Gringotts Wizarding Bank is the sole banking institution for the wizarding world in Great Britain. Established and operated by goblins, it is considered one of the safest places in the magical world, second only to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The bank was founded by a goblin named Gringott. (Pottermore) The building itself is an imposing, snow-white marble structure that towers over the other shops in Diagon Alley. A set of burnished bronze doors stands at the entrance, attended by a goblin in a scarlet and gold uniform. Beyond these lies a second set of silver doors, upon which a warning to would-be thieves is engraved. The interior opens into a vast marble hall with a long counter where numerous goblins work, weighing coins and examining precious stones. Beneath the main hall lies a sprawling network of underground passages and vaults. Clients are transported to their vaults via enchanted carts that travel at high speeds along a twisting railway. The vaults vary in size and security. Lower-security vaults, such as Harry Potter's trust vault, require only a key for access. High-security vaults, like the one belonging to the Lestrange family, are located far deeper underground and are protected by powerful enchantments and magical creatures, such as dragons.
Gringotts is central to several key plot points throughout the series.