A Holy Deposit

A new kind of bank is sweeping across India. And it’s missing one standard feature.

Ram Ram bank offers no interest or loans. It has no security gates, guards or locks. Which is fine because it also has no money. But around 5,000 customers still flock to the bank to make some invaluable deposits. Instead of their hard earned cash people write the name “Ram” on pieces of paper. “Ram” is short for Ramayana, the protagonist in an Indian myth. The bank even provides notebook and paper since some customers make thousands of deposits a day.

The bank’s founder says writing God’s name makes people feel better. It helps release pent up frustrations and eventually their renewed faith makes them work towards their goals. One customer says his daughter was accepted to engineering school after he deposited ram’s name in the bank.

Every six months the stack of deposits is sent to be displayed in a temple in ram’s birthplace. And everyone is a believer in the cash free facility. Customers include politicians, businessmen and sports stars. It seems no one can pass up such a good price for a little spiritual guidance.