Bank Vault, Time Lock and Safe Deposit Service in Philadelphia

Where Mike's background comes from

Mike has done bank work since 2018, including as a Diebold Nixdorf employee, after first working on Diebold Nixdorf equipment as a subcontractor, and he has also worked at Convergint. His own account on his old About page: he started in locksmithing, then "my skills grew to include the banking industry. From here I expanded into safes and vaults where I found my passion." And: "I was already crazy about locks and keys, but those antique bank vaults are something else."

His listing in the Safe & Vault Technicians Association directory names the same specialties this page covers: safes, TL rated containers, vaults, safe deposit and locksmithing. He's also a listed ALOA member.

Vault doors, including round doors

Mike works on bank vault doors, square and round, along with the smaller steel that sits around them: day gates, wall-mounted vault hatches, portable vault doors and stainless vault chests. Mike describes himself as ready for anything up to "the mechanical marvels of round bank vault doors dated 1915," and a round door is the cover photo on his Google profile.

A vault door that drags, a bolt that doesn't fully throw, a handle that binds or a combination lock that's getting hard to dial are all worth having looked at before the morning the door won't open.

Time locks

A time lock keeps a vault or safe from opening until a set time, even for someone with the combination. Most bank time locks use more than one clock movement, so if one stops, another can still release the lock on schedule. That redundancy only helps if the movements are kept running.

Mike can fully service time locks on safes and vaults, with cleanings, repairs and replacements if needed. More detail at time lock service. He works on three- and four-movement time locks, some with "PHILA, PA" on the maker plate.

Safe deposit boxes

For the bank, box work covers three things: opening a box when the renter's key is lost, fixing a box lock that won't turn with the right keys, and duplicating a renter key when a customer is down to one. It's usually arranged by the vault custodian, who holds the guard key. The full rundown, including how a lost-key opening generally works, is on the safe deposit box service page.

TL-rated containers, ATMs and teller cash recyclers

A TL rating means a safe has been tested against attack with common hand and power tools for a set number of minutes, 30 for a TL-30. Those safes are built to defeat the methods an untrained person would try, so opening or repairing one is specialist work. Mike has worked on Diebold TL-30 safes.

Mike also services the cash equipment in the branch: ATMs, teller cash recyclers (TCRs) and under-counter teller safes. See ATM safe service and business, deposit and ATM safes for more on that side of the work.

Why a local independent

When a box needs drilling or a time lock stops, the branch usually needs it handled soon. Mike is one person with one number, based in Mayfair in Northeast Philadelphia, and he answers his own phone. There's no dispatch desk between the branch and the technician.

If your bank is ending its safe deposit boxes

Several large banks have been phasing out safe deposit boxes. If you've received a letter asking you to clear yours out, or your key is missing, see safe deposit box service for what to do before the deadline.

If you already have a safe at home that won't open, start with safe opening.