The Banker moves to the Royal Waterways after you break her first piggy bank
The Banker in Hollow Knight starts in Kingdom's Edge, inside a small room with a piggy bank. When you break that piggy bank to get the Mask Shard inside, she leaves Kingdom's Edge for good. She relocates to the Royal Waterways, in a room accessible from the main area — you'll find her standing near another piggy bank in a chamber you can reach by going right from the central hub.
This move happens automatically the moment you destroy her first piggy bank. You don't need to do anything to trigger it. The next time you visit the Royal Waterways after breaking that initial bank, she will be there waiting.
The Banker's relocation is part of the game's design to give you a second chance at her service. Her new location in the Royal Waterways is easier to access than Kingdom's Edge, which is one of the game's most dangerous areas. This makes it simpler to return to her if you want to use her piggy bank again.
Key Takeaways
- The Banker leaves Kingdom's Edge and moves to the Royal Waterways after you break her first piggy bank.
- Her new location in the Royal Waterways is in a side room accessible from the main central area by heading right.
- The move happens automatically — you don't need to trigger it or meet any conditions beyond breaking the first bank.
- The Royal Waterways location is much safer and easier to reach than Kingdom's Edge, making her services more accessible in the mid-game.
Why the Banker leaves Kingdom's Edge
The Banker's departure from Kingdom's Edge happens because you've destroyed her business there. Breaking open her piggy bank is an act of theft from her perspective — you're taking the Mask Shard she was storing. Rather than stay in a place where her property has been violated, she relocates to a new territory.
Kingdom's Edge itself is a late-game area filled with dangerous enemies and hazards. The Banker, who is not a fighter, would have a hard time surviving there if she stayed. Moving to the Royal Waterways puts her in a more stable environment where she can continue her banking operations without constant threat.
The game treats this as a natural consequence of your actions. You're not punished for breaking the bank — the Mask Shard is yours to keep — but the Banker responds by leaving. This is typical of Hollow Knight's approach to world-building: characters react to what you do, and the world changes as a result.
What the Banker does in the Royal Waterways
Once the Banker settles in the Royal Waterways, she operates exactly as she did in Kingdom's Edge. She stands guard over another piggy bank that contains a Charm Notch. You can break this second bank the same way you broke the first one, by hitting it with your nail or using spells.
Breaking the second piggy bank gives you the Charm Notch and causes the Banker to leave the Royal Waterways as well. She does not relocate a third time — after you break the second bank, she disappears from the game world entirely. This means you get two piggy banks total: one in Kingdom's Edge and one in the Royal Waterways.
The Banker never attacks you or tries to stop you from breaking her banks. She simply stands nearby and watches. This makes her unique among Hollow Knight's NPCs — most characters either help you or fight you, but the Banker is passive throughout both encounters.
How to reach the Banker's location in the Royal Waterways
The Royal Waterways is accessible from Kingdom's Edge by going left and down through the connecting passages. Once you're in the Royal Waterways proper, head to the main central chamber. From there, move right and look for a side room — the Banker's chamber is not on the main path, so you need to explore the branching corridors.
You'll know you're in the right place when you see the Banker standing next to a piggy bank. The room is small and straightforward, with no enemies or obstacles blocking your way. If you're having trouble finding it, check your map — the Banker's room will show up as an explored chamber once you've been there.
The Royal Waterways is a mid-game area, so you should have enough health and combat skills to navigate it safely by the time you're looking for the Banker. The path to her location doesn't require any special abilities or items you wouldn't already have at that point in the game.
What you get from breaking both piggy banks
The first piggy bank in Kingdom's Edge contains a Mask Shard. Mask Shards increase your maximum health — you need four of them to gain one full mask of health. The second piggy bank in the Royal Waterways contains a Charm Notch, which increases the number of charms you can equip at once.
Both items are valuable for progression. Mask Shards help you survive longer in combat, while Charm Notches let you build more powerful charm combinations. Neither item is required to finish the game, but both make the journey easier.
The Banker is the only NPC in Hollow Knight who offers these items through her piggy banks. If you want both rewards, you must break both banks — there's no alternative way to get them. This makes the Banker's relocation important to your overall progression, even though she never speaks to you or acknowledges your presence directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the Mask Shard without breaking the Banker's first piggy bank?
No. The Mask Shard in Kingdom's Edge is only available inside the Banker's piggy bank. There is no other way to obtain it from that location. You must break the bank to get the shard.
Does the Banker attack you if you break her piggy bank?
No. The Banker never attacks you or becomes hostile. She simply leaves the area after you break her bank. You can break both of her piggy banks without any combat or consequences beyond her departure.
What happens if I break the second piggy bank in the Royal Waterways?
The Banker leaves the Royal Waterways and disappears from the game world entirely. She does not relocate a third time. After breaking the second bank, you will not encounter her again.
Do I have to break both piggy banks to progress in Hollow Knight?
No. Both the Mask Shard and Charm Notch are optional rewards. You can finish the game without breaking either bank, though having the extra health and charm slots makes some fights easier.