like branches have moved more to an open layout with a greeter and couches and such. You see the Capital One commercials with their "cafes"... part of that is just trying to drive traffic to the branches. Between online tools and Fitechs it becomes harder and harder for traditional financial institutions to justify having a physical branch. As far as robberies go, the idea is to give them what they want and get them out of there as fast as possible. Most robbers don't actually even have a weapon much less brandish it or use it. Regardless of whether you pull a gun or not if you demand money the tellers are instructed to give it to you, get you out of the building and then lock the doors so that you can't come back in. I'm very very rarely in a branch but I have to take the robbery training every year on the off chance that I happen to be in one at the wrong time.