Banks Are the Ultimate Side Hustlers — I Bet You Didn’t Realise This
AKA you thought you were the main character, but your bank’s been running a passive income empire—with your cash.
The Opening Smear
I don’t know about you, but I grew up being taught that banks were stable—unmoving, secure. They were the safe option. The risk-free choice.
We were never told to assess them like we do other financial products.
Because… they’re the bank. What could go wrong?
Kind of like how we used to think our parents were invincible.
When the Roles Reverse
It happens slowly.
One day, your parents ask for help setting up their new phone. Then they want you to handle their online banking. Suddenly, you're helping them with tasks they once handled for you.
The roles quietly shift. You become the caretaker.
They aren’t the invincible constants from your childhood anymore. They’re human. They always were—you just didn’t see it.
They start opening up. About stress. About money. About fear.
And you realise: they were protecting you from their worries all along.
That’s what the 2008 Global Financial Crisis was for banks.
A collective moment where the curtain got pulled back.
We saw the fragility. The fear. The mistakes.
Banks that seemed too big to fail… failed.
They weren’t villains. But they weren’t perfect either. Just human-run, profit-driven systems capable of screwing up—and taking millions down with them.
The Realisation
Banks aren’t evil. But they’re not invincible either.
They are businesses. And like any business, they’re designed to make money.
Yes, they store your cash. But they also lend it out, invest it, flip it, and earn a lot more on it than they pay you.
You might earn $0.37 in interest, while they lend that same money out at 12%.
The Hustle Breakdown: How Banks Flip Your Funds
You deposit your money
They use it to fund mortgages, business loans, or credit card debt
Borrowers pay high interest
You earn a small return in comparison
They invest a portion in markets or government bonds
They charge small fees that add up over time
They’re not scamming you—but they are optimising their business model.
And that means their goal isn’t just to protect your money—it’s to grow theirs.
The Psychology of Why We Let It Slide
Banks feel safe. Familiar. Reputable. They’ve been around forever.
But part of that trust? It’s just habit. It’s comfort. It’s inertia.
We assume they have it all figured out. Until they don’t.
And in moments like the GFC, we realise—they’re not all-knowing institutions.
They’re systems run by people. Capable. But flawed.
So What Can You Do Instead?
You don’t need to ditch your bank. But you do need to understand its limits.
Yes, it’s still the safest place for your emergency fund.
But it shouldn’t be the only place you keep your money.
Diversify.
Question.
Stay informed.
Because stability doesn’t mean invincibility.
The Final Peanut Butter Smear 🥜
Banks are side hustling off your main hustle.
So treat your bank like a business partner—not a babysitter.
