The U.S. Postal Service is cutting back, and the little neighborhood postal branch on Broad Street at Girard Avenue might feel the pinch.

The news comes as the postal service is taking a yearlong look at its finances in an effort to trim the fat.

In a report released on Friday, Oct. 9, the USPS listed three city branches in danger of being shuttered after the completion of a study that could see postal facilities closed nationwide in a money-saving move.

The list, compiled by the USPS and submitted to the federal Postal Regulatory Commission, included the Girard Avenue branch at 905 N. Broad St. as well as two locations in Northeast Philly - the Adams Avenue branch, 821 Adams Ave., and the Wissinoming branch, at 5916 Torresdale Ave.

"We are, nationwide, looking at ways that we can cut costs, make money and still serve our customers needs," said Cathy Yarosky, a USPS spokeswoman. "What this is is not a list of offices that will be closed, but stations that will be part of a feasibility study."

Originally, she said, 19 Philadelphia postal facilities were targeted for a study to find out which could feasibly be closed. The study is looking at just how much retail business those facilities bring in every year. Also being taken under consideration is how close those branches are to other places that provide postal services.

In the most recent update of that list, the majority of Philadelphia's facilities considered for closing have been classified "not feasible at this time," except for the remaining three.

As evidenced by the findings released in the study, the three stations selected for possible closure brought in some of the lowest revenues of the 19 offices in the Philadelphia area.

Adams Avenue brought in the most revenue of the three with $618,408 in walk-in revenue last year.

The Girard Avenue branch brought in much less, at $292,189 for the year, with the Wissinoming branch further lagging at $263,258.

Two facilities on the original list of 19 but later removed, the Olney station at 101 E. Olney Ave. and the iconic John Wanamaker facility at 1234 Market St., each brought in more than $1 million last year.

"This is a part of the way we do business," said Yarosky. "We review costs as any other business does."

She said postal service has been suffering financial difficulties. It is hoped that, by determining the feasibility of shutting postal facilities nationwide, the USPS might stem the bleeding.

However, she was quick to point out, the facilities targeted in the study would not be shuttered without due process.

As yet, no specific date has been given for when any facility might be closed, and Yarosky said there is no deadline for when decisions must be made.

Once the USPS determines if any or all of the three branches could feasibly be closed - Yarosky estimated a determination could be made by January - the USPS would inform customers 60 days in advance before any final decisions are made.

At that time, she said, customers also would be given surveys or some sort of community meeting to allow locals to provide input on the planned closure.

"Customer feedback is very important," promised Yarosky. "The feedback will then be reviewed here."

She said legislators in Washington, D.C., would also be able to view the community feedback before offices are closed.

Seen during a visit on Friday, Oct. 23, the Girard branch was a quiet, empty room.

During the sunny day, at around noon, a single employee sat behind the bulletproof glass in the lobby and spoke pleasantly with a colleague over the phone.

No one was waiting in line to be helped.

In fact, in a little over a half-hour at the branch, no customers walked through its doors.

"The problem is that we're such a small facility," said the employee, who asked not to be identified.

The branch has a quaint charm. All over the bulletproof glass, there are tiny bits of paper taped up with various motivational quotes written in black marker.

The employee said the small office has a connection with the community, but business has been slow for a long time.

"The community doesn't want this to close. There's definitely a connection with the community," she said. "A lot of our customers are senior citizens."

When told that the branch is one of three under study for possible closure, she smiled knowingly.

"Well, it's been another slow week. I hope they aren't going by numbers," she said with a sarcastic laugh.

Reporter Hayden Mitman can be reached at 215-354-3124 or hmitman@phillynews.com