More than one-third of consumers most often do their banking at branches, according to an American Bankers Association survey conducted in July 2007.



But one-quarter of respondents mainly banked online, 21% chiefly used ATMs, 5% banked mostly by phone and 8% used mail most often.

"We are continuing to find that while our younger consumers feel comfortable banking from their laptops, traditional services are still preferred by many," said Edward L. Yingling, ABA president/CEO, in a statement.

Indeed, banking usage varied by age. Nearly one-half of those over 55 usually banked at branches, and 25% of those under 34 used branches as their main banking channel. Three in 10 younger customers chose to bank online over branches.

"This is why banks are trying to offer a variety of banking options in order to meet all of their customers' needs," Mr. Yingling said.

The American Bankers Association-commissioned study was conducted by Ipsos-Reid with 1,000 consumers.