safe deposit box
A safe deposit box, sometimes referred to as a safety deposit box, is an individually secured container, usually held within a larger safe or bank vault. Safe deposit boxes are generally located in banks, post offices, or other institutions.
Also recorded as safety deposit box
safe deposit box

Olaf E. Caskin · 1909 Tyee (yearbook of the University of Washington). Photographed from a copy at Seattle Public Library, minimally cleaned up with GIMP. · Public domain
- Field
- safe · locker
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Documentary summary
A safe deposit box, sometimes referred to as a safety deposit box, is an individually secured container, usually held within a larger safe or bank vault. Safe deposit boxes are generally located in banks, post offices, or other institutions.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2120101 · wikipedia · Safe deposit box
In this article
Usage
Usage
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. In the United States, neither banks nor the FDIC insure the contents. An individual can purchase separate insurance for the safe deposit box in order to cover unexpected events (e.g., theft, fire, flooding, or terrorist attacks). Some hotels, resorts, and cruise ships offer safe deposit boxes or small safes to their patrons, for temporary use during their stay. These facilities can be either located behind the reception desk or else securely anchored within private guest rooms for additional privacy. The contents of safe deposit boxes may be seized under the legal theory of abandoned property. They also may be searched and seized by the order of a court through the issuance of a search warrant.
Decline
Decline
In the United States and elsewhere, safe deposit boxes are considered a "legacy service"; many new bank branches do not bother to install any. In the 20th century, bank branches were more prestigious, but in the 21st century, space has grown more valuable with higher land values and rents, and many banks see a safe deposit box service as unnecessary relative to their core business offerings. In addition, despite the public perception of safe deposit boxes as being extremely secure, banks have little incentive to actually ensure this is true in practice. For example, the United States has no laws or regulations at the federal level that govern the matter or that would require compensation to customers in the event that customer property stored in a safe deposit box were stolen or destroyed.

35 let pražského metra - Den otevřených dveří v depu Kačerov
Jiří Suchomel from Czech Republic · 35 let pražského metra - Den otevřených dveří v depu Kačerov

Feuerwehrhausumbau Weißenburg
Ing. Günter Tuder, A-3213 Frankenfels
Primary material
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authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2120101: safe deposit box
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “Safe deposit box”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
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References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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