I did a count this morning on the number of banks I pass by on my drive to work.  My drive is about 14 miles, one way. 
I counted:
3 McDonalds
4 Full service grocery stores.
7 drug stores.
15 gas stations
and
21 Banks!
Why do we need 21 banks in 14 miles?  The numbers are actually skewed  a little bit since I drive through about 5 miles of forest preserves.  In a 6 mile stretch of 95th street, there are 17 (soon to be 19) banks!  Why do we need 3+ banks PER MILE?  That means every 0.315 miles there is a bank.  In layman’s terms, you won’t have to walk more than 2 and a half blocks to get to a bank!  I know there are 2 banks (soon to be 3) within 2 blocks of my house.  This is a Google map of a 6 mile stretch of 95th street.  I think I may of missed some as well.

I really think the Chicago market is way over-saturated with banks.  Honestly, with direct deposit I see a bank about once a month, worst case.  Normally it is once ever 2 months that I need to see a bank.  I can understand why there are so many gas stations, everyone needs to get gas once a week.  We are actually a little light when it comes to grocery stores.  I know everyone HAS to go a grocery store or eat out all the time every week, or more.

My younger brother brought up a great point, banks really don’t do much for the community.  They provide a service, but very little tax revenue.  A gas station or grocery store generates a lot of tax revenue for the community it is in and provides a useful service you NEED.  You do need banks, they are much better than currency exchanges or check cashing, but, why so many?  It is really a terrible waste of often prime real estate.