banking
banking
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "banking" is /ˈbæŋkɪŋ/.
bank-: /bæŋk/
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
/k/ - voiceless velar plosive
-ing: /ɪŋ/
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: banking
Plural: bankings (less common, but grammatically possible in specific contexts, e.g., "various forms of bankings")
Verb:
Base form: bank
Present participle: banking
Past tense: banked
Past participle: banked
Third-person singular present: banks
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The overarching industry or system of financial services provided by banks, including the handling of money, credit, and other financial transactions.
Synonyms: finance, financial sector, monetary system, credit industry
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "bartering" or "cash economy" are not true antonyms for the industry of banking)
Definition 2: The act or process of conducting transactions with a bank, such as depositing or withdrawing money, applying for loans, or managing accounts.
Synonyms: financial management, money handling, fund management, fiscal operations
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the act of banking; "avoiding banks" or "cash-only transactions" describe alternative behaviors, not antonyms)
Verb
Definition 1: (Present participle of "bank") To engage in financial activities with a bank, such as depositing funds, making payments, or applying for financial products.
Synonyms: managing money, transacting, dealing with finances, using a bank
Antonyms: (No direct antonym for the action of banking; "withdrawing all funds" describes a specific transaction, not an antonym for the act of banking)
Definition 2: (Present participle of "bank") To cause an aircraft, vehicle, or sometimes a person, to tilt or incline sideways, especially during a turn.
Synonyms: tilting, leaning, canting, inclining
Antonyms: leveling, straightening, righting
Adjective
Definition 1: (Used attributively) Pertaining to or associated with the business, institutions, or practices of banking.
Examples: "banking crisis," "banking regulations," "banking hours," "banking reform"
Synonyms: financial, fiscal, monetary, economic (in a financial context)
Antonyms: non-financial, non-monetary, non-economic (in a financial sense)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The Great Recession highlighted significant flaws in banking practices, leading to widespread calls for stricter oversight and regulation." (From a non-fiction book on economic history, e.g., Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin, October 2009)
"He spent his entire career in international banking, navigating the complex world of global finance and advising multinational corporations." (From a biography or business book)
Newspapers:
"New regulations aim to prevent another banking crisis, with stricter capital requirements for major financial institutions." ( The Wall Street Journa)
"Local businesses have expressed frustration with the limited banking options available in rural areas, citing a need for greater access to credit." (The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"The rise of fintech has revolutionized retail banking, offering consumers more convenient and accessible ways to manage their money." (TechCrunch)
"Analysts are closely watching the impact of rising interest rates on the commercial banking sector." (Bloomberg.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: "In the film, the protagonist exposes a major scandal within the banking industry, leading to dramatic consequences." (From a movie synopsis or review, e.g., The Big Short, December 2015)
Podcasts: "This episode explores the future of digital banking and how artificial intelligence is transforming customer service in finance." (From a podcast transcript, e.g., "Fintech Focus" podcast, February 2025)
Video Games: "Players can manage their in-game finances through a comprehensive banking system, allowing them to deposit earnings and take out loans." (From a video game review or description, e.g., Grand Theft Auto V, September 2013)
General Public Discourse:
"After the incident, many people started questioning the ethics of modern banking." (Heard in a casual conversation or public forum)
"I'm considering a career in banking because I'm fascinated by the global financial markets." (Statement made by a student or young professional)
"The government needs to do more to support small businesses by making banking services more accessible and affordable." (From a community meeting or online discussion)
10 Quotes Using Banking
"Banking is necessary, banks are not." (Bill Gates)
"The banking system is the circulatory system of the economy." (Paul Volcker)
"The business of banking is so simple that it is the biggest mystery in the world." (Walter Bagehot, Lombard Street, 1873)
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." (Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Taylor, May 28, 1816)
"Banking is a very good business if you don't do anything dumb." (Warren Buffett)
"The modern banking system has been a conspiracy against the public." (Andrew Jackson)
"All banking is based on the idea of a future, a promise." (Niall Ferguson, The Ascent of Money, 2008)
"It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." (Henry Ford, 1922)
"The first duty of banking is to maintain public confidence." (Jean-Claude Trichet, 2011)
"The art of banking is to know when to lend and when to refrain." (Unknown, a widely used aphorism in banking circles)
Etymology
The word "banking" as we use it today, referring to the business of handling money, credit, and financial services, traces its roots back to medieval Italy.
The core word is "bank," which comes from the Old Italian word "banca" or "banco." This word literally meant "bench" or "table." In the bustling marketplaces of Italian city-states like Florence, Venice, and Genoa during the Renaissance, money changers and moneylenders would conduct their business at these benches or tables. They would exchange currencies, receive deposits, and arrange loans right there in the open.
So, the first known meaning of the word "bank" in a financial sense was quite literal: the bench or counter where money dealers operated. Over time, the term evolved to refer not just to the physical table, but to the business or institution carried out at that table.
The English word "banking" as a "verbal noun" (meaning "the business of a banker") is recorded as being in use from around 1735. This shows a shift from simply referring to the "bank" (the place or institution) to the activities involved in running such a business.
While the practice of lending and storing valuables dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and Rome (where temples served similar functions), the specific word "bank" and its derivative "banking" have their direct etymological lineage from those Italian "benches" where modern financial transactions began to take shape.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Banking
Online banking: Managing financial accounts and transactions via the internet.
Investment banking: A specific division of banking that deals with creating capital for other companies, governments, and other entities.
Retail banking: The division of a bank that deals directly with individual customers, rather than corporations or other banks.
Central banking: The financial institution that manages the currency and monetary policy of a country or monetary union.
Mobile banking: Performing financial transactions using a mobile device.
Shadow banking: Financial activities conducted by unregulated institutions outside the traditional banking system.
Digital banking transformation: The ongoing process of integrating digital technologies into all aspects of banking operations.
Relationship banking: A strategy focused on building long-term relationships with clients rather than just transactional interactions.
Universal banking: A system in which banks can offer a wide range of financial services, including commercial and investment banking.
To bank on something/someone: (Idiom using "bank," a closely related verb) To rely on or count on something or someone to happen or succeed.
To go to the bank (on it): (Idiom using "bank," a closely related verb) To be absolutely certain of something.
To break the bank: (Idiom using "bank," a closely related noun) To use up all of one's money; to be very expensive.
To make a killing in finance/money management: (Idiom using a synonym for "banking") To make a large amount of money quickly in financial markets.
To be flush with cash/funds: (Idiom related to the outcome of good banking/money management) To have a lot of money.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of banking from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
