SKN | Truist Ends Hybrid Work, Requires All Employees in Office Five Days a Week

Full Return to Office Begins January 2026

Truist Financial Corp., the Charlotte, North Carolina–based super-regional bank, announced Wednesday that it will require all employees to return to the office five days per week beginning January 5, 2026. The move marks a full departure from the hybrid work model that became standard across the banking industry following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Truist is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and client-focused excellence,” the bank said in a statement. “This decision reflects our belief that in-person teamwork drives stronger results for our clients, teammates, and stakeholders.”

The bank, which manages $544 billion in assets, said the new policy applies to all roles that previously qualified for hybrid arrangements.

Gradual Shift Toward In-Person Work

Truist’s latest announcement follows a steady tightening of its in-office requirements. In 2024, investment banking teams were instructed to work in person every weekday, up from four days. Most other departments were shifted from three to four days in-office per week.

By early 2026, all 38,500 employees will be fully office-based — a notable pivot for a bank that once embraced flexible work policies. Executives argue that in-person collaboration enhances productivity, creativity, and culture, particularly as competition intensifies across digital banking and financial services.

Industry Trend: Wall Street’s Office Revival

Truist joins a growing list of major banks mandating full-time office attendance, more than five years after the pandemic transformed workplace norms. JPMorgan Chase reinstated its five-day office schedule in March, with CEO Jamie Dimon reaffirming that “in-office work is essential to performance.”

At Goldman Sachs, CEO David Solomon echoed similar sentiments, calling remote work “a useful tool, but not a mode of operating successfully at the competitive level we want.” Citi, U.S. Bank, Deutsche Bank, and Barclays have all expanded in-office expectations over the past year, though most stopped short of a full five-day requirement.

Even outside the U.S., Canada’s largest lenders — including Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), TD Bank, and Scotiabank — have moved to four days a week in-office, citing similar goals of restoring team cohesion and client engagement.

Balancing Flexibility and Culture

Despite the shift, many banks continue to emphasize “flexibility” within their policies, acknowledging that work-life balance remains a key retention factor. Truist, like its peers, says it will maintain employee support programs and tools to enhance collaboration across departments and client channels.

The decision underscores a broader trend in the banking industry: as AI, automation, and digital transformation reshape workflows, institutions are doubling down on human collaboration to sustain competitive advantage.

Closing Insight

Truist’s full return-to-office policy marks a definitive end to the hybrid work era for one of the country’s largest regional banks. The move highlights a clear industry consensus — while digital tools enable efficiency, leaders believe in-person teamwork remains the cornerstone of innovation, performance, and long-term client trust.

Previous Post SKN | Bank of America Runs 270 AI Models Across Operations

Next Post SKN | France Explores Public Bitcoin Reserves Amid Growing Global Interest