Peer+ Map Types Overview

Peer+ includes several interactive map types designed to help you explore markets, understand community needs, and identify growth opportunities. Each map offers a different lens on geographic data, from branch presence to access and risk.

This guide provides a high-level overview of the four map types available in Peer+ so you can quickly understand what each map shows and when to use it.

Jump to the map type to learn more:

Market Overview Map
Heat Maps
Banking Desert Map
FEMA Risk Map

Market Overview Map

The Market Overview Map, often referred to as the branch map, provides a foundational view of an institution’s physical presence within a selected market. Branch locations are displayed using pins, helping you quickly orient to where institutions operate geographically.

Use this map to:

Understand branch distribution across a market
Compare branch footprints between institutions
Zero in on a variety of different metrics.

This map is especially helpful as a starting point when defining or reviewing a market, as it establishes where institutions are located before exploring performance, access, or risk data.

Learn more in the Market Overview Map Guide.

Heat Map

Heat maps are the most common map type used in Peer+. They visualize how data varies across a market using color intensity, making it easier to spot patterns and concentrations at a glance.

Most dashboards in Peer+ use heat maps to center their story. Depending on the dashboard, heat maps may highlight population, deposits, lending activity, or other market-level metrics. Darker shading indicates higher concentrations, while lighter shading indicates lower concentrations.

Use heat maps to:

Identify areas of strength or opportunity
Spot trends that are not immediately visible in tables or charts
Support strategic conversations around growth and or market dynamics

Heat maps can also include branch pins layered on top, adding additional context to your analysis.

Learn more in the Heat Maps Guide.

Banking Desert Map

The Banking Desert Map focuses on access to financial services within your selected market. It highlights census tracts with limited or no nearby branch access, commonly referred to as banking deserts or potential banking deserts.

This map is especially helpful for understanding where communities may be underserved and where opportunities exist to expand access.

Use the Banking Desert Map to:

Identify areas with limited access to physical banking locations
Support community development and inclusion conversations
Evaluate expansion or outreach opportunities in underserved areas

This view helps connect geographic analysis with broader community impact goals.

Learn more in the Banking Desert Map Guide.

FEMA Risk Map

The FEMA Risk Map overlays federally recognized risk data onto your selected market, adding environmental and risk-related context to your analysis.

Rather than focusing on performance metrics, this map helps highlight geographic risk factors that may affect communities, branches, or long-term planning decisions.

Use the FEMA Risk Map to:

Understand geographic risk exposure within a market
Add context to growth, investment, or branch strategy discussions
Support planning that accounts for environmental and external risk factors

This map is most valuable when paired with other market views to ensure decisions are made with a full picture of both opportunity and risk.

Learn more in the FEMA Risk Map Guide.