“I withdrew SR220,000, which was meant to be an initial payment for a plot of land,” said a customer who did not want to be identified.

“As soon as I left the bank with the envelope in hand, I was attacked by two men who hit me and stole the money,” he said, adding that he returned to the bank to complain but was told they were not responsible.

“The bank said four customers had been robbed this month alone and that they had notified the police who are investigating. However, this cannot help me regain the money I have lost. Nor will I be able to purchase the land to build a home for my family,” he added.

A customer, who was attacked outside another bank in Jeddah a week earlier and had SR40,000 stolen from him, said he feels banks should provide additional security and be held responsible.

“We trust banks and consider them safe places to store our money. However, I feel that security should not end as soon as funds are withdrawn. If banks value their customers, then they should at least provide a security guard to walk customers to their cars instead of just allowing this to happen and then not taking any responsibility,” he said.

Some customers said it is worrying that banks are trusted with their money but are unable to provide additional security when leaving with large sums of cash.

With robberies increasing worldwide, bank customers in other countries have over the past two years been provided with increased security. In east London, posters have been placed outside local banks offering customers who have withdrawn large sums of money police escorts home. In addition, Scotland Yard has launched a hot line for members of the public when withdrawing cash from ATMs or banks.

No bank managers in the Kingdom were available to comment on the issue.