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Comment by mushufasa | Hacker News Reader

At this point, why doesn't SoftBank just use WeWork as a physical presence outlet to expand offering their core business services internationally? Like cell phones?

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This question implies that you might think that SoftBank is something like a bank with branch locations where people can go deposit money and have a checking account. Not so! SoftBank is basically just a Japanese investment fund and probably doesn’t need 800 points of presence.

But some of the companies they own might benefit from it.

Most WeWork locations are not in retail type places. Many are on higher floors in office buildings, etc.

Further the bankruptcy is a restructure and the truth is that WeWork will likely emerge from it a continuing operation.

They invested in DoorDash and Uber but they don't own DoorDash and Uber.

GP's point is that in Japan, SoftBank is a telecom company with branch locations, offering phones and phone plans.

I was wondering something similar recently when my father-in-law was visiting us in SV from their home in Northern Virginia and asked whether there were any Capital One branches nearby. I didn't know but would have been surprised if the answer was "no", so I googled it. Turns out they've converted a bunch of their old physical branches into cafes. You can't bank in them, but you can ask banking questions (a la Genius Bar), and you can use their wifi and hangout.

Who knew! https://www.capitalone.com/local/

I think I saw someone comment about the finances of bank branches...

Its something like, each branch office is a $10-million/year investment into making the customer feel slightly more secure about their money.

I just see more branches as less money that could be paid to me in interest.

In 2017 I had an issue with my capital one credit card and went to a physical branch and they just said to call the main helpline. To the credit of the employee, he offered to sit with me while I was on the phone.

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