The East Chicago Bank Robbery

THE ARTIFACT

1929 $20 National Bank Note

Issued by the First National Bank in East Chicago, Indiana · Charter 13531 · PCGS Banknote 50 PPQ. This is the actual note from the Black Raven Personal Collection; no claim is made that this particular note was physically inside the bank during the robbery.

Front of the actual 1929 twenty dollar First National Bank in East Chicago note — Actual note from the Black Raven Personal Collection — front.

Reverse of the 1929 $20 First National Bank in East Chicago National Bank Note — Reverse — original collection photograph.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

East Chicago · January 15, 1934

Historical FBI mug shot of John Dillinger — John Dillinger · FBI historical photograph · public domain

Historical wanted poster for John Dillinger — John Dillinger wanted poster · federal historical record · public domain

Historical FBI identification photographs of John Dillinger — FBI identification photographs of Dillinger · public domain

Historical FBI photographs showing multiple views of John Dillinger — Historical FBI Dillinger identification imagery · public domain

THE STORY

A Bank Robbery That Turned Deadly

On January 15, 1934, the First National Bank in East Chicago became the scene of one of the most notorious robberies of the Public Enemy era. The holdup ended in gunfire, East Chicago police officer William Patrick O’Malley was killed, and the crime became permanently connected with John Dillinger and his gang.

This National Bank Note was issued by that same institution. It survives as a tangible connection to a bank whose name became part of American outlaw history.

But the story of who was actually there—and who fired the fatal shot—is more complicated than the legend suggests.

WATCH THE FULL STORY

The complete Black Raven Currency episode will follow the robbery, the people involved and the history behind the note.

WATCH BLACK RAVEN CURRENCY ON YOUTUBE →

VIDEO COMING SOON

Sources & Further Reading

Federal Bureau of Investigation — John Dillinger
SPMC National Bank Lookup — Charter 13531

Last updated September 2026.