Hello! Need help please in determining circumstances where we must include/provide a physical mailing address to customers. Is there any case where this is required or is a PO box okay? Thanks!

I am not sure that I understand your question. You need a physical address for CIP, but can also obtain a mailing address such as a PO Box to send documentation too.

Thanks - to clarify, can the bank use only a PO box as it's contact address for customers (in customer facing materials such as website, emails, notice of dispute, etc) in lieu of an actual street address or are there circumstances where a street address is required?

I am assuming you are talking about the bank address; can you use "just" a PO Box for your branch?

What's the reasoning behind it?

1005.7(b)(2) Telephone number and address. The telephone number and address of the person or office to be notified when the consumer believes that an unauthorized electronic fund transfer has been or may be made.

There is no requirement for that to be a physical address.

1005.7(b)(2) aside, I'd be curious to know why a bank wouldn't want to use their physical address?

Some rural locations don't get mail, so mail sent to the physical address as disclosed by the Bank would come back to the sender undeliverable.

And if the bank has a P.O, Box address and a high volume of mail, the postal service may not deliver an envelope addressed to the bank's street address.

This is "Dumb Question Thursday"
.
Wasn't there a period of time when a physical address was required in the event that someone wanted to go to the bank and talk to someone in person?

Not that I am aware - that is why a phone number is also required.

Where would you visit a virtual bank? It has no branches or other offices open to the public.