Closure of branches is once again prevalent in the banking industry, as banks big and small rationalise costs.The number of full service branches of banks, building societies and credit unions recorded by APRA, in its annual report on "points of presence" of the industry, declined by 130, or two per cent, from 6,631 branches the previous year.Banks shut 50 branches; building societies shut 14 branches; and credit unions closed 66 branches.The change in the number of branches of banks and credit unions in the data may be clouded by the conversion of several of the latter into mutual banks.