Prior to 1892, Susanville there were no banks of other type of financial institutions. In the course of time, residents quickly learned who had money to loan. In many instances, local merchants operated like a local bank. Loans were secured by promissory notes, as security. If the person failed, the lender would sue, and if the person owned real estate, an attachment placed on the property. Those who recall the article on Round Valley Reservoir it was owned for a time by Susanville merchant William Greehn, who acquired the property, by means of default on a loan that was not re-paid.
On the flip side, there were some fortunate folks who had to contend with the amount of money they had accumulated. This was pointed out during the Oktoberfest Cemetery Tour. In the mid-1860s, William Brockman, a blacksmith, recalled at one time he had $7,000 in gold coin buried in a corner of the shop, as there being no banks.