Monument Bank Assures Shareholders Their Money Is In A Chest Somewhere Very Safe

Pavia—Responding to questions about where investor funds are physically kept, the Pavia-based Monument Group on Thursday reassured shareholders that their money was “in a chest,” “somewhere very safe,” and “probably reinforced.”

The statement followed a shareholder meeting at which several investors asked to see the chest. Board members said they would be happy to show it to them, once they had confirmed which chest it was.

“We are one of the largest banking and stock exchange services on the server, and we take that responsibility seriously,” said a board member, one of 15. “Your iron is in a chest. That chest is in a room. We have a very good idea which room.”

Founded in October 2022 as a real estate company, Monument Group went public that December, becoming one of the first shareholder-owned entities on CivMC, and paid its first dividend in March 2023. It has since grown into commodities, construction and banking, and it bought the trading city of CivMarket within a week of its public listing.

An independent audit commissioned last month found the bank’s holdings to be “in excellent order,” “well labelled” and “mostly in one of about four places.” The auditor added that he had been given a tour of the vault and “felt very safe in there,” and that he had been let out after only a short time.

Analysts reacted positively. The company’s share price rose 4 percent on the announcement, which market watchers attributed almost entirely to the word “probably.”

“In this economy, investors want honesty,” said one trader on the CivMarket floor. “A lot of banks would tell you your money is definitely safe. Monument told us it is probably safe. That’s a bank that respects you.”

At press time, the board had announced a new premium account tier that guarantees customers’ money is in a chest “that we have personally looked at.”