“(They) demanded that I had receipts for all my stuff that they threw away,” Barnett said. “And I said, ‘Well, you know first of all, I don’t have receipts for all of my stuff. I wasn’t expected a bank to come and to accidently repossess my house and throw it all away. And second, if I did, where do you think it would be? In my house with all my belongings?’”

The Ohio bank that broke into a woman's home and mistakenly took all her possessions is apologizing—but not paying her for her stuff. First National Bank of Wellston admits that it had no right to be in Katie Barnett's home, since it was her neighbor who was being foreclosed. But the bank doesn't think it should have to pay for everything it took and trashed, sold, or gave away:Seriously. Should we all have to keep receipts for everything we buy in case a bank breaks into our homes and steals everything? And do we have to keep the receipts in safe deposit boxes at that, to be sure those aren't stolen, too? I guess all those safe deposit boxes would be a big new source of income for banks like First National, so probably the bank's officers think that's a reasonable solution.

If you needed an exhibit of just how above the law banks have become, this is it. First National Bank broke into Katie Barnett's house and stole all her things, and not only are we not talking about someone going to jail, but the bank is being allowed to quibble over whether it will pay her back for the full value of what it stole.

Sign our petition to Eric Emmert, president and CEO of First National Bank of Wellston, demanding that they reimburse a minimum of $18,000 to Katie Barnett.