When the customer wishes to access the contents of their box, they visit the bank, present the required identification, and are then allowed access to the vault or safe where their box is located. People can rent these boxes and use them to store valuable possessions. While some people choose to store these types of valuables at home, a potentially safer option is to rent a safe deposit box at a bank.Ī safe deposit box – sometimes referred as a “safety deposit box” – is a secured container that is usually held within a larger safe or vault at a bank. Some things in life deserve special attention and safekeeping, such as family heirlooms or collectibles, and important documents like social security cards and birth certificates.