Banking Clan communications frigate

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Size:
  825 meters long

• Weapon:
  2 heavy turbolasers; 2 long range ion cannons; 26 twin turbolaser cannons; 20 light turbolaser cannons; 38 point-defense laser cannons

• Affiliation:
  Confederacy of Independent Systems (InterGalactic Banking Clan)

• Type:
  Star frigate (Munificent-class)

• Manufacturer:
  Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc. and Gwori Revolutionary Industries

• 

From the Movies

The InterGalactic Banking Clan employed specialized warships for the protection of the vast store of riches it was tasked to transport among its heavily fortified vaults. These huge capital ships carry enough firepower to deter even the most daring of pirates. During the Clone Wars, when the Banking Clan devoted its forces to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, these frigates were adorned with the hexagonal emblem of the unified Separatists, and were involved in major campaigns against the Republic.

From the Expanded Universe

Aiding the Banking Clan's rise to financial dominance was a deeply rooted culture of extreme paranoia among its highest board members. Investors felt secure that the Clan took extraordinary measures to protect its assets, including the construction of some of the most advanced war droids and military equipment. So concerned with theft and government interference was the Banking Clan that it built its own communications network separate from the HoloNet.

A relay network of subspace and hyperwave transceivers established secure channels for financial transactions. If an enterprising thief decided to target the physical transceiver itself rather than slice the network, he or she would find an unsettling surprise. The transceivers were carried aboard large Munificent-class star frigates, immense capital ships armed with powerful weaponry.

These frigates were used to spread the Banking Clan's private network and to move solid assets between vaults and clients. When the Clone Wars erupted, Chairman San Hill brought the Banking Clan into the Confederacy fold, and committed a number of star frigates to what he believed was a profitable venture. The communications network maintained by this fleet was used primarily for military and propaganda transmission, not for finances.

A Banking Clan frigate is heavily armed, with an enormous twin prow turbolaser cannon that is slow to maneuver, but deadly to larger warships. The ship also has two long-range ion cannons, 26 turbolaser cannons, 20 light turbolaser turrets and 38 point-defense laser cannons. It can carry a complement of up to 150,000 deactivated battle droids in compressed configuration.

Behind the Scenes

The design of the capital ships in Episode III take the visual iconography of the classic trilogy and spins it around. The triangular ships now denote the "good guys" and smoother, organic shapes belong to the "bad guys." To that end, concept artists looked to unused Joe Johnston designs of Rebel starships from Return of the Jedi. While such a visual directive suggests a link between the Separatists and the Alliance, it is not yet known if there is meant to be a literal connection between the starships of the Confederacy and those used years later by the Rebellion.