The bank mistakenly paid him more than 120,000 euros, but he received a bizarre reward for his honesty

A twenty-five-year-old Georgian student in Salzburg, Austria, returned over 100,000 euros to his bank after discovering he had been paid out significantly more than requested due to a clerical error. Instead of receiving a financial reward for his honesty, the institution presented him with a pack of rubber candies bearing its logo. The incident occurred at a branch of Sparkasse Salzburg, where the young man intended to withdraw exactly 12,900 euros. He had borrowed this specific amount from a friend to demonstrate sufficient financial means for obtaining a residence permit in Austria. Upon visiting the bank branch, he had no reason to suspect that a routine transaction would turn into an unusual complication. After completing the withdrawal, the student handed the bag containing the cash back to his friend, who had lent him the money. He then left the premises to attend a training session. It was only hours later that the bank contacted him via telephone to alert him to a discrepancy in the payout. At that moment, the two men began to realize the scale of the mistake. The student immediately reached out to his friend, and together they inspected the contents of the bag holding the banknotes. When they counted the currency, it became clear that they possessed substantially more funds than anticipated. Austrian media published footage showing the two friends examining bundles of bills inside a car. The friend told public broadcaster ORF that the sheer volume of cash surprised and worried him. He understood that retaining the excess money could lead to serious legal trouble. Rather than risking potential consequences, the pair decided to return to the bank branch without delay. Employees there recounted the banknotes and confirmed the extent of the error. The students then returned the surplus funds. Sparkasse Salzburg acknowledged that the irregularity resulted from human error. The bank apologized to the student for the inconvenience and thanked him for his cooperation and understanding. The most unexpected element of the story emerged after the money was returned. Despite returning a sum exceeding 100,000 euros, the student did not receive a monetary bonus for his integrity. The bank expressed its gratitude through a modest and surprising gesture. Staff members gave him a package of rubber candies featuring the bank's logo. This concludes the narrative of how the student briefly held over 120,000 euros in cash before correcting the mistake. The entire episode unfolded in Salzburg, where the student is currently enrolled in studies. The initial loan from his friend was specifically meant to satisfy administrative requirements for residency status. The phone call from the bank served as the catalyst for the discovery, prompting the immediate verification of the cash count. The friend’s concern regarding potential penalties motivated the quick decision to rectify the situation. The bank’s confirmation of the human error validated the students' actions. The final gift of candy stands in contrast to the massive value of the cash involved. The student’s prompt response prevented any further complications. The interaction between the student, his friend, and the bank staff resolved the issue efficiently. The visual evidence of the cash bundles highlighted the magnitude of the oversight. The apology from the institution addressed the disruption caused to the student. The lack of a financial reward emphasized the non-monetary nature of the bank's appreciation. The story illustrates a rare instance of banking error correction involving such a large sum. The student’s compliance with the law ensured no negative repercussions followed. The friend’s role was crucial in both lending the initial capital and assisting in verifying the erroneous payout. The training session interrupted by the phone call marked the turning point in the sequence of events. The specific amount of 12,900 euros was central to the original intent of the visit. The discrepancy amounted to roughly ten times the intended withdrawal. The bank’s branding on the candy served as a tangible token of the resolution. The entire process took place within a few hours of the initial withdrawal. The transparency of the bank in admitting fault facilitated the smooth return of funds. The student’s decision to act honestly defined the outcome of the incident. The absence of any mention of fines or penalties underscores the cooperative nature of the resolution. The story has circulated widely in regional media outlets. The focus remains on the unusual combination of a major financial error and a trivial thank-you gift. The student’s status as a foreign national seeking residency adds context to why the specific proof of funds was necessary. The friend’s awareness of legal risks played a key part in the swift action taken. The recounting of notes by bank employees provided the official record of the error. The final handover of the excess cash closed the loop on the transaction. The incident serves as a case study in banking accuracy and customer integrity. The tone of the bank’s response remained professional throughout the exchange. The student’s reaction to the candy gift was noted as part of the broader narrative. The physical presence of the cash in a bag made the error visible once counted. The phone call broke the silence that might have allowed the error to persist. The collaboration between the student and his friend ensured the correct procedure was followed. The bank’s logo on the candy connected the brand directly to the resolution. The story ends with the student having fulfilled his obligation and received a small token.