diff --git a/python/CFBank.py b/python/CFBank.py
index 268f611ed..9d074be30 100644
--- a/python/CFBank.py
+++ b/python/CFBank.py
@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
 # CFBank.py -- CFBank class
 # Created by: Joris Bontje <jbontje@suespammers.org>
+
+# CFBank uses the 'shelve' Python library to store persistent data. The shelve
+# is opened for R/W operations by default, but cannot be read from and written
+# to simultaneously (so no 'append' or '+=' operations).
 #
-# Updated to use new path functions in CFPython -Todd Mitchell
+# In a past implementation, the bank database was opened with 'writeback' set
+# to 'True' and called sync() after each write operation, but still suffered
+# from strange bank problems.
+#
+# In its current implementation, close() MUST be called to preserve data
+# across runs. This fixed the aforementioned bug for me.
 
 import os.path
 import shelve
@@ -9,12 +18,10 @@ import shelve
 import Crossfire
 
 class CFBank:
-    bankdb = {}
-
     def __init__(self, bankfile):
         self.bankdb_file = os.path.join(Crossfire.LocalDirectory(),
                 bankfile)
-        self.bankdb = shelve.open(self.bankdb_file, writeback=True)
+        self.bankdb = shelve.open(self.bankdb_file)
 
     def deposit(self, user, amount):
         if not user in self.bankdb:
@@ -22,14 +29,12 @@ class CFBank:
         else:
             balance = self.bankdb[user]
             self.bankdb[user] = balance + amount
-        self.bankdb.sync()
 
     def withdraw(self, user, amount):
         if user in self.bankdb:
             if self.bankdb[user] >= amount:
                 balance = self.bankdb[user]
                 self.bankdb[user] = balance - amount
-                self.bankdb.sync()
                 return 1
         return 0
 
@@ -44,7 +49,9 @@ class CFBank:
             del self.bankdb[user]
             Crossfire.Log(Crossfire.LogDebug,
                           "%s's bank account removed." % user)
-            self.bankdb.sync()
             return 1
         else:
             return 0
+
+    def close(self):
+        self.bankdb.close()