To all my Italian friends in heritage and at heart!
An Italian walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan
officer. He told the loan officer that he was going to Italy on business for
two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000 and that he was not a depositor of the
bank.
The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for
the loan, so the Italian handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was
parked on the street in front of the bank.
The Italian produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer
agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having
to charge 12% interest.
Later, the bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at
the Italian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan.
Then the employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's underground
garage and parked it.
Two weeks later, the Italian returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest
of $23.07. The loan officer said, 'Sir, we are very happy to have had your
business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a
little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you
are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow
$5,000?'
The Italian replied: 'Minga! Where else in New York City can I park my car
for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?'
Ah, the Italians...