You know the drill. Gold is to Congo what baguette is to France.
So much gold ; shining unapologetically on Congolese necks, wrists, and even walking sticks. If you know, you know. Congolese fashion has never feared excess.
Now, banks in the DRC have turned the BLING into a one-step process.
Forget shady gold markets and backroom deals with uncles wearing three rings per finger and an untied tie since 1996. With the launch of the first-ever 24/7 Gold ATM, customers can now withdraw actual gold bars like they would cash. Because Congo doesn’t do modest wealth.
“We had to meet the people where they are,” said a bank spokesperson, polishing his gold tooth. “DRIP shouldn’t be limited by time or geography.”
One proud customer said:
“When I want to remind my haters in the club that I’m not their mate, I just hit the nearest ATM, withdraw three kilos of gold, stunt for a few hours, then return the gold to the bank in the morning. It’s all vibes and intimidation. The rest of the world doesn’t understand us. For us, flexing is a daily sport.”
The machines even come with a feature called “Swagger Summary” : a printed slip showing your withdrawal in karats, in case anyone doubts your glow.
And for those asking why, locals say it’s nothing new:
“Our flag has yellow for a reason,” one man laughed. “We’ve been about the gold life. These ATMs just made it official.”