BECAUSE OF THE SPIRALING INCREASE IN BANK ROBBERIES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, BANKS ARE FACED WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS OF CRIME PREVENTION, SECURITY, AND SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS. THE USE OF BULLET-RESISTANT BARRIERS AS A SECURITY MEASURE IS EXAMINED THROUGH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH OF CURRENT LITERATURE AND A STATEWIDE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN VIRGINIA OF CUSTOMERS AND TELLERS WHO HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH BARRIERS. BULLET-RESISTANT BARRIERS ARE DESCRIBED IN REGARD TO THEIR CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, INSTALLATION, AND BULLET PROOF CAPABILITIES. ACCORDING TO BANK SURVEYS AND FBI STATISTICS, BARRIERS DO DETER ROBBERIES AND PROTECT PERSONNEL WHEN CRIMES OCCUR. MANY BANK SECURITY OFFICERS HAVE INDICATED A PREFERENCE FOR BARRIERS OVER ARMED GUARDS, AND COST ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT GUARDS ARE CONSIDERABLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BARRIER INSTALLATION. A SURVEY OF BANK CUSTOMERS AND TELLERS CONCLUDES THAT MOST RESPONDENTS FAVOR THE USE OF BULLET-RESISTANT BARRIERS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE QUESTIONNAIRE GIVEN TO PARTICIPATING CUSTOMERS AND TELLERS, A COPY OF A LETTER FROM A LARGE BANK DESCRIBING ITS BARRIER SYSTEM, AND A TABLE DESCRIBING THE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION USED IN DEVELOPING RATING STANDARDS FOR BARRIERS. (MJM)