A Little Assistance, if You Please

[prufrock21]

Im presently writing a story in which one of the characters wishes to safeguard a precious heirloom inside a bank vault. Depending on the bank, what would the procedure be? Let's say the person already has an account. If the person wishes to retrieve her property once deposited, would she need to show an ID or would her physical presence be enough to gain access to the item stored? What is the procedure some banks use? Any help would be awesome. THANKS.

 

[Moderator]

There are different sizes of safe deposit boxes, so first you need to make sure your character's item would fit in one. The person is given 2 keys for the box, one of which must be presented at the time s/he wants to gain access to the box. The bank has a master key that must also be inserted into the lock along with the box holder's key in order for it to open and then be locked again. This may not be the case with all banks, but I don't need to present ID but I do have to have my key and sign in when I access my safe deposit box.

 

[prufrock21]

Thanks, Ms. Mod. Having to present the key could pose a problem, as my character is not the owner of the box. Yet what you describe has possibilities. Something along this line occurs in The Bourne Identity.

 

[Haunted]

I now have to sign in and show ID. Before I could just let myself into the vault and get my box and take it to the little room. I prefer the new routine; it feels more secure.

 

[prufrock21]

I now have to sign in and show ID. Before I could just let myself into the vault and get my box and take it to the little room. I prefer the new routine; it feels more secure.

Thanks.Do you need a key to open the box?

 

[Dana Jean]

Same as mod but have to show ID

 

[blunthead]

Same as Mod. My sisters and I each had access to dad's safety deposit boxes, and we all had to sign in. We didn't have to show ID. Dad had two such boxes. One was a shallow drawer type and the other was a larger, deeper one. But neither could have held anything very sizeable.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...Mason Jar, shovel, backyard....nuff said...

 

[EMARX]

A wormhole, time travel and a blowtorch...

 

[Haunted]

Thanks.Do you need a key to open the box?

When you sign up to rent a box you are given a key.

 

[50's Kid]

I had to show ID, have a key, and be on a list of people authorized to access the box, then sign a log sheet. It was a pretty thorough procedure, and I liked it that way. The bank employee also accompanied me into the vault, where we each inserted our keys (2 separate locks), kind of like the old missile silo thing.

 

[prufrock21]

I had to show ID, have a key, and be on a list of people authorized to access the box, then sign a log sheet. It was a pretty thorough procedure, and I liked it that way. The bank employee also accompanied me into the vault, where we each inserted our keys (2 separate locks), kind of like the old missile silo thing.

Sounds very professional. Thanks.

 

[mustangclaire]

Am I the only one thinking I wish I knew someone/was rich enough to even warrant visiting a safe deposit box? . It all sounds so glamorous! Like one should wear a long fur coat, small hat with veil and toting a long cigarette holder..... And risqué disposition.

 

[prufrock21]

Am I the only one thinking I wish I knew someone/was rich enough to even warrant visiting a safe deposit box? . It all sounds so glamorous! Like one should wear a long fur coat, small hat with veil and toting a long cigarette holder..... And risqué disposition.

I believe Elizabeth Taylor stored her expensive jewels in a bank vault. Rich? Yes. Risqué? Very.