From vaults of gold to virtual transactions, banks have been the guardians of wealth and facilitators of financial dreams. But there’s more to these institutions than meets the eye. In this article, we’re unlocking the vault of knowledge to reveal 15 captivating facts about banks. From ancient origins to modern innovations, you’ll discover the fascinating history, curious customs, and behind-the-scenes workings that make the world of banking a cornerstone of our economic landscape. Get ready to invest your curiosity and withdraw a wealth of information!
1-5 Fun Facts About Banks
1. Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, a notorious gangster during the Great Depression, gained public favor by destroying mortgage papers during his bank robberies, effectively freeing many from their debts.
2. In a peculiar incident from 1995, a man attempted to rob two Pittsburgh banks while applying lemon juice to his face. He believed that lemon juice’s property as invisible ink would render his face unidentifiable on surveillance cameras.
3. In a case from 2010, Bank of America wrongfully foreclosed on a couple. After winning a judgment of $2500 in legal expenses, the couple took matters into their own hands and, with a moving company, a deputy, and a writ, arrived at the bank to start seizing furniture and cash when BOA failed to pay.
4. Until 1974, banks commonly refused to issue credit cards to unmarried women, requiring husbands to co-sign. Divorced women were considered risky due to societal biases.
5. An elderly man named James Verone robbed a bank in North Carolina for $1 purposefully to receive free healthcare in prison. Now that’s thinking outside the vault!
6-10 Interesting Facts About Banks
6. In a tale of invisible failure, a man paid a wizard to make him disappear. Armed with his newfound invisibility, he tried to rob a bank in Tehran – but the only thing he made vanish was his chance of getting away with it.
7. Italian banks accept Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese) as collateral for loans, storing hundreds of thousands of cheese wheels in climate-controlled vaults for the two-year maturation period. Talk about cheesy collateral!
8. Carl Gugasian, dubbed the “Friday Night Bank Robber,” was a meticulous bank robber with a third-degree black belt who successfully carried out over 50 bank heists across 30 years.
9. Pablo Escobar, a notorious Colombian drug lord, amassed illegal money beyond what banks could accommodate. He stored his excess funds in warehouses, where he annually wrote off 10% as “spoilage” due to rats nibbling on the hundred-dollar bills.
10. A man gained trust in a Belgian bank’s diamond district by bringing chocolate to workers, eventually gaining VIP access to the bank vault and stealing $28 million worth of diamonds in 2007.
11-15 Surprising Facts About Banks
11. Bank of America hired intelligence firms to dismantle Wikileaks, as directed by the Department of Justice. Anonymous retaliated by hacking these firms.
12. Following the largest bank heist in Japan’s history, the Kobe branch of Fukutoku Bank received a letter of gratitude from the presumed robbers, thanking the bank for the “bonus” and indicating that they could live on the loot for life.
13. An American-made bank vault protected its contents from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. After reconstruction, the bank’s new manager sent a letter of congratulations to the vault manufacturer.
14. The infamous gang known as “The Pink Panthers” has orchestrated elaborate bank and jewelry heists, employing tactics such as dressing in drag with disguises and escaping on speedboats. They even managed to break their leader out of prison with a ladder while under gunfire.
15. To crack the Bank of England’s vaults, you need a key that’s a whopping 3 feet long.
Bonus Fact: A nine-year-old boy successfully robbed a New York bank in 1981 by brandishing a toy gun and escaping with $118.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading about 15 Important Banks facts
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