Early Withdrawal

A man stopped by his bank to cash a check. Just as he got into the lobby, another man with a large bag came running past him, apparently heading for the exit. Then the bank security guard came dashing by, followed by several bank employees. The security guard tackled the man with the bag, handcuffed him and hauled him back into the bank.

The man who had gone in to cash his check was shaking like a leaf. "I've actually seen my first robbery," he said to himself. As he approached the teller's window he couldn't resist finding out more about what he had just witnessed. "Was that really a robbery?" he queried.

"Oh, no, sir," the teller replied calmly. "That was only our substantial penalty for early withdrawal."