Imperial Bank
There is an Imperial Bank in every major city of The Empire.1
Services
Those with citizenship rights can keep an account at the bank without charge, and may also rent a small or large vault where their city has one. Non-citizen residents of the Empire must pay to open an account, a sum already large for ordinary people. Only account holders may use any of the bank's services.1
The bank lends money at interest; how much it lends depends on how reliable the borrower is. Its loans are usually long-term, at high yearly interest.1
An account holder can draw their wealth from the Imperial Bank in another major city, waiting only a few days for the correspondence to be completed. This spares them the risk of being robbed on dangerous roads. Bank clerks may take small commissions for this service, and being a clerk is a prestigious job.1
In trade
When merchants deal in goods worth hundreds of gold eagles, coins seldom change hands. The gold coin serves as a measure of value, and payment is made in gold bars, letters of credit, deeds of the Imperial Bank or valuable goods.2
In the lives of others
Donald Whent put all his savings into founding the Eagle Brigade and ran up an enormous debt to the Imperial Bank.3
The father of Joseph Kalkerian was an accountant at the Imperial Bank, which gave his son a privileged upbringing. Joseph, now master of coin for the western branch of the Morenar, knows that the bank could move the year's profits to headquarters, but hesitates: he wants to keep the Morenar's gold from the prying eyes of the Empire's accountants.4
Notes
Sources
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Related articles
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CharacterDonald WhentThe founder and high commander of the Eagle Brigade, a former Reik Storms captain who staked everything on opening the Deep Pit to Vansreik and made his guild famous with its first expedition there.CharacterJoseph KalkerianA mercenary from the Marble City, a former legion armourer and master of coin who, after false accusations ended his service, joined the Morenar and now runs the coffers and caravans of its western branch.
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