Bank heists are the marquee missions of GTA 6 and the largest single payouts available. Each heist has multiple approaches, several crew options, and dozens of prep missions that change the difficulty and take. This guide walks through every step of preparation and execution.
The Heist Structure
Every major heist in GTA 6 has four phases:
- Planning โ choose approach, crew, and exit
- Prep missions โ complete side missions to unlock bonuses
- The heist itself โ execute the approach
- The escape โ get away clean
The total take depends on approach (40-65%), crew cut (15-25%), and prep bonuses (10-20%).
Choosing Your Approach
Most heists offer three approaches:
- Stealth โ lowest take, lowest crew requirement, lowest heat on escape
- Balanced โ moderate take, moderate crew, moderate heat
- Aggressive โ highest take, largest crew, highest heat on escape
For solo players, stealth is the safest. For a full four-player crew, aggressive is the most profitable.
Crew Selection
Crew members come in three tiers:
- Cheap โ low skill, low cut (5%)
- Standard โ moderate skill, moderate cut (10%)
- Premium โ highest skill, highest cut (15%)
Premium crew members unlock unique dialogue, have higher success rates on prep missions, and contribute to special bonuses during the heist.
Recommended Crew Setup
For balanced heists, use two premium and two standard crew members. This gives you most of the premium bonuses while keeping the cut manageable.
For stealth heists, use all premium. Stealth relies heavily on crew skill and a single mistake can wipe out the take.
For aggressive heists, use two premium and two cheap. Cheap crew members can be sacrificed during the heist without losing premium bonuses.
Prep Missions
Prep missions unlock bonuses for the heist. Common prep categories include:
- Vehicle acquisition โ steal specific getaway vehicles
- Equipment โ steal or buy specific gear
- Intel โ gather information on guard patrols
- Disguise โ acquire uniforms for crew members
Completing all prep missions unlocks a 20% bonus to the heist take. Missing any prep mission reduces the bonus and forces improvisation during the heist.
The Big Banks
There are three major bank heists in the GTA 6 story:
The First Vice Bank
Total take (aggressive): $2,400,000. Approach options: vault tunnel, roof entry, or brute force. Recommended approach: vault tunnel for solo, roof entry for crews.
The Pacific Standard Branch
Total take (aggressive): $3,800,000. Approach options: front entrance, underground parking, or roof assault. Recommended approach: underground parking for balanced, roof assault for aggressive.
The Bolingbroke Central
End-game heist. Total take (aggressive): $7,500,000. Approach options: tunnel network, helicopter assault, or diversion. Recommended approach: tunnel network. This is the most complex heist and requires a full four-player crew.
Common Mistakes
- Don't skip prep missions. Each prep mission is worth 2-4% of the total take.
- Don't use cheap crew on stealth heists. They make too many mistakes.
- Don't pick aggressive just because the take is higher. The escape phase is brutal.
- Don't sell the take immediately. Hold it for 48 in-game hours for a small bonus.
FAQ: Bank Heists
Q: Can I replay heists?
A: Yes. After the story ends, all heists become replayable from the planning screen.
Q: Do heists scale to crew size?
A: Yes. The take scales up to 1.5x for a full four-player crew.
Q: Can I do heists solo?
A: Yes. Stealth and balanced approaches work fine solo. Aggressive approaches are nearly impossible solo.
Q: What is the best crew cut to aim for?
A: 18-22% crew cut is the sweet spot. Lower than 18% and you cannot afford premium crew. Higher than 22% and you are losing too much take.
With this preparation guide, every heist will go smoothly and your take will be maximized. Spend time on prep, choose the right crew, and always have an exit plan.
Bonus Tips for Solo Heists
Solo players face a unique challenge because there is no crew to cover mistakes. Here are tips specifically for solo runs:
- Choose the stealth approach. The vault tunnel approach works best solo because the AI pathing is forgiving.
- Use silenced weapons. Every shot increases the alarm level and the alarm level determines how much police will respond.
- Save often. Save before each phase so you can reload if a phase goes wrong.
- Stack stamina. The stamina management is brutal solo because there is no one to revive you if you go down.
- Use the karuma-style armored car. This car is essentially required for solo heists because it can take multiple hits without catching fire.
For solo stealth, the best weapon is the suppressed pistol. The karuma-style armored car is the best vehicle. The Proximity Mine is the best gadget for blocking pursuers.
The Best Heist Order
New players should attempt the heists in this order:
- The First Vice Bank (Chapter 2)
- The Pacific Standard Branch (Chapter 4)
- The Bolingbroke Central (Chapter 6)
Each heist requires a higher level of crew, gear, and planning. Attempting them out of order is possible but extremely difficult.
Hidden Heist Bonuses
Each major heist has three hidden bonuses:
- Perfect execution bonus: complete the heist with no player deaths. Adds +10% to the take.
- Time bonus: complete the heist under 20 minutes. Adds +5% to the take.
- No damage bonus: complete the heist with no vehicle damage. Adds +5% to the take.
A perfect run with all three bonuses adds +20% to the take. This is the difference between a $2 million payout and a $2.4 million payout.
Final Heist Checklist
Before starting any heist, double-check these items:
- Full crew hired
- All prep missions complete
- Approach selected
- Exit route planned
- Getaway vehicle in position
- Insurance active
- Save file backed up
Missing any item can cost you 10-20% of the take. Always be prepared.