Bank

A Bank in Rome

Banks were economic buildings that controlled the flow of money in the 15th and 16th centuries.

In the 15th century, most banks were controlled by the Templars and primarily contained florins, though some contained Codex pages as well.

In the 16th century, the Assassin Ezio Auditore was able to use banks to view the total percentage of Rome or Constantinople's renovation, as well as withdraw any income from investments that had been deposited into the banks' vaults.

History

15th century

A group of guards protecting a bank

In the 15th century, banks could be found throughout the cities of Florence, San Gimignano, Forlì, and Venice. Each bank was usually guarded by three or four guards. Banks could only be looted once and typically only contained florins. Some banks, always guarded by Borgia guards, held Codex pages, which could be taken and brought to Leonardo da Vinci to be decoded.

Banks contained two chests, and while they were always guarded, more guards usually patrolled nearby. Rebecca Crane once stated that although all families owned banks, most of them were under the control of the Pazzi family, and that breaking into them would be worthwhile. In truth, the banks' guards ceased to wear the colors and emblems of the Pazzi after the Pazzi Conspiracy.

The town of Monteriggioni also possessed a bank, though it could not be interacted with. It provided additional income for Ezio, which was stored in a chest in the Villa Auditore, after the villa was renovated.

16th century

File:ACBSP 2011-04-12 00-04-12-38.png

A bank in Rome before renovation

In the 16th century, there were ten banks scattered throughout the districts of Rome, which, once renovated, would increase the limit of florins that could be stored within the banks' vaults. In addition, renovating them would boost the amount of income generated over time.

Similarly to the money chest in the Monteriggioni villa, the banks carried a limit to the amount of florins they could contain, and would not deposit any additional income once full.

Constantinople contained sixteen banks, which acted similarly to the ones in Rome. Additionally, they could provide Ezio with money and bomb ingredients earned from other cities.

Trivia

• The maximum amount that could be stored in Rome's bank vaults was 80,000 florins, while in Constantinople it was 120,000 Akçe.
• Before the execution of his father and brothers, Ezio was apprenticed to become a banker, as his father before him.

References

• Assassin's Creed II
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations