A wealthy man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer.
He says he's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The loan officer says the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the man hands over the keys to a new Rolls-Royce, worth a quarter of a million dollars.
“The car is parked on the street in front of the bank,” says the man, “and I have all the necessary papers.”
The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral. After the man leaves, the officer, the bank's president, and their colleagues laugh at the idea of using a $250,000 Rolls-Royce as security for a $5,000 loan.
An employee drives the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it. Two weeks later, the wealthy man returns, repays the $5,000 plus interest—$15.41 in total.
The loan officer says, “Sir, I must tell you, we’re all a bit puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and discovered you’re a multimillionaire. Why would you bother borrowing $5,000?”
The man replies, “Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41?”