Chapter 149: The Bank of Savannah


    Derek and Ste passed Jacks on the way out. After exining what they were up to, Jacks left to go see what the rest of the group had been up to all day.


    The walk was short, as the bank was only a few businesses down from the Crown Restaurant. Derek followed Ste inside a building almost as tall as the hotel, but just as grand. Inside, there were multiple desks with workers, and one big counter at the back with people lined up.


    Do you have at least 1,000 gold on you right now? Ste asked.


    Derek nodded. Yeah.


    Good. Follow me. She led Derek to one of the desks with a worker seated behind it.


    The worker looked up from the desk to see Derek and Ste approaching. Ah, Miss Brighton. How may I help you today?


    Jared, this is Derek Hunt. She motioned to Derek. He needs to open an ount with the bank today. We are in partnership, and it would make our lives much easier if he had one.


    I see. Jared replied, then motioned to a seat across from him. Mr. Hunt, please have a seat and I will get you taken care of momentarily.


    Derek sat. Thank you.


    Ste put her hand on Dereks shoulder. Ill be back shortly. There are some ounts I need to take care of while Im here.


    Okay.


    Soon after Ste left, Jared finished signing some documents and put them away. Good afternoon, Mr. Hunt. Do you know what sort of ount you would like to open today?


    What kind of ounts do you have? Derek asked.


    We have business and personal ounts, with varying tiers of each. So, to get started, would you like your ount to be business or personal? The man asked.


    Personal, but I may open a business ount at some point. Am I right to think that I can give ess to the business ount to multiple people.?


    Jared nodded. That is correct. Any party indicated by you would have ess.


    Thats good. Derek said.


    Now, what tier ount would you like? Tier one ounts are for those who wish for an easy ce to safely store what little money they have. The limit to this tier is 100 gold, and it costs 50 silver a year to maintain. Jared exined.


    Ill be dealing in the tens of thousands of gold. Derek said.


    I see. That leaves tier three and tier four ounts, but being in business with the Crown, I suspect you will want to open a tier four one. The minimum you must have to open the ount is 1,000 gold. There is also a 1,000-gold insurance and maintenance fee. However, there is no maximum limit on the ount. The ount draws a .005 percent monthly interest for the holder, so, with enough funds, it is possible to negate the ount cost. Jared exined.


    Derek did some quick math in his head before replying. Do you have a lot of customers with over 200,000 gold in their ounts?


    The man nodded. We do, as we are the only bank in the kingdom, and we are backed by Savannah. You are paying for the safety and insurance of your money, along with ease of use.


    Derek nodded. He knew how banks worked, and this one didnt seem to be all that much different. It didnt seem like they had a savings ount, though. Derek decided to ask. Do you not have a savings ount?


    The man frowned. Im afraid Ive never heard of something like that.


    Derek nodded. That makes sense. Im from another kingdom. I was just checking to see the differences in the banks. Of course, there were multiple kinds of savings ounts that just werent possible for a world like this one to have. Especially those that involvedbination savings and investment ounts.


    Could you exin this savings ount? Jared asked. I have to admit, I am quite curious about how other kingdoms manage money.


    Its simple, really. There are multiple types of ounts. Savings ounts have a higher interest yield for the customer and are usually better secured. But it seems that your regr ounts are already quite secure. Some ounts have penalties for using the money in them within a set time period or using them too often. Derek exined.


    One of the reason savings ounts are good for banks is that it allows the bank to have more money on hand to lend. You do give loans, correct?


    Jared nodded. We do.


    So, savings ounts make it where people dont want to take their money out, whether it is because they want the increased interest on their ount or because they dont want to incur penalties or fees. Therefore, you have more money for loans. So, if the savings ount draws one percent interest on 5,000 gold, then you turn around and give out a 5,000-gold loan at eight percent, you profit well. Of course, there are other factors, but Im not too versed in those. Im sure someone in the banking industry could figure that out. Derek finished exining.


    Jared sat silently for a moment before speaking again. Interesting. He finally said.


    Though, since you have a monopoly on banking in the kingdom, savings ounts may not benefit you as much. Derek said.


    Oh? You have more than one bank where youe from?


    Derek nodded. Yeah. Dozens, if not hundreds.


    How interesting. May I ask, what kingdom do youe from?


    Derekughed. The United States of America. Derek said. <em>At least whats left of it.</em> He thought. Im sure youve never heard of it.


    You are correct. I have not. Jared confirmed. Thanks for the information. Now, should we get back to business?


    Derek nodded. Id like to open up a tier four ount. Well start small. Derek dumped 5,000 gold on the desk. Take a thousand for the fee, then deposit the remaining.


    Very well. Jared moved the pile of gold over to one side of his desk, then pulled out some papers. This is the typical bank contract for a tier four ount. Please read, sign, and inject your mana signature here.


    Derek did as he was told. There wasnt anything in the contract that wasnt exined beforehand, other than termination of the ount if sufficient funds were not avable to cover the fee within six months of owing it.


    Thank you. Jared made a copy of the papers and gave it to Derek. This is for your records. Then, he pulled a ck card out of a locked desk drawer and ced it on a rune on the desk then injected his mana into the rune. I have activated your banking card ording to the contract. Please ce your mana signature on the card via the rune.


    <em>Thats what that was. </em>There was a card in the ring he took off of Malcolm. He had scanned over it, but didnt pay it any attention. Now, he knew why the City Lord didnt actually have that much gold on him. Derek injected the card with his mana.


    You may now take the card. He slid the card across the desk to Derek. For your first deposit, I will handle it, but for future deposits and withdrawals of 1,000-gold or less, or if you need information about your ount, please use one of the tellers over there. He pointed at one of the lines of people. If your deposit or withdrawal is greater than 1,000-gold use that counter. He showed Derek a counter with many less people in line.


    Okay. Derek said. If I die, what happens to the card? He asked, thinking about the City Lords card.


    When you die, your mana signature disappears, and we are notified. After which, your ount goes to your next of kin or someone you have designated. If you do not have any kin, it would be best to designate someone just in case you die.


    Derek nodded. <em>There goes that idea. </em>


    If you would like to open a business ount in the future or take out a loan, you cane back to me or one of the other workers here. He exined. Same for adding others to the ount.


    Will do. Derek said.


    Please wait here for a moment. Jared took the pile of gold and stood. He walked past one of the counters and into a closed room. Two minutester, he came back. I have deposited your gold. Inject your mana and look at the side of the card.


    Derek did so. Instantly, the mana was absorbed and a blue 4,000 appeared on the side of the card, near the top.


    The top row is gold, the middle is silver, and the bottom is bronze. If you lose your card, there is a 200 gold recement fee for tier four members. The man said.


    Derek nodded. Sounds good.


    Now, this card has built in runes to transfer the bnce to other cards. Take a look at the other side when you inject your mana.


    Derek did, and multiple strange symbols appeared on the other side of his card.


    When you wish to transfer, all you have to do is activate the cards runes, then, while touching the other persons card with yours, will the amount to be transferred. Both parties must be willing the same amount or the transfer will fail. Jared exined.


    That seems easy enough. Derek said.


    Congrattions! You are now a member of the Savannah Bank. Jared smiled.


    Derek put the card away and reached out to shake the mans hand. Thanks for all your help.


    The man took his hand and shook it. It was my pleasure. Pleasee see me if you have any questions or concerns.


    With that, Derek stood and walked back outside. He waited against the wall for Ste toe out. After around ten minutes of waiting, she finally appeared through the doors of the bank.


    Sorry about that. It took longer than expected. Ste said.


    No worries.


    So, did you get everything you needed? She asked.


    I set up a personal ount. Ille back if or when I need to make a business one. He answered.


    Thats good. Did he teach you how to transfer?


    Yeah. Derek pulled out his new card. How much was it again? He asked.


    13,465 gold. She answered as she pulled her own card out and activated it.


    Derek activated his card and ced its rune side against the one in Stes hand. He thought about taking that amount from her card, and instantly, both cards glowed blue, then stopped. When he checked his bnce again, the number read 17,465.


    He let out a breath. Thats going to make life a little more simple.