Commercial bank: meaning, types, functions, and more

Commercial banks are an integral part of any country’s financial system. They perform several essential functions, including accepting deposits, lending funds, credit creation, providing payment services, and investing funds. Commercial banks have evolved over the years, adopting new technologies and expanding their services to meet the changing needs of their customers. However, they also face several challenges in their operations, such as increasing competition, economic volatility, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity risks, and interest rate risk. Hence we will have a better understanding of how its meaning, how it works and lots more after reading this article. Let’s take the journey together. 

What is a commercial bank?

A commercial bank is a financial institution that operates primarily to accept deposits from customers and provide loans to borrowers. They are authorized by the government to engage in financial intermediation, which involves accepting deposits and providing loans to customers. The primary function of commercial banks is to act as intermediaries between those who have excess funds and those who need funds to finance their activities.

Functions of commercial banks

Commercial banks perform several functions that are essential to the functioning of any economy. The primary functions of commercial banks are:

1. Accepting deposits: Commercial banks accept deposits from customers, which may be in the form of savings, current, or fixed deposits.
2. Lending funds: Commercial banks provide loans to individuals, businesses, and government entities. These loans may be in the form of working capital loans, term loans, or project finance.
3. Credit creation: Commercial banks can create credit by extending loans to borrowers. When a bank lends money to a borrower, it creates an asset (the loan) and a liability (the deposit) on its balance sheet. This process is called credit creation.
4. Providing payment services: Commercial banks provide payment services to customers, which include issuing cheques, debit cards, credit cards, and facilitating online transactions.
5. Investing funds: Commercial banks invest their excess funds in various financial instruments such as government securities, corporate bonds, and shares.

Types of commercial banks

There are several types of commercial banks, which can be classified based on their ownership, size, and function. The main types of commercial banks are:

1. Public sector banks

Public sector banks are owned and operated by the government. They play a vital role in promoting economic growth by providing credit to key sectors of the economy.

2. Private sector banks

Private sector banks are owned and operated by private individuals or corporations. They compete with public sector banks and provide a range of services to their customers.

3. Foreign banks

Foreign banks are banks that are headquartered in a foreign country but have operations in other countries. They play a significant role in international trade and finance.

4. Cooperative banks

Cooperative banks are owned and operated by their members, who are typically individuals or small businesses. They provide credit and other financial services to their members.

Services offered by commercial banks

These banks offer several services to their customers, which include:

1. Deposit accounts: Commercial banks offer different types of deposit accounts such as savings accounts, current accounts, and fixed deposits.
2. Loans: Commercial banks provide various types of loans such as personal loans, home loans, education loans, and business loans.
3. Credit cards: Commercial banks issue credit cards to their customers, which allow them to make purchases on credit.
4. Debit cards: Commercial banks issue debit cards to their customers, which allow them to withdraw cash and make purchases.
5. Online banking: Commercial banks provide online banking services to their customers, which allow them to access their accounts, transfer funds, and pay bills online.
6. Investment services: Commercial banks offer investment services such as mutual funds, shares, and bonds to their customers.

Challenges faced by commercial banks

Some if the challenges commercial banks face  include:

1. Increasing competition: The competition in the banking sector is increasing, which puts pressure on commercial banks to offer better services to their customers.
2. Economic volatility: Economic volatility can affect the operations of commercial banks, as it can lead to defaults on loans and reduced demand for credit.

Regulatory compliance

Commercial banks are subject to strict regulations, which can be costly and time-consuming to comply with.

1. Cybersecurity risks: With the increase in digital banking services, commercial banks face significant cybersecurity risks such as hacking, data breaches, and identity theft.
2. Interest rate risk: Commercial banks are vulnerable to interest rate risk, which arises when the interest rates change in the market, affecting the profitability of the bank.

Role of commercial banks in economic development

These banks play a vital role in promoting economic development by providing credit to individuals and businesses. They facilitate economic growth by providing financial resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses, which can stimulate job creation and innovation.

Commercial banks also play a critical role in mobilizing savings from the public and directing them toward productive investment.

Conclusion

In summary, commercial banks are essential financial intermediaries that play a vital role in the functioning of any economy. They accept deposits from customers and provide loans to borrowers, create credit, and provide payment services. Commercial banks face several challenges. In conclusion, commercial banks are financial intermediaries that facilitate the flow of funds in the economy by accepting deposits from customers and providing loans to borrowers.

They perform several essential functions, including credit creation, payment services, and investment services. However, commercial banks face several challenges, such as increasing competition, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity risks, and interest rate risk. Despite these challenges, commercial banks play a crucial role in promoting economic development by providing financial resources to individuals and businesses, which can stimulate job creation and innovation.