Running a Medieval Bank: Simple Mechanics for TTRPG Banking, Loans, and Interest


Adding a banking system to your TTRPG world can introduce an extra layer of strategy and immersion for your players. This system doesn't have to be overly complex; it can provide depth and new narrative possibilities, allowing players to make more thoughtful financial decisions.

1. Setting Up the Bank

Introduce a prominent bank in your world, possibly run by powerful merchant families, religious orders, or influential guilds. These institutions can be found in large cities or trade hubs, and their services range from holding valuables to offering loans for adventurers looking to fund risky expeditions or secure magical items.

Bank Services:

  • Deposits: Players can deposit their gold to avoid the risk of losing it during their adventures. Introduce a small interest rate for long-term deposits, encouraging players to store rather than carry all their wealth.
  • Loans: Banks can provide loans to players for big purchases (like a new stronghold or expensive magic items). However, these loans come with interest, which can build up over time, creating an interesting financial challenge for players to manage.

Example in Gameplay:
Players may want to borrow gold to buy a powerful weapon for an upcoming battle. The bank agrees to lend them the funds but expects monthly repayments with interest. If they default, they may lose collateral (like an enchanted item).

2. Integrating Banks into Gameplay

Make banks a seamless part of your campaign world by tying them into both the economy and the storyline. They offer a place for players to store treasure safely and provide financial aid when they’re short on funds.

Why Use a Bank?

  • Security: Safeguard wealth that could be lost during dangerous quests.
  • Passive Income: Accumulate wealth over time through interest.
  • Loans for Big Purchases: Secure loans for expensive items, property, or funding expeditions.

Example in Gameplay:
A player who needs 1,000 gold to purchase a rare spellbook might secure a loan. The loan allows the player to get the book immediately, but they must return to the bank regularly to make payments, adding tension as they juggle debt and adventuring.

3. Simple Mechanics for Loans & Interest

To avoid overcomplicating things, keep loan rules straightforward:

  • Interest Rates: Start with a base interest rate (e.g., 10%) that increases if players miss repayments. This adds urgency and financial pressure.
  • Collateral: The bank may demand collateral in the form of magical items or even a share of future loot. If the loan isn’t repaid, the bank claims the collateral.
  • Consequences for Defaulting: If players fail to repay loans, the bank could send bounty hunters after them, or NPCs might seize their property or gear.

Example in Gameplay:
If a party defaults on a loan, the bank may send hired mercenaries after them to retrieve an owed artifact or gold, creating an unexpected side quest.

4. Story Hooks & Campaign Ideas

Use the banking system as a way to drive narrative tension and conflict in your campaign:

  • Heist Campaign: The party is hired to break into a corrupt bank that has been exploiting the local populace.
  • Debt Collection: The players are tasked with recovering a stolen item from a debtor who has defaulted on a massive loan, leading to an adventure filled with danger.
  • Economic Collapse: A large bank in the city collapses, triggering an economic crisis. Players must navigate the resulting chaos, protect their wealth, or exploit the opportunity to buy assets on the cheap.

By adding a banking system to your campaign, you create new possibilities for world-building, economic tension, and character motivation. The goal is to provide a layer of realism while maintaining the flexibility of your fantasy world.

Sources:

  • For inspiration on TTRPG economic systems, explore guides on world-building and campaign economy management​ (Exploding Topics) ​(ProQuotient).

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