A banking system operates to provide vault access responsive to authorizing data read from data bearing records. The system selectively permits authorized individuals to access safety deposit boxes located in an interior area of the vault. An individuals's personal mobile device can wirelessly communicate user identifying data to a data reader of the system. A system data store includes data corresponding to authorized users of the vault. A system computer operates to cause a vault gate lock to electronically change from a locked condition to an unlocked condition in response to the data reader wirelessly receiving from the personal mobile device, user identifying data associated in the system data store with an authorized user of the vault.