First Bank of Horizon

The Financial Backbone of a City Reborn

In the heart of Gold Level's Financial District stands the First Bank of Horizon, a monument to economic resilience and adaptation. What began as a Yakuza-controlled front for Neo-Tokyo banking operations has transformed into the cornerstone of Horizon City's independent financial system, issuing and maintaining the Benjamin currency that saved the city from economic collapse after Japan's destruction.

Physical Environment

The First Bank of Horizon combines traditional banking architecture with cutting-edge financial technology:

• Exterior: An imposing neoclassical façade with modern elements, projecting stability and permanence while subtly incorporating futuristic design elements
• Central Atrium: A vast open space dominated by holographic displays showing real-time currency values, market trends, and the Ben's relationship to other world currencies
• Transaction Floors: Multiple levels of customer service areas where citizens can manage accounts, exchange currencies, and access financial services
• Quantum Computing Center: A heavily secured facility housing the computational infrastructure that maintains the distributed ledger underpinning the Ben
• Hedge Fund Management: Specialized trading floors where financial experts continuously balance the currency portfolio that backs the Ben
• Underground Vaults: Massive secure storage areas containing physical assets, backup systems, and emergency reserves
• Currency Exchange Terminals: Network hubs controlling the thousands of terminals distributed throughout all levels of the city

The building's design emphasizes both security and transparency, with visible security measures creating confidence while public areas allow citizens to witness the operations that maintain their financial system.

The Benjamin Currency

The bank's most significant innovation is the Benjamin (or Ben), a currency created in the aftermath of Japan's destruction:

• Stable Value: Each Ben is worth, and exchangeable for, a specific basket of other world currencies (thirty-three Northern Alliance credits, twelve hundred pesos, thirty-eight rubles, half a euro, and one-tenth of a sterling)
• Hedge Fund Backing: The currency is supported by a massive hedge fund that maintains holdings in multiple world currencies, allowing for stable exchange rates
• Distributed Ledger: Transactions are recorded on a quantum-secured distributed ledger, providing both security and transparency
• Universal Acceptance: The Ben is accepted throughout Horizon City and has gained recognition in international markets
• Digital Integration: The currency exists primarily in digital form, accessible through CredChips, ChequeIts, and mobile devices
• Physical Notes: Limited physical currency is available for areas with unreliable network access, particularly on Red Level

This innovative approach to currency design has provided Horizon City with unprecedented financial independence and stability during a period of global chaos.

The Financial Transition

When Japan was destroyed, Horizon City faced an immediate financial crisis:

• Infrastructure Collapse: The connection to Neo-Tokyo's banking systems was severed, rendering accounts inaccessible
• Currency Failure: The Yen hyperinflated and became effectively worthless as the Japanese economy disappeared
• Payment System Breakdown: CredChips stopped working, ATMs and ChequeIts couldn't register accounts, and mobile banking apps failed
• Market Crash: The stock market experienced a catastrophic flash crash as trading bots attempted to respond to the sudden change
• Mass Suicide: The financial collapse led to what became known as "Seppuku Tuesday," when over a hundred thousand Japanese nationals in Horizon City committed suicide

In this moment of crisis, Benjiro Takahashi implemented his solution - offering to exchange worthless Yen for the newly created Ben, effectively making citizens whole again through what amounted to a massive donation from his personal resources. This decisive action prevented the complete collapse of Horizon City's economy and established the foundation for its financial independence.

Current Operations

Today, the First Bank of Horizon serves multiple critical functions:

• Currency Management: Maintaining the value and stability of the Ben through active management of the backing hedge fund
• Financial Services: Providing banking, investment, and loan services to citizens and businesses
• Economic Planning: Working with city leadership to develop fiscal policy and economic strategy
• International Exchange: Facilitating trade with other city-states and nations through currency exchange
• Distributed Access: Maintaining the network of terminals that provide financial services throughout all levels of the city
• Crisis Prevention: Monitoring for signs of financial instability and developing contingency plans

These operations are supported by advanced AI systems that analyze market trends, predict economic shifts, and automatically adjust the currency portfolio to maintain stability.

Cultural Significance

To the citizens of Horizon City, the First Bank of Horizon represents more than just a financial institution - it symbolizes the city's resilience and independence. The successful transition from the Yen to the Ben demonstrated that Horizon City could survive even the most catastrophic external events, reinforcing the dome's role as a sanctuary in a chaotic world.

For those who lived through the transition, the bank stands as a reminder of both trauma and recovery. Many citizens lost family members during Seppuku Tuesday, but the swift economic stabilization prevented the riots and societal collapse that might otherwise have followed.

The bank's prominence in the Financial District makes it a landmark for visitors and a daily presence in the lives of those who work on Gold Level, its imposing structure a constant reminder of the economic foundation that supports life within the dome.