Financial institution that uses funds deposited with it to lend money to companies or individuals, and also provides financial services to its customers. The first banks opened in Italy and Catalonia around 1400.
In 1900 half the world's top ten banks were British; by 1950, the dominant banking nation had become the us, with half of the world's top ten banks based there. In terms of assets, seven of the world's top ten banks were Japanese in 1988.
A central bank (in the us, the Federal Reserve System) issues currency for the government, in order to provide cash for circulation and exchange. A savings bank serves personal accounts and is licensed by the state in which it and its branches may operate. A commercial bank may have branches throughout the nation, since it services businesses, and sometimes becomes an international institution. There are also various forms of both public and private savings and loan companies that are called banks.

See data bank.
Any substantial collection of data.

1. Acceptable to or at a bank.
2. Guaranteed to bring a profit.

ETYM See the nouns Bank and the verbs derived from them.
1. Someone who owns or is an executive in a bank.
2. The person in charge of the bank in a gambling game.

1. One whose business is the exchanging of kinds or denominations of currency
2. A device for holding and dispensing sorted change. money-changer, moneychanger

1. A superior quality of strong durable white writing paper; originally made for printing documents; SYN. bond paper.
2. An interest-bearing (or discounted) certificate of debt issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; SYN. bond certificate.

A draft drawn by a bank against funds deposited in another bank; SYN. banker's draft.

1. Money deposited in a bank; SYN. bank deposit.
2. A payment given as a guarantee that an obligation will be met.
3. Money given as security for an article acquired for temporary use.