The Bank of the Moth is the only banking location in Hollow Knight
There is one bank in Hollow Knight, and it belongs to Lemm the Moth. You cannot deposit or withdraw money at any other location in the game. The Bank of the Moth sits in the Royal Waterways, accessible after you break through a cracked wall in that area.
If you are looking for a second banking option because the first bank is inconvenient or you want to split your money across locations, that is not possible in this game. All banking happens through Lemm, and there is no alternative service or rival bank. The game is built around this single banking system, which shapes how you manage your Geo throughout your playthrough.
Key Takeaways
- Lemm the Moth runs the only bank in Hollow Knight, located in the Royal Waterways behind a cracked wall.
- You cannot store money anywhere else in the game, so all your banking must go through this single location.
- The bank charges a fee if you die before withdrawing your money—Lemm keeps a percentage of what you left behind.
- If you want to keep money safe, depositing it with Lemm is your only option; carrying it on you means losing it all if you fall in combat.
- You can play the entire game without using the bank, but most players find that depositing money helps them accumulate resources faster.
How the Bank of the Moth works
When you reach the bank, you can deposit money (called Geo in Hollow Knight) or withdraw it. Lemm holds your money safely while you explore. The catch is the fee: if you die before withdrawing your deposit, Lemm takes a cut of what you left with him. The exact percentage depends on how much you have stored, but the longer your money sits there, the more you lose if you fall.
This mechanic forces a choice. You can carry all your Geo with you and risk losing everything in one death, or deposit it and accept that Lemm will take a fee if you die. There is no way around this trade-off because no other bank exists. The fee structure is visible before you confirm your deposit, so you always know what you will lose if you die while money is in the bank.
Why Lemm is your only option
Hollow Knight is designed with a single banking system. The developers did not include competing banks or alternative money storage. This is intentional—it makes the risk of death matter more. If you could split your money across five banks, losing Geo in combat would sting less. The single-bank design keeps the stakes high and forces you to make real decisions about risk.
Some players wish there were multiple banks so they could avoid Lemm's fee or store money in different areas of the map. That is not how the game works. You either use Lemm or carry your money and accept the loss if you die. Understanding this limitation early helps you plan your money management strategy from the start of the game.
Strategies when the bank feels too far away
If you are deep in a dangerous area and the Royal Waterways feels distant, you have two real choices: deposit what you have now and travel light, or push forward and accept the risk. Some players carry smaller amounts of Geo so that a death costs less, then make a trip to the bank when they have accumulated enough to make the journey worthwhile. This approach lets you balance safety with convenience.
You can also use the bank strategically before entering a hard boss fight or a zone where you know you will die repeatedly. Deposit your money, go in, die as much as you need to, and withdraw it all when you are done. This way Lemm only takes a fee if you die while exploring, not while practicing a fight. Many experienced players use this tactic to separate practice deaths from exploration deaths.
What happens if you never use the bank
You do not have to use Lemm's bank at all. You can play the entire game carrying all your Geo. The downside is that every death costs you everything you were holding. For players who rarely die or who do not mind the penalty, skipping the bank is a valid approach. Some speedrunners and skilled players choose this route because they die so infrequently that the fee would cost them more than the risk.
However, Geo is useful for buying upgrades, charms, and other items from merchants. Losing large amounts to death makes progression slower. Most players find that using the bank, even with the fee, is worth it because it lets them accumulate money safely between runs. The fee is an investment in your ability to save up for expensive purchases later in the game.
How to reach the Bank of the Moth
The bank is located in the Royal Waterways, one of the early areas you can reach in Hollow Knight. To enter, you need to break through a cracked wall using your Nail or a special ability. Once you have found it, the location stays on your map, and you can return anytime you want to deposit or withdraw Geo.
If you have not found the bank yet, explore the Royal Waterways thoroughly and look for walls that appear damaged or different from solid stone. The entrance is not hidden behind a puzzle—it just requires you to break through the wall to access the interior where Lemm waits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store Geo anywhere besides Lemm's bank?
No. The Bank of the Moth is the only place in Hollow Knight where you can deposit money. There are no alternative storage methods, no safe houses, and no other NPCs who hold Geo for you. All banking is centralized through Lemm.
How much does Lemm charge if I die?
Lemm takes a percentage of your deposit if you die before withdrawing it. The exact amount varies based on how much you have stored, but you can see the fee amount before you confirm your deposit. The longer your money sits in the bank, the larger the fee becomes if you die.
What if I lose the bank location and cannot find it again?
The bank is in the Royal Waterways, behind a cracked wall that you break through with a Nail or ability. Once you have found it once, you can return anytime. If you are stuck, check your map for the Royal Waterways and look for the cracked wall entrance.
Is it better to carry money or deposit it?
That depends on how often you die. If you die frequently, depositing saves you money overall despite the fee. If you rarely die, carrying Geo is faster and you avoid the fee entirely. Most players deposit when they have a large amount they do not want to lose.
Can I withdraw my money anytime I want?
Yes. You can withdraw your full deposit from Lemm at any time without penalty. The fee only applies if you die while money is stored in the bank. This means you can deposit before a dangerous area and withdraw immediately after if you survive.