Credit unions and community banks have historically served an essential role in providing core financial services to underbanked populations in rural locations that larger institutions tend to avoid. In recent years, community banks have faced increasing challenges to maintain profit, while credit unions have struggled to keep up with the number of banking options that larger institutions provide. From increased labor and real estate costs to a lack of efficient tools and technical knowledge, it is getting harder to justify keeping smaller branches open across the country. While the unbanked population has fallen to 4.5% in the U.S., rural Americans still depend on physical branches for access to cash and credit. Keeping these institutions open is a critical part of increasing access to financial services in underserved communities.