The paper attempts to analyse changes in the widely understood concepts of bank product distribution at the branch systems level. The analysis only covers banks operating in Poland. Cases from the banking markets in Western Europe and the USA have been used as essential background and a basis for concluding as to potential directions and dynamics of changes in the distribution processes of banks in Poland.

One of the most important tendencies observed in the area of distribution in banks is currently the optimisation of the branch networks. This requires changes both to the whole bank distribution system, the system of branches, as well as at the level of each individual customer service point. At the same time it is necessary to directly link these modifications with change in the philosophy of operation of the whole institution. The effectiveness of these processes to a large extent depends on the managerial skills and market intuition of a bank's management. The starting point for effective operation of a bank branch network is the optimisation of the number and localisation of operational points. The bank's decisions in this area bear a direct relationship with the formation of the service points structure, including their degree of specialisation and current and planned functions. Such solutions are of strategic character for a bank. They result directly from its long-term and operational objectives, range of operations, accepted customer service strategy and their needs.