The Short Answer: No, There Is Only One Bank
Hollow Knight has one bank, and it belongs to Lemm. He runs it from the Royal Waterways, in a room accessible from the main area. There is no second bank elsewhere in the game, and no NPC who offers banking services outside of Lemm's location.
If you are looking to store items or charms safely, Lemm's bank is your only option. The game does not split banking across multiple locations or NPCs the way some games do. Once you find it, that single location serves as your storage point for the entire playthrough.
Key Takeaways
- Lemm operates the only bank in Hollow Knight, located in the Royal Waterways.
- You access the bank by navigating to the Royal Waterways and finding Lemm's room, which appears on your map once visited.
- The bank stores charm notches and protects them from being lost when you die during exploration.
- There are no alternative banking NPCs or hidden banks elsewhere in the game world.
- Banking is optional—you can complete the entire game without using Lemm's services.
What Lemm's Bank Actually Does
Lemm's bank is not a traditional money storage system. Instead, it holds charm notches—the slots you use to equip charms during combat and exploration. When you deposit notches with Lemm, you free up inventory space and reduce the weight of your loadout, which can be useful when you are exploring dangerous areas and want to travel light without losing access to those charms permanently.
You can deposit notches and withdraw them whenever you return to the bank. The system is straightforward: talk to Lemm, choose what you want to store, and come back for it later. Nothing you leave with him disappears or gets lost, even if you die multiple times or spend hours in other areas of the map.
The bank functions as insurance. Charms you have equipped drop when you die, forcing you to backtrack to retrieve them. Charms stored with Lemm remain safe in the bank regardless of what happens to you in the field.
Why Players Look for a Second Bank
New players sometimes search for another bank because they assume the game world works like other RPGs, where multiple NPCs or locations offer the same service. Hollow Knight is more linear in its design—most critical services have one location, and you learn where they are as you progress through the story and unlock new areas.
The confusion also comes from the fact that Lemm's bank is not when ready obvious. You have to reach the Royal Waterways, which requires some exploration and progression through earlier areas, so players who have not found it yet may think they are missing something or that a second bank exists in a later zone.
Some players also expect banking to work differently—perhaps storing Geo (the in-game currency) or offering other services—and when Lemm's bank only handles charm notches, they assume there must be another banker somewhere who handles different transactions.
How to Reach Lemm's Bank
Start from the Kingdom's Edge or the Ancient Basin and make your way to the Royal Waterways. Once you are in that area, look for the room marked on your map. Lemm's location is not hidden—it appears as a standard room once you have been there once, and you can return to it from the main Royal Waterways passage.
If you have not unlocked the Royal Waterways yet, you will need to progress through the main story first. The game gates access to different areas based on your abilities and progression, so banking becomes available once you have the movement tools to reach that part of the map. You do not need any special items or abilities to enter the bank itself—just the ability to navigate to the Royal Waterways.
The room is small and straightforward. Lemm stands inside, and you interact with him to deposit or withdraw charms. There are no puzzles to solve or enemies to defeat to access the banking service.
What Happens If You Lose Your Charms
If you die in Hollow Knight, you drop your charms and your money (Geo) where you fell. You have to return to that spot to retrieve them before you die again, or they disappear permanently. Charms you have deposited with Lemm are safe—they stay in the bank and do not drop when you die, no matter how many times you fall in combat.
This is the main reason to use the bank: protection during high-risk situations. If you are heading into a difficult boss fight or a dangerous area with many enemies and you want to keep certain charms safe, deposit them first. You will not be able to use them during that run, but you will not lose them either if things go badly.
Alternatives to Banking in Hollow Knight
If you do not want to use Lemm's bank, you can straightforward carry all your charms with you at all times. The trade-off is that you risk losing them if you die before retrieving your dropped items. Some players prefer this risk because it keeps all their options available during exploration and combat without needing to make trips back to the Royal Waterways.
Another approach is to plan your charm loadout before entering a dangerous area, equip only what you need for that specific challenge, and leave the rest unequipped in your inventory. This gives you the same protective effect as banking without needing to visit Lemm, since unequipped charms do not drop when you die—only equipped ones do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store Geo (money) in the bank?
No. The bank only holds charm notches. Geo stays in your inventory and drops when you die, just like in the rest of the game. There is no way to store Geo safely anywhere in Hollow Knight.
Do I have to use the bank to beat the game?
No. The bank is optional. You can complete Hollow Knight without ever visiting Lemm. It is a convenience tool for players who want to protect specific charms during tough fights or dangerous exploration.
What if I forget where Lemm's bank is?
Check your map. Once you have visited the bank once, it appears as a marked location. If you have not found it yet, head to the Royal Waterways and explore systematically—the room is not locked behind a puzzle or secret wall.
Can I deposit charms and then use them somewhere else?
No. Once a charm is in the bank, it is not equipped and you cannot use it until you withdraw it. The whole point is to keep them safe while you explore without them.
Is there a bank in any of the DLC areas?
No. Lemm's bank in the Royal Waterways remains the only banking location across the base game and all DLC content. The DLC areas add new challenges and items, but no additional banking services.