Branches exist for the most part as places for people to open accounts. Everything else is understaffed and exists as a side effect to get more accounts opened at the bank.

Around where I live, they opened branches with 5 atms and maybe 2 people "assisting" account holders with the atms.

And yet they're still building new branches left and right!

I count half a dozen Chase branches that have gone up near me in the past few months. I don't get it.

Probably because they've ascertained that one of the key things customers look for in selecting a bank is whether there is a branch near them. Never mind if there is literally anything in there other than an ATM ...