Bank of America plans to open more than 165 U.S. branches by the end of 2026, the lender said on Monday, as it competes with JPMorgan Chase to add locations.

While more customers are doing their banking online, bank branches are still being added and renovated for customers to meet in person with bankers.

The lender’s expansion will include roughly 40 branch openings this year, including its first location in Louisville, Kentucky.

The new local branches are among 165 locations Bank of America expects to open across its footprint by the end of 2026.

Bank of America is the latest US lender to double down on its branch network, pledging to open more than 165 "financial centres" by the end of 2026.

Bank of America said it will open 165 branches by the end of 2026, the latest big US lender to announce more brick-and-mortar locations following a decade of industry retrenchment.