The Banker moves to the Royal Waterways after you break their first piggy bank
The Banker in Hollow Knight starts in Kingdom's Edge, inside a small room with a piggy bank that holds Mask Shards and Vessel Fragments. Once you break that piggy bank—which requires a nail or spell to destroy—the Banker leaves Kingdom's Edge entirely. You will not find them there again.
After you break the first piggy bank, the Banker relocates to the Royal Waterways. They set up in a new room with another piggy bank, and this is where you can find them for the rest of the game. The Royal Waterways location is accessible once you have the ability to swim or the Isma's Tear charm, which lets you move through water without taking damage.
The Banker's behavior is tied directly to your actions. Breaking their piggy bank is not optional—it is the only way to access the items inside. Once you do, they move, and the game does not telegraph this change. Many players search Kingdom's Edge again, expecting to find the Banker in their original location, only to realize they have relocated.
Key Takeaways
- The Banker's first location is Kingdom's Edge, in a room with a piggy bank containing valuable items.
- Breaking the piggy bank in Kingdom's Edge causes the Banker to permanently leave that area.
- The Banker relocates to the Royal Waterways, where they remain for the rest of the game.
- You need Isma's Tear or another water-traversal ability to reach the Banker in the Royal Waterways.
- The Banker's second piggy bank in the Royal Waterways also requires destruction to access its contents.
How to reach the Banker in Kingdom's Edge
Kingdom's Edge is one of the last areas you unlock in Hollow Knight. To enter it, you need the Abyss Shriek spell or the ability to break through Shade barriers. The Banker's room is not hidden, but it is not on the main path either—you have to explore the area deliberately to find it.
Once inside Kingdom's Edge, look for a room with a single piggy bank. The Banker stands nearby, and they will not attack you or prevent you from breaking the bank. The piggy bank itself requires a few hits from your nail or a spell to destroy. Once it breaks, the Banker vanishes, and the room becomes empty.
Finding the Banker in the Royal Waterways
The Royal Waterways is an earlier area that you visit much sooner than Kingdom's Edge. After the Banker relocates there, they occupy a specific room that is accessible from the main waterways. You will need Isma's Tear to swim through the water without taking damage, or you can use other movement abilities to navigate around the water.
The Banker's room in the Royal Waterways contains another piggy bank with more items inside. Like the first one, this piggy bank requires you to destroy it to claim the contents. The Banker remains in this location for the rest of your playthrough once they move there.
What is inside the Banker's piggy banks
The first piggy bank in Kingdom's Edge holds Mask Shards and Vessel Fragments—both valuable for increasing your health and spell-casting capacity. These are the same types of items you find throughout Hollow Knight, and the Banker's bank is one source among many.
The second piggy bank in the Royal Waterways also contains Mask Shards and Vessel Fragments. The exact number varies, but both banks are worth breaking if you are working toward maxing out your health and soul capacity. Breaking both piggy banks is not required to finish the game, but it does make combat easier.
Why the Banker moves and what it means
The Banker's relocation is a deliberate game design choice. Hollow Knight does not explain this mechanic in dialogue or text—you discover it by playing. The game rewards exploration and observation: if you break the piggy bank, you see the consequence. If you do not, the Banker stays in Kingdom's Edge.
This design mirrors other elements of Hollow Knight, where the game trusts you to notice cause and effect without spelling it out. The Banker's move is permanent and irreversible, so once you break that first piggy bank, you have committed to finding them in the Royal Waterways if you want the second one.
Common mistakes when looking for the Banker
The most common mistake is returning to Kingdom's Edge after breaking the first piggy bank, expecting the Banker to still be there. They will not be. Many players waste time searching the same room repeatedly before realizing the Banker has left the area entirely.
Another mistake is not having Isma's Tear before heading to the Royal Waterways. Without it, you cannot swim through the water, and the Banker's room becomes inaccessible. You have to backtrack, find Isma's Tear (which is in the Royal Waterways itself, in a different location), and return.
Some players also miss the Banker's second location because they do not explore the Royal Waterways thoroughly. The room is not on the critical path to other areas, so it is straightforward to pass through the waterways without finding it. Taking time to check side passages and smaller rooms increases your chances of locating them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the items from the first piggy bank without breaking it?
No. The only way to access the items inside the piggy bank is to destroy it. Once you do, the Banker leaves Kingdom's Edge. There is no alternative method to claim those items without triggering the relocation.
Does the Banker do anything besides stand near the piggy bank?
The Banker does not interact with you or offer dialogue. They straightforward remain in their location. Breaking the piggy bank is the only action available to you in their presence.
What happens if I break the second piggy bank in the Royal Waterways?
Breaking the second piggy bank releases its contents, just like the first. The Banker does not move again after this. They remain in the Royal Waterways for the rest of the game.
Is the Banker required to beat Hollow Knight?
No. The Banker and their piggy banks are optional. You can finish the game without ever finding them or breaking either bank. The items they contain make some fights easier, but they are not necessary for progression.
Can I find the Banker before going to Kingdom's Edge?
No. The Banker only appears in the Royal Waterways after you break the first piggy bank in Kingdom's Edge. If you have not been to Kingdom's Edge yet, the Banker will not be in the Royal Waterways.