Bank

A bank is a financial institution licensed by a government. Its primary activities include providing financial services to customers while enriching its investors. Many financial activities were allowed over time. For example banks are important players in financial markets and offer financial services such as investment funds. In some countries such as Germany, banks have historically owned major stakes in industrial corporations while in other countries such as the United States banks are prohibited from owning non-financial companies. In Japan, banks are usually the nexus of a cross-share holding entity known as the zaibatsu. In France, bancassurance is prevalent, as most banks offer insurance services (and now real estate services) to their clients.

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Agricultural Bank of China

Agricultural Bank of China Limited (ABC) (simplified Chinese: 中国农业银行股份有限公司; traditional Chinese: 中國農業銀行股份有限公司; pinyin: Zhōngguó Nóngyè Yínháng) is the one of the "Big Four" banks in the People's Republic of China.

Asset liability mismatch

In finance, an asset-liability mismatch occurs when the financial terms of the assets and liabilities do not correspond. Several types of mismatches are possible.

Automated teller machine

An automated teller machine (ATM) or the automatic banking machine (ABM) is a computerized telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public space without the need for a cashier, human clerk or bank teller. On most modern ATMs, the customer is identified by inserting a plastic ATM card with a magnetic stripe or a plastic smartcard with a chip, that contains a unique card number and some security information, such as an expiration date or CVVC (CVV). Authentication is provided by the customer entering a personal identification number (PIN).

Automatic teller machine

An automated teller machine (ATM) or the automatic banking machine (ABM) is a computerized telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public space without the need for a cashier, human clerk or bank teller. On most modern ATMs, the customer is identified by inserting a plastic ATM card with a magnetic stripe or a plastic smartcard with a chip, that contains a unique card number and some security information, such as an expiration date or CVVC (CVV). Authentication is provided by the customer entering a personal identification number (PIN).

Bancassurance

The Bank Insurance Model (BIM), also sometimes known as Bancassurance, is the term used to describe the partnership or relationship between a bank and an insurance company whereby the insurance company uses the bank sales channel in order to sell insurance products.

Bank

A bank is a financial institution licensed by a government. Its primary activities include providing financial services to customers while enriching its investors. Many financial activities were allowed over time. For example banks are important players in financial markets and offer financial services such as investment funds. In some countries such as Germany, banks have historically owned major stakes in industrial corporations while in other countries such as the United States banks are prohibited from owning non-financial companies. In Japan, banks are usually the nexus of a cross-share holding entity known as the zaibatsu. In France, bancassurance is prevalent, as most banks offer insurance services (and now real estate services) to their clients.

Bank of England

The Bank of England (formally the Governor and Company of the Bank of England) is, despite its name, the central bank of the whole of the United Kingdom and is the model on which most modern, large central banks have been based. It was established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and to this day it still acts as the banker for the UK Government. The Bank was privately owned and operated from its foundation in 1694 until it was nationalized in 1946. In 1997 it became an independent public organisation, wholly-owned by Government, with independence in setting monetary policy.^[2][3][4] The Bank has a monopoly on the issue of banknotes in England and Wales, although not in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee has devolved responsibility for managing the monetary policy of the country. The Treasury has reserve powers to give orders to the committee "if they are required in the public interest and by extreme economic circumstances" but such orders must be endorsed by parliament within 28 days.^[5]

Bank of Saint George (Genoa)

The Bank or Company of Saint George (Italian: Ufficio di San Giorgio in Genoa or Casa di San Giorgio) was a financial institution of the Republic of Genoa. Founded in 1407,^[1] it was one of the oldest chartered banks in Europe, if not the world. The bank's headquarters were at the Palazzo San Giorgio, which was built in the 13th century by order of Guglielmo Boccanegra, uncle of Simone Boccanegra, the first Doge of Genoa.

Bank of Scotland

The Bank of Scotland plc (Gaidhlig Banca na h- Alba) is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a history dating to the 17th century, it is the second oldest surviving bank (the Bank of England having been established two years before) in what is now the United Kingdom, and is the only commercial institution created by the Parliament of Scotland to remain in existence. It was also the first bank in Europe to print its own banknotes. The Bank of Scotland continues to print its own sterling banknotes under legal arrangements which allow some UK banks to issue currency.

Bank robbery

Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear."^[1] By contrast, burglary is defined as, "unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft."^[2] Definitions vary in other countries, however. In the United Kingdom, robbery is the removal or taking away of property from a place in which you are entitled to be (without any requirement for force or violence to be threatened or used)^{[dubious – discuss]}, whilst burglary is largely in line with the US version, entering property unlawfully. In layman's terms, therefore, bank robbery is entering a bank when it is open and either by using force or the threat of force or otherwise obtaining valuables, usually money. Entering a bank when it is closed is burglary.

Bank run

A bank run (also known as a run on the bank) occurs when a large number of bank customers withdraw their deposits because they believe the bank is, or might become, insolvent. As a bank run progresses, it generates its own momentum, in a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy (or positive feedback): as more people withdraw their deposits, the likelihood of default increases, and this encourages further withdrawals. This can destabilize the bank to the point where it faces bankruptcy.^[1]

Bankers' bank

A bankers' bank is a financial institution that provides financial services to community banks in the United States of America. Bankers' banks are owned by investor banks and may provide services only to community banks.

Bankers' bonuses

Bankers' bonuses are traditionally paid to selected workers in the finance industry at the end of the working year. They are designed to reward employee behaviour during the year that have increased the profits of the bank. Individual bonuses can range from a few thousand to tens of millions of dollars, pounds or euros.

Banking in Australia

Overview
Historically, the Australian banking industry was tightly regulated. Until as recently as the 1980s, it was virtually impossible for a foreign bank to establish branches in Australia; consequently Australia had very few banks when compared with such places as the United States or Hong Kong. Moreover, banks in Australia were divided into two distinct categories, known as saving banks and trading banks. Saving banks paid virtually no interest to their depositors and their lending activities were restricted to providing mortgages. Trading banks were essentially merchant banks, which did not provide services to the general public.

Banking in Canada

Banking in Canada is widely considered the most efficient and safest banking system in the world,^[1] ranking as the world's soundest banking system according to a 2008 World Economic Forum report.^[2] According to the Department of Finance, Canada’s banks, also called chartered banks, have over 8,000 branches and almost 18,000 automated teller machines (ATMs) across the country.^[3] In addition, "Canada has the highest number of ABMs per capita in the world and benefits from the highest penetration levels of electronic channels such as debit cards, Internet banking and telephone banking".^[3]

Banking in China

China's banking system has undergone significant changes in the last two decades: banks are now functioning more like banks than before. Nevertheless, China's banking industry has remained in the government's hands even though banks have gained more autonomy. China's accession to WTO will lead to a significant opening of this industry to foreign participation.

Banking in Germany

Banking in Germany is a hignly leveraged industry, as its average leverage ratio (assets divided by net worth) as of 11 October 2008 is 52 to 1 (while, for comparison, that of France is 28 to 1 and that of United Kingdom is 24 to 1); its short-term liabilities are equal to 60% of the German GDP or 167% of its national debt..^[1]

Banking in India

Banking in India originated in the last decades of the 18th century. The oldest bank in existence in India is the State Bank of India, a government-owned bank that traces its origins back to June 1806 and that is the largest commercial bank in the country. Central banking is the responsibility of the Reserve Bank of India, which in 1935 formally took over these responsibilities from the then Imperial Bank of India, relegating it to commercial banking functions. After India's independence in 1947, the Reserve Bank was nationalized and given broader powers. In 1969 the government nationalized the 14 largest commercial banks; the government nationalized the six next largest in 1980.

Banking in Israel

Banking in Israel has its roots in the Zionist movement in the beginning of the 20th century prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The World Zionist Organization established the Anglo-Palestine Bank in 1903 (which later was renamed Bank Leumi). The two largest banks control over 60% of the banking activity, and the top five over 90%.

Banking in Italy

Banking in Italy has, as of 11 October 2008, an average leverage ratio (assets/liabilities) of 12 to 1, while the banks's short-term liabilities are equal to 86% of the Italian GDP or 43% of the Italian national debt.^[1]

Banking in Russia

There are significant regulations for banking in Russia. Banks in the Russian Federation should meet mandatory Russian legislation requirements, and comply with numerous Bank of Russia instructions and regulations.

Banking in Switzerland

Banking in Switzerland is characterised by stability, privacy and protection of clients' assets and information. The country's tradition of bank secrecy, which dates to the Middle Ages, was first codified in a 1934 law.^[1] All banks in Switzerland are regulated by Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), which derives its authority from a series of federal statutes.

Banks of the United Kingdom

The table shows the main independent British banks, in order of market capitalisation. The list is quite short as British banking has been highly consolidated since the early 20th century. Unlike some other major economies, the UK does not have a major stratum of independent local banks. The list has shrunk further during 2008: Northern Rock was nationalised by the UK Government, followed by Bradford & Bingley; Alliance & Leicester has been acquired by Santander, who own Abbey; Lloyds TSB plc announced, on 18 September 2008, a confirmed agreement to take over HBOS plc^[1][2][3].

Boston's

Boston (pronounced /ˈbɒstən/ (help·info)) is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England".^[11] Boston city proper had a 2008 estimated population of 620,535, making it the twenty-first largest in the country.^[6] Boston is also the anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area called Greater Boston, home to 4.5 million people and the tenth-largest metropolitan area in the country.^[8] Greater Boston as a commuting region includes six Massachusetts counties, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth, and Worcester,^[12] all of Rhode Island and parts of New Hampshire; it is home to 7.5 million people, making it the fifth-largest Combined Statistical Area in the United States.^[9][13]

Branch (banking)

A branch, banking center or financial center is a retail location where a bank, credit union or other financial institution (and by extension, brokerage firms) offers a wide array of face to face and automated services to its customers.

British Museum

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture situated in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects,^[2] are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to the present.^[a]