A man robbed the PNC bank branch located at 200 S. 40th St. over the weekend and got away with about $500, according to Division of Public Safety officials.
At about 12:05 p.m. Saturday, the robber approached a teller's station at the bank and handed the teller a note demanding money, FBI spokeswoman Jerri Williams said.
Williams said the man then threatened the cashier, indicating that he had a weapon, which was never revealed.
The robber fled on foot after being given the money, Penn public safety officials said.
The FBI -- which is conducting the investigation -- has no leads in the case. Williams said that officials will examine video surveillance of the scene, though no photos will be processed until tomorrow due to the President's Day holiday.
The robber was described as a 5-foot-10-inch black man with a dark complexion and medium build, Williams said, adding that at the time of the crime he wore a blue or gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and tan work boots.
College sophomore Emily Smith -- who was using the bank's ATM machines soon after the robbery -- said that she noticed "quite a commotion" following the incident, with four or five police cars present.
A customer of PNC Bank, Smith added that the robbery will probably not affect her willingness to remain a customer.
"It's a little unsettling," she said, "but it seems like the situation was under control."
PNC is generally popular among Penn students. The bank has made a partnership with the University in which it offers a Penn Student Plan that allows students free checking and savings accounts, as well as the option of linking their PennCard to an ATM account.
"I don't really have too many other options," Wharton and Engineering senior Gaurav Bazaz, a PNC customer, said. "I guess I could go to the [branch] on Spruce Street, but that's probably not any safer than this one."
Wharton and Engineering junior Arun Mathew agreed, adding that crimes in this area are inevitable.
"I don't think [the robbery] is a big deal," he said. "We live in West Philadelphia and things go on here all the time. I just expect it."
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