Banks sell gold bars and coins, as well as silver coins, but the vast majority of U.S. banks don't make gold or silver available to the public. Banks usually avoid selling precious metals due to fluctuating prices. While there are banks that sell gold, the selection of assets for purchase is often limited to a select assortment of gold coins.
Nowadays, fewer and fewer banks with physical gold are willing to sell without a prescription. If you're determined to buy gold at a bank, be sure to contact them beforehand to ensure they have the necessary supply to sell. Buying physical gold bars online is a fairly simple process. A common way to buy gold bars is through authorized online retailers.
Prospective buyers can search for gold bullion products on reputable retail websites, such as the American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX), JM Bullion and Coins Wholesale Direct. You can choose gold by weight, quantity and price. Even if the gold bars are genuine, the seller's charges can be exorbitant and buyers may have trouble processing gold through customs, depending on the quantity purchased. Physical gold suitable for investment, also called gold ingots, can be purchased at the spot price, which is the price of gold without manufacturing plus additional costs, which vary depending on the seller.
We've already talked about whether or not you can buy gold in your bank (it's possible) and in some of the other places in the world where banks sell gold. This allows you to expose yourself to gold as an investment without the risk or headache of dealing with physical gold. Nowadays it is rare to find a bank that sells gold coins to the public, outside some parts of Asia. Gold traders are experienced in what they sell and are often licensed to sell you these gold assets.
In general, reputable gold sellers must disclose all fees required to close a transaction in advance. While buying precious metals and gold at a bank may seem like the safest idea, it's important to evaluate all options before investing. Some investors prefer to buy gold from local merchants, allowing them to physically inspect the gold and pay for it in cash. But, even if your bank sells gold, should you buy it there? What other options are there for buying gold if you can't find it at a local financial institution? What else do you need to know about buying gold coins? From an investment point of view, investors who want to add the physical product that tracks the price of gold may prefer to avoid gold coins.
Instead of investing in physical gold, you can buy shares in companies that extract and refine gold. If we look at history, until 1933, banks in the United States routinely exchanged gold coins and certificates. Under a gold options contract, you have an agreement with the option to buy or sell gold if it reaches a certain price on a predetermined date. Buying gold at a bank requires physically visiting a location and then transporting the gold and precious metals to a storage facility.
If you're thinking about starting to invest in precious metals to diversify your portfolio, you may be considering buying gold at a bank.
