A Charlottetown man will long remember this Christmas after money he withdrew from the bank — and forgot to take with him — was returned by a Good Samaritan on Wednesday.

Len Handrahan withdrew $500 from a CIBC branch early in the day.

The money — from his disability pension — was to be used to help pay Handrahan's rent and buy groceries.

'His honesty has made my Christmas a little brighter.'—Len Handrahan

Handrahan left the bank without the money. He rushed back a few minutes later, but the envelope was gone.

He assumed he would never see the money again.

Just as the bank was about to review security tapes, the person who picked up the money returned it.

"I guess it's a Christmas present," said Handrahan. "I never in this world thought that money would ever be seen again. I'd like to thank the person who did turn the money in. His honesty has made my Christmas a little brighter."

Kind gestures like these are a rarity, said Glen Trueman, CIBC branch manager.

"Often times in banking today we experience situations where the outcome is not so happy, where clients are not as lucky to get their money back," said Trueman. "It just makes us feel really good that we have clients that not only are good community citizens, but demonstrate a caring."

For privacy reasons, CIBC hasn't told Handrahan who returned the money, but Handrahan said he owes that person heartfelt thanks.