Bankerne

Bankerne, or the banks, are financial institutions that accept deposits, extend credit, and provide payment services. They operate as intermediaries between savers and borrowers, channeling household and corporate funds into loans and investments while offering safekeeping for money, payment processing, and advisory services. Banks help households manage everyday transactions through checking and savings accounts, ATMs, and digital platforms, and they support businesses with working capital lending, mortgages, and trade finance. In addition to retail and commercial banking, other bank types include savings banks, cooperative banks, and investment banks, each with distinct client bases and activities.

Banks also perform monetary and financial stabilizing functions. They participate in the payment system, create credit under fractional reserve principles, and are influenced by monetary policy through policy rates set by central banks. Because they are highly interconnected and exposed to liquidity, credit, and market risks, banks are subject to regulation and supervision by national authorities and international bodies. Common safeguards include capital adequacy requirements, risk management standards, consumer protection rules, and deposit insurance schemes to protect depositors.

The historical development of banks spans from early moneylenders and merchant bankers to modern universal banks. Today, banks play a central role in most economies by allocating capital, facilitating trade, and supporting financial inclusion and economic growth.