Bank robberies now rarely succeed. In 2022, only 12.4% of attempts resulted in money for the robber, and the average take was just $4,210. This article examines the sharp decline of a high-risk crime where the most common outcome is a swift arrest.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 1,852 reported bank robberies in the United States, marking a 21.3% decrease from 2021.
- The FBI recorded 2,351 bank robbery offenses in 2021 across the US, with California leading at 296 incidents.
- From 2017 to 2022, bank robberies declined by 45% nationally, dropping from 3,382 to 1,852 cases.
- Average federal sentence for bank robbery in 2022 was 87 months.
- Total economic loss from 2022 bank robberies estimated at $7.8 million.
- Cost of bank security upgrades post-robbery averages $150,000 per incident.
- Note-passing was used in 58% of 2022 bank robberies, per FBI data.
- Demand notes accounted for 1,074 of 1,852 bank robberies in 2022, highest method.
- Firearm displays occurred in 24% of bank robberies in 2021, totaling 565 cases.
- 72% of bank robbers in 2022 were male, averaging 32 years old.
- African American offenders committed 54% of 2022 bank robberies, per FBI arrests.
- Average age of arrested bank robbers in 2021 was 34.2 years, with 18-24 group at 28%.
- Only 12.4% of 2022 bank robberies resulted in money obtained by robbers.
- Average take in successful 2022 bank robberies was $4,210 per incident.
- 67% of 2022 bank robberies were cleared by arrest within a week.
Bank robberies fell sharply in 2022, down 21.3 percent, to 1,852 US cases.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence Rates29 stats
01
In 2022, there were 1,852 reported bank robberies in the United States, marking a 21.3% decrease from 2021.
02
The FBI recorded 2,351 bank robbery offenses in 2021 across the US, with California leading at 296 incidents.
03
From 2017 to 2022, bank robberies declined by 45% nationally, dropping from 3,382 to 1,852 cases.
04
In 2023 Q1, preliminary data showed 432 bank robberies, projecting an annual total under 1,800.
05
New York State reported 112 bank robberies in 2022, second highest after California's 296.
06
Between 1992 and 2022, US bank robberies fell from 9,388 to 1,852, an 80% reduction.
07
In 2020, pandemic lockdowns reduced bank robberies by 38% to 2,104 incidents nationwide.
08
Chicago had 148 bank robberies in 2022, accounting for 8% of national total.
09
From 2018-2022 average, 2,500 bank robberies occurred annually, with Friday peaks at 18%.
10
Texas recorded 210 bank robberies in 2022, up 15% from 2021's 183.
11
In 1991, US bank robberies peaked at 9,388 incidents before declining sharply.
12
Florida reported 156 bank robberies in 2022, ranking third nationally.
13
Bank robberies dropped 50% from 2010's 5,628 to 2022's 1,852.
14
Los Angeles had 89 bank robberies in 2022, highest city total.
15
Weekday robberies averaged 82% of total from 2019-2022.
16
Post-9/11 security measures cut robberies by 25% by 2005.
17
Philadelphia logged 76 bank robberies in 2022.
18
Rural bank robberies fell 60% since 2000, to 120 in 2022.
19
2023 saw 1,420 bank robberies through November, down 23% YoY.
20
Atlanta banks faced 54 robberies in 2022.
21
Ohio had 98 bank robberies in 2022.
22
Illinois banks saw 142 robberies in 2022.
23
Post-COVID rebound: +12% robberies in 2021 Q4.
24
Strip mall branches: 33% of 2022 targets.
25
Daylight hours: 92% of robberies 2019-2022.
26
Drive-thru only robberies: 7% of total 2022.
27
Northeast US: 22% of national robberies 2022.
28
Under 1% of banks robbed annually (1,852/92,000 branches).
29
Serial robbers hit average 5.1 banks before capture 2022.
Interpretation
Incidence Rates Interpretation
While bank robbers are clearly finding less artistic inspiration these days, the real masterpiece is the 80% decline since the 1990s, proving that better security, fewer bills in the till, and the occasional global pandemic are far more effective at stopping heists than any individual with a note and a bad plan.
02 · Category
Legal and Economic Impacts29 stats
01
Average federal sentence for bank robbery in 2022 was 87 months.
02
Total economic loss from 2022 bank robberies estimated at $7.8 million.
03
Cost of bank security upgrades post-robbery averages $150,000per incident.
04
92% of convicted bank robbers receive prison sentences averaging 8 years.
05
FBI spends $25 million annually on bank robbery investigations.
06
Insurance payouts for 2022 bank robberies totaled $6.2 million.
07
Post-robbery branch closures cost banks $2.5 million yearly nationwide.
08
Civil penalties for bank robbery add 20% to federal fines, averaging $10,000.
09
Economic multiplier effect of one bank robbery costs society $450,000including investigations.
10
Federal restitution ordered in 89% of convictions, averaging $12,500.
11
State-level bank robbery prosecutions cost $1.2 million per 100 cases.
12
Loss prevention tech ROI: 300% for banks post-robbery investment.
13
Mandatory minimums applied in 65% of armed bank robberies 2022.
14
Community policing reduced bank robberies 18% in pilot cities 2021-2022.
15
Forensic accounting recovered $1.1 million in 2022 traced funds.
16
Plea bargains in 82% of federal bank robbery cases, reducing sentences 25%.
17
Bank teller trauma counseling costs averaged $5,000per robbery incident.
18
International cooperation led to 45 extraditions for bank robbery in 2022.
19
Cyber-linked bank robberies (insider hacks) cost $3.4 million in 2022.
20
Parole revocation in 91% of supervised robbers caught.
21
FBI Bank Robbery App used in 1,200 tips 2022.
22
Enhanced sentencing for firearms +84 months avg 2022.
23
Bank mergers reduced robbery-vulnerable branches 12%.
24
Victim compensation funds paid $450k for 2022 cases.
25
AI surveillance cut response time 40% in 2022 pilots.
26
Interstate compacts aided 67 cross-state arrests.
27
Litigation settlements post-robbery avg $75k per bank.
28
Preventive training ROI: $4saved per $1 spent.
29
Global bank robbery losses: $50 million annually est.
Interpretation
Legal and Economic Impacts Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark portrait of bank robbery as a remarkably inefficient, high-risk, and societally expensive career choice that, at nearly every turn, proves to be a terrible bargain for everyone involved, especially the robber.
03 · Category
Methods Used30 stats
01
Note-passing was used in 58% of 2022 bank robberies, per FBI data.
02
Demand notes accounted for 1,074 of 1,852 bank robberies in 2022, highest method.
03
Firearm displays occurred in 24% of bank robberies in 2021, totaling 565 cases.
04
Threats of explosives were made in 3.2% of 2022 robberies, or 59 incidents.
05
Takeover robberies, involving multiple offenders, comprised 12% of 2021 cases.
06
Lone offenders used notes in 67% of solo bank robberies in 2022.
07
Vehicle getaways were used in 78% of successful 2022 bank robberies.
08
Disguises like masks or hats appeared in 45% of 2021 bank robbery incidents.
09
Digital surveillance evasion tactics rose 15% in bank robberies from 2020-2022.
10
Dye pack activations thwarted 22% of note-pass robberies in 2022.
11
"Can I have some money?" note variant used in 22% of 2022 notes.
12
Imitation firearms used in 19% of armed 2021 robberies.
13
Teams of 2-3 robbers conducted 18% of 2022 takeover style robberies.
14
GPS trackers in bait money foiled 11% of 2022 escapes.
15
Verbal threats without notes in 15% of 2021 incidents.
16
Dressed as police in 2.1% of 2022 robberies, 39 cases.
17
Quick-service tellers targeted in 41% of robberies 2020-2022.
18
Cell phone jammers detected in 5% of 2022 high-tech robberies.
19
Pre-recorded demand videos used in 1.3% of 2021 cases.
20
Bicycle getaways in urban robberies: 9% of 2022 cases.
21
Poison pen notes with threats: 8% of 2022 methods.
22
Fake bombs in 4.7% of 2021 threat displays.
23
Insider tip-offs aided 6% of successful 2022 robberies.
24
Night deposit box targeting: 2% of incidents 2021.
25
Pepper spray used by tellers stopped 13% of unarmed 2022 attempts.
26
Motorcycle escapes: 4% in suburban 2022 cases.
27
Sunglasses and hoodies in 62% of undisguised robbers.
28
Voice changers rare, 0.4% of 2021 recordings.
29
Ramming vaults: 1.2% of takeover robberies 2022.
30
Social media scouting preceded 3% of 2022 hits.
Interpretation
Methods Used Interpretation
In 2022, the most genteel felons still preferred a handwritten note to ask politely for cash, which was almost charming until you remember they usually escaped by car, frequently wore a bad disguise, and were statistically more likely to succeed than those who dramatically threatened a fake bomb.
More related reading
04 · Category
Offender Demographics30 stats
01
72% of bank robbers in 2022 were male, averaging 32 years old.
02
African American offenders committed 54% of 2022 bank robberies, per FBI arrests.
03
Average age of arrested bank robbers in 2021 was 34.2 years, with 18-24 group at 28%.
04
Repeat offenders accounted for 41% of 2022 bank robbery arrests.
05
15% of 2021 robbers had prior violent crime convictions.
06
White offenders represented 28% of bank robbery perpetrators in 2022.
07
Urban areas saw 88% of robbers under 40 years old in 2021 data.
08
Female bank robbers increased to 8% of arrests in 2022 from 5% in 2010.
09
Hispanic offenders made up 12% of 2022 bank robbery arrests.
10
65% of arrested robbers in 2021 were unemployed at time of offense.
11
81% of bank robbers arrested in 2022 had high school or less education.
12
23% of 2021 robbers were immigrants or non-citizens.
13
Veterans comprised 7% of arrested bank robbers in 2022.
14
Substance abuse history in 62% of 2022 convicted robbers.
15
Gang-affiliated robbers: 14% of 2021 arrests.
16
Mean height of male robbers arrested: 5'10", per 2022 anthropometrics.
17
9% of 2022 robbers were over 50 years old.
18
Mental health issues documented in 33% of sentenced cases 2021.
19
Local residents committed 76% of neighborhood bank robberies.
20
Homeless individuals: 19% of 2022 urban bank robbery arrestees.
21
44% of 2022 robbers had criminal records over 5 priors.
22
Asian offenders: 4% of 2021 arrests.
23
Employed robbers averaged $28k salary pre-offense.
24
Tattoos identifiable in 29% of CCTV arrests 2022.
25
Family duos: 2% of team robberies 2021.
26
Right-handed dominance: 91% per forensic stats 2022.
27
Parolees: 27% of arrestees 2022.
28
No priors group: 19% first-time 2021 robbers.
29
Urban poor zip codes source 68% of offenders.
30
Female robbers avg age 29 vs 34 male 2022.
Interpretation
Offender Demographics Interpretation
While these statistics paint a stark profile of economic desperation, systemic failure, and a dangerously high rate of recidivism, they also serve as a grim reminder that crime, unlike the banks it targets, rarely pays dividends beyond a one-way trip back to prison.
05 · Category
Robbery Outcomes29 stats
01
Only 12.4% of 2022 bank robberies resulted in money obtained by robbers.
02
Average take in successful 2022 bank robberies was $4,210per incident.
03
67% of 2022 bank robberies were cleared by arrest within a week.
04
Injuries to victims occurred in 4.1% of 2021 bank robberies, totaling 86 cases.
05
No fatalities in US bank robberies since 2019, per FBI records through 2022.
06
88% of 2022 robberies involved no weapon discharge.
07
Failed robberies due to silent alarms: 31% in 2021.
08
Recovery rate of stolen funds in bank robberies was 14% in 2022.
09
Repeat robbery attempts by same offender succeeded only 7% in 2022 data.
10
National average clearance rate for bank robberies was 71.3% in 2022.
11
Customer injuries in 2.8% of 2022 robberies, 52 cases.
12
55% of robbers fled on foot in 2021 urban settings.
13
Bail jumps by arrested robbers: 24% in 2022.
14
Hostage situations in 0.9% of 2021 robberies, 21 incidents.
15
ATM-adjacent robberies failed 91% due to cameras in 2022.
16
Multi-branch robbery sprees averaged 4.2 banks per series in 2022.
17
76% clearance via surveillance video in 2022.
18
Zero cash yield in 45% of attempted 2021 robberies.
19
Pursuit crashes post-robbery: 3% of 2022 cases.
20
teller panic buttons activated in 84% of 2022 successes.
21
Average flight distance: 2.3 miles before capture 2021.
22
Weapon seizures post-arrest: 68% real firearms 2022.
23
Vault hits failed 98% due to time locks 2022.
24
Public tips led to 42% of 2022 clearances.
25
Serial capture rate: 95% within 30 days 2022.
26
Dye-stained money recovered in 19% pursuits.
27
No injuries policy held in 95.9% 2021 cases.
28
Accomplice betrayals: 11% of team arrests 2022.
29
Robbery-induced PTSD in tellers: 15% per incident.
Interpretation
Robbery Outcomes Interpretation
Despite the cinematic allure of a heist, modern bank robbery is a high-risk, low-reward, and swiftly punished folly where the most likely outcomes are a silent alarm, no cash, a starring role on surveillance, and a short, unglamorous trip to jail.
Reference
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APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Bank Robbery Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bank-robbery-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Bank Robbery Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bank-robbery-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Bank Robbery Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bank-robbery-statistics.
Sources & references
46 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level