Restoring 100,000 Torn Banknotes Stitch by Stitch... Chinese Bankers Receive 'Praise'

Approximately 6.09 Million Won in Cash Bills Fully Repaired
"An Example for All Banks" Praised Locally

A Chinese bank that painstakingly repaired and restored over 100,000 torn banknotes left by a woman suffering from depression is receiving praise from netizens.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently highlighted the story of staff at a branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in Kunming, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. The branch recently received cash from a woman named Jang.

Jang had struggled with mental health issues five years ago and recently inherited money from her late sister-in-law. Jang, a widow with four children, lived in an underdeveloped mountain village in Sichuan Province and had a modest income. The inheritance was essential for her.

A pile of banknotes fragmented like a puzzle [Image source=Captured from Baidu]

The problem was the money left by her sister-in-law. The sister-in-law, who suffered from depression, had torn all the banknotes?over 100,000 pieces. The total amount was 32,000 yuan (approximately 6.09 million KRW).

Jang hoped to exchange the damaged cash for intact banknotes at the bank branch. According to current Chinese financial law, banks must exchange incomplete or stained banknotes free of charge. However, the cash Jang brought was so severely damaged that it was difficult to recognize, making it uncertain whether the bank would readily exchange it.

But an amazing thing happened. When Jang brought the damaged cash to the ICBC Kunming branch, the bank teller immediately responded that they would "repair" the money. The branch promptly assigned four employees, who began "mending" the torn banknotes one by one.

The employees involved in repairing over 100,000 banknotes told SCMP, "It was the first time we had seen such shredded banknotes. There were more than 100,000 pieces, some cut smaller than a fingernail," adding, "At first, it was confusing, but we restored them using magnifying glasses." After working for 22 full days, the four employees successfully restored all the banknotes amounting to 32,000 yuan.

Upon receiving the repaired cash, Jang reportedly sent a custom-made banner to express her gratitude to the employees. The banner read, "Caring for citizens in difficulty, solving problems, and having a warm heart."

This story spread across social media in mainland China, and online praise poured in for the bank branch. Comments included, "A miracle made by ordinary people," "Truly hardworking employees," and "They should be a model for all financial institutions."