The bank has at least five other deals pending in Manhattan, New York City region, with a particular focus on the financial district.

The article reports that Troy's landmark office tower, the Top of Troy, will be renamed the National City Center as the bank moves and expands its Michigan headquarters there. The long-term lease of five floors, naming rights and new initiatives planned at the building are part of Cleveland-based National City Corp.'s efforts to raise its visibility in metro Detroit. The bank initially plans to move 300 employees from Birmingham, Royal Oak, Warren and Rochester. During the next few years, it plans to bring an additional 200 to 250 employees.

The article presents information on the opening of a branch by Main Street Bank Inc. in downtown Plymouth, Michigan. The bank has two locations on Main Street in Northville, Michigan. New Liberty Bank, a single-branch community bank used to be on Main Street in Plymouth was moved to another street in 2004.

The article reports that Lansing based Capitol Bancorp Ltd. opened its 33rd bank, in Farmington Hills, in January and plans to open another bank in Auburn Hills yet this year. The bank-holding company opened the Bank of Michigan in Farmington Hills on January 10 with George Mochmar as its president. Mochmar had been president and CEO of First National Bank of America in East Lansing. Capitol has grown to $3.1 billion in assets largely by starting community banks in high-growth markets such as San Diego, Las Vegas and metro Detroit. Most of Capitol's banks have between $100 million and $150 million in assets. Its Ann Arbor bank is the largest, with about $350 million.