Bank robbery is the crime of robbing a bank. It is usually accomplished by a solitary criminal who brandishes a firearm at a teller and demands money, either orally or through a written note. The most dangerous type of bank robbery is a takeover robbery in which several heavily armed (and armored) gang members threaten the lives of everyone present in the bank.

The first bank robbery in the United States took place on March 19, 1831, and was committed by Edward Smith who stole $245,000 from the City Bank on Wall Street in New York City. He was caught, convicted, and sentenced to five years in Sing Sing prison.

Due to modern security measures like security cameras, well-armed security guards, silent alarms, exploding dye packs, and SWAT teams, bank robberies are now rarely successful. Few criminals are able to make a successful living out of bank robbery over the long run, since each attempt increases the probability that they will be identified and caught. Today most organized crime groups tend to make their money by other means, such as drug trafficking, identity theft, or phishing.

Ever since the "glory days" of the great bank robberies during the 19th century, bank robberies have become engrained into American popular culture. Numerous movies, books, and songs have been written about the crime not to mention its rise as the crime of choice for villains everywhere in comic books and even cartoons. While the act of robbing a bank has largely become a thing of the past, its rather romantic representation in popular culture ensures that it will remain a common theme across all creative outlets for many years to come.

Largest UK Bank Robbery

In December 2004 the families of two bank executives from the Northern Bank in Ireland were held hostage for 24 hours as around £26,000,000 was stolen. The IRA was said to be linked to the robbery.

Famous American bank robbers

• Johnny Dobbs
• The James Brothers, Frank and Jesse
• John Ashley
• Butch Cassidy
• The Dalton Brothers , Grat, Bob, and Emett
• Wilbur Underhill
• Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd
• George "Baby Face" Nelson
• Bobby "One-Eye" Wilcoxson
• Willie "The Actor" Sutton
• Bonnie and Clyde
• Naomi Betts