Bank Employee Experiences Discomfort After Touching Money

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

— Police and firefighters responded to First Federal Bank, 2000 S. Promenade Blvd., after a woman handled money she said gave her red spots and breathing trouble, authorities said Wednesday.

A 26-year-old bank employee had redness on her arm and neck after a customer exchanged money at the bank at about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to a Fire Department report. The woman had no other symptoms, according to the Fire Department, but Keith Foster, police spokesman, said in a message that the woman also experienced breathing problems.

Police closed the bank to the public for about one-half hour, except for the drive-through. Foster did not respond to a question about why police stopped allowing people inside the bank. Police have not identified any known threats, according to a police news release.

Firefighters tested the money for biological agents, explosives, acids and bases and flammable gas, according to the report.

“There was nothing visible on the money; it looked just like money,” said Bryan Hinds, deputy fire chief.

Handling the money might not have caused the reaction, Hinds said. Firefighters could not be sure of a correlation, he said. The redness the woman experienced did not itch or hurt, and no one else in the building was affected.

The woman did not want to be transported to the hospital, Hinds said.

The investigation is ongoing, Foster said.

No one was cited or arrested in the incident, Foster said.