Safe deposit box

Safe deposit boxes are used to store valuable possessions, such as gemstones, precious metals, currency, marketable securities, luxury goods, important documents (e.g. wills, property deeds, or birth certificates), or computer data, which need protection from theft, fire, flood, tampering, or other perils.

An individual can purchase separate insurance for the safe deposit box in order to cover e.g. theft, fire, flooding or terrorist attacks.

[1] These facilities may be located behind the reception desk, or securely anchored within private guest rooms for privacy.

[4] In the United States and elsewhere, safe deposit boxes are considered a "legacy service"; many new bank branches do not bother to install any.

Additionally, despite the public perception of safe deposit boxes as being extremely secure, there is little incentive for banks to actually ensure this is true;[6] there are no federal laws in the US governing the matter or rules that would require compensation to customers if property stored there is stolen or destroyed.