Maria Alm has two banks which vie for profile by sponsoring anything that moves, paying for the bus on school outings, providing free accident insurance for every child and throwing sweets and gifts at the children when they so much as step through the door. The tradition of the 'Sparverein' (savings clubs), began before there was a bank in the village, and thrifty villagers would each have a little box in a local guesthouse to put their small change into to save up for Christmas. During this week, once a year, the boxes are opened and much of the years savings are liquidated in a big booze up. The boxes must be topped up once a fortnight during the year otherwise the savers incur a penalty. Some of the not so conscientious ended up with a considerable debt, but the fondness that Austrians have for clubs seems to override the inefficiency of this saving scheme. Justine had to pay about as much in penalties as she recouped in tombola prizes.
