Most 2027 branch staffing plans will start with last year’s headcount. That’s how a branch ends up with three people idle on Tuesday afternoon and one banker facing a line at Friday lunch. Across 111 FMSI client institutions, 94% of lobby visits in 2025 were walk-ins, and 242,072 visitors left before being served. The problem usually isn’t how many people you have. It’s when they work.

The 2027 Branch Staffing Playbook shows branch leaders how to plan from real traffic data instead. Follow one branch through four moves: see real demand, size the team to it, tie goals to revenue, and staff ahead of the peaks. FMSI client data shows those peaks land in March, July and August, and July and August are also peak vacation months. The guide includes a two-page staffing worksheet, so you can bring a staffing plan to your budget meeting that holds up to scrutiny.

Download the playbook for free now.