Navigating the bustling streets of Act Three in Baldur's Gate 3 can be overwhelming, especially when searching for critical story locations. The Counting House stands as the premier banking institution in the Lower City, housing immense wealth alongside crucial quest encounters involving Minsc and Jaheira. Finding this heavily guarded facility and securing the required clearances is essential for advancing companion storylines and filling your party treasury.
Locating the Counting House in the Lower City
The Counting House is situated along the southern waterfront of the Lower City map in Baldur's Gate 3. You can reach the Grand Building by traveling south from the Lower City Central Wall waypoint toward the docks. The exact map coordinates for the main entrance are X:-98, Y:-148.
Standing outside the bank, you will notice grand architectural features guarded by heavily armed security personnel. If you are working through Jaheira's companion quest line, your map will naturally guide you to this waterfront location following clues found in the Guildhall. Approaching the front doors triggers interactions with the bank staff and guards who strictly control access to the interior.
How to Get Vault Passes and Clearance
Entering the public lobby of the Counting House is completely unrestricted, but progressing down into the vaults requires official clearance. You must speak with Head Clerk Meadhoney, who stands behind the central reception desk in the main hall. Passing a Persuasion, Intimidation, or Deception dialogue check convinces him to issue you a temporary pass.
If your party lacks charisma skills, rogue companions like Astarion can pickpocket a bank pass directly from the clerk. Presenting this pass to the guards positioned at the vault doors grants safe entry into the subterranean corridors without provoking hostile responses. Alternatively, high-level stealth tactics or invisibility spells can allow skilled infiltrators to slip past the security checkpoints undetected.
Solving the Inner Vault Floor Puzzle
Deep within the facility, players face a massive vault door secured by a complex four-digit tile puzzle. The code for this lock corresponds to the historical year 1356, which is discovered by reading books in the Head Banker's upper office. To input the combination safely, ungroup your party members so individual characters step only on designated tiles.
Step on the floor plates corresponding to the numbers 1, 3, 5, and 6 in that exact order to trigger the door mechanism. Stepping on an incorrect tile instantly resets the sequence and forces you to start over. Players can also bypass the puzzle mechanics entirely by creating a water surface across the floor tiles and hitting it with lightning magic to short-circuit the lock system.
Exploring High Security Vaults and Loot
Past the main puzzle door lies the deepest section of the bank, filled with high-security vaults belonging to prominent figures. Opening these individual safes requires either specific keys scattered across the city or a rogue with high Sleight of Hand skill. Inside, players can uncover legendary armor pieces, rare magical weapons, and thousands of gold coins.
This area also serves as the backdrop for a major story confrontation with Bhaalist cultists. Defeating the hostiles allows you to help the Head Banker, who offers additional rewards and keys in exchange for recovering stolen gold. Taking the time to fully explore every corner ensures your party leaves with maximum loot and key quest progression.
