Commercial Banks - 3.2 | Chapter 3: Money and Banking | ICSE Class 12 Economics
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Interactive Audio Lesson

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Functions of Commercial Banks

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're focusing on commercial banks and their essential functions. Can anyone tell me what they think the primary role of a commercial bank is?

Student 1
Student 1

I think they accept deposits, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Accepting deposits is one of their key functions. They also provide loans to individuals and businesses. For instance, Student_2, how do you think this lending affects the economy?

Student 2
Student 2

It helps people buy homes or start businesses, which creates jobs.

Teacher
Teacher

Great point! When banks lend money, they start a cycle of spending and economic growth. Remember, we can view the bank’s operation in terms of 'D-L-C': Deposit, Loans, and Credit creation!

Student 3
Student 3

What do you mean by credit creation?

Teacher
Teacher

Credit creation happens when banks lend out a portion of the deposits they hold, which contributes to the overall money supply. This process is vital for economic activity.

Student 4
Student 4

So, without commercial banks, would the economy slow down?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! They play a crucial role in keeping the economy fluid. Let's summarize: commercial banks accept deposits, provide loans, and create credit, all contributing to economic growth.

Credit Creation Process

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let's look deeper into the credit creation process. Who can summarize what happens when a bank receives a deposit?

Student 1
Student 1

They have to keep a certain amount as a reserve and can lend out the rest?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! If a bank takes a $1,000 deposit and the reserve requirement is 10%, they keep $100 and can lend out $900. Student_2, why is this system important?

Student 2
Student 2

Because it allows banks to support more borrowers than just the cash they have.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! This process is why banks are considered to be money creators. Student_3, can you think of a real-world example where bank lending helped a community?

Student 3
Student 3

Yes, many businesses get loans to expand, which can boost the local economy.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Finally, to remember the steps: 'D-R-L', Deposit, Reserve, and Lending. Understanding this helps us appreciate the power of commercial banks in stabilizing and growing the economy.

Conclusion on Commercial Banks

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Teacher
Teacher

As we wrap up, let's reflect. What do commercial banks fundamentally contribute to the economy?

Student 4
Student 4

They provide the liquidity needed for transactions.

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! They ensure that there’s always money in circulation, which is vital for economic activity. Student_1, what’s one important takeaway from today’s session?

Student 1
Student 1

That they’re essential for facilitating everyday transactions.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly. And remember, the interplay between deposits, loans, and credit creation is what keeps economies thriving. Always think of 'D-L-C' and 'D-R-L' when discussing commercial banks!

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

Commercial banks are financial institutions that accept deposits, provide loans, and facilitate money creation in the economy.

Standard

This section delves into the functions and significance of commercial banks within the banking system. It discusses their roles in accepting deposits, lending money, and contributing to credit creation, which in turn influences the money supply in an economy.

Detailed

Commercial Banks

Commercial banks play a crucial role in the banking system by accepting deposits from the public, providing loans for various purposes, and facilitating the creation of credit, which ultimately influences the overall money supply in the economy. This section explores the key functions of commercial banks, their operations in money creation, and their importance in supporting economic activity.

Key Functions of Commercial Banks:

  1. Accepting Deposits: Commercial banks accept various types of deposits from individuals and businesses, including savings accounts, current accounts, and fixed deposits.
  2. Providing Loans: These banks lend money to clients, which can include individuals, companies, and government entities. This lending is essential for generating economic activity.
  3. Credit Creation: Through the process of lending a portion of the deposited funds, commercial banks create new credit in the economy. This credit generation impacts the overall money supply.
  4. Other Services: Beyond deposits and loans, commercial banks provide a range of financial services such as remittances, foreign exchange, investment advice, and insurance.

Understanding the functions of commercial banks is vital as they serve as the primary means through which monetary policy impacts the economy, facilitating transactions and economic growth.

Audio Book

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Functions of Commercial Banks

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β€’ Accepting Deposits: Commercial banks accept various types of deposits, such as savings accounts, current accounts, and fixed deposits.
β€’ Providing Loans: Banks lend money to individuals, businesses, and the government, which is a key factor in the money creation process.
β€’ Credit Creation: Banks create credit by lending a portion of their deposits, which contributes to the overall money supply in the economy.
β€’ Other Services: Banks provide services like remittance, foreign exchange, investment advice, and insurance.

Detailed Explanation

Commercial banks perform several vital functions in the economy. First, they accept deposits from customers in various forms, such as savings accounts, current accounts, and fixed deposits. This means that individuals and businesses can safely store their money in a bank. Second, they provide loans to those in need, including individuals wanting to buy a house or businesses looking to expand. This lending is crucial because it represents a major way they contribute to money creationβ€”when banks lend money, they essentially generate new money through the credit they create. Additionally, banks offer a range of other services, which include helping customers with money transfers (remittance), exchanging currencies (foreign exchange), providing advice on investments, and offering insurance products. All these functions play a significant role in the smooth operation of the economy.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a commercial bank like a community toolbox. Just as a toolbox holds various tools that people can borrow to build or repair things, a bank holds money that people can deposit and borrow when needed. If you wanted to build a birdhouse (like buying a home), you would need tools (loans) from the toolbox (bank) to get materials. Likewise, the bank uses the deposits it receives (tools) to lend out to others, thereby helping the entire community to grow and build their dreams.

Credit Creation by Banks

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Credit creation is a key function of commercial banks. When a bank receives deposits, it doesn’t keep all of that money in its vaults; instead, it lends a portion of it. The money lent out is then deposited back into the banking system, leading to the creation of new money.
The Process of Credit Creation:
1. Initial Deposit: A customer deposits money in a bank.
2. Reserve Requirement: The bank is required to keep a certain percentage of the deposit as a reserve (this is known as the reserve ratio).
3. Lending the Excess Reserve: The remaining portion of the deposit is loaned out to borrowers, who then spend it. The borrowers' payments are deposited into other banks, starting the process again.
The extent of credit creation depends on the reserve requirement set by the central bank. A lower reserve ratio means more money can be created, and a higher ratio limits credit expansion.

Detailed Explanation

Credit creation is fundamental to how commercial banks operate and influence the economy. When someone deposits money in a bank, the bank doesn't just sit on that money; it is required to keep only a fraction of it as reserves for withdrawals (this is the reserve requirement). The bank can then lend out the rest, which individuals or businesses use for various purposes, like purchasing goods or investing in services. When these borrowers spend the money, that money often ends up being deposited into other banks, where it can once again be lent out. This cycle repeats, leading to more money being available than what was originally deposited. Central banks enforce rules on how much must be kept in reserve; if the ratio is lower, banks can lend more, creating more money in the system, while a higher reserve ratio limits how much they can lend.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine filling a large jug with water (the initial deposit). The jug represents the bank, and the water symbolizes money. If you pour out some of that water (lend money), you can then use it for other things, like watering plants or splashing in a pool (spending). If those plants or the pool then leak some water back (deposits into the banking system), that water can be collected again in a different jug (another bank) and poured back out again. This constant cycle of pouring out and collecting water (credit creation) allows for much more water (money) to be in circulation than just what was originally in the first jug!

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Commercial Banks: Institutions that provide financial services including deposits and loans.

  • Deposit-taking: The act of accepting money from customers for safekeeping.

  • Lending: The process of giving money to individuals or businesses with the expectation of repayment.

  • Credit Creation: The mechanism through which banks create new money by lending out deposits.

  • Economic Impact: The significance of commercial banks in stimulating economic growth.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

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Examples

  • When someone takes out a mortgage, the bank lends them money to buy a home, which the borrower then gradually pays back over time.

  • A small business receives a loan from a commercial bank to expand its operations, employing more workers and increasing local employment.

Memory Aids

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🎡 Rhymes Time

  • Banks take your cash, lend it out fast, creating new money, economic growth will last.

πŸ“– Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a town where everyone saves money in 'Town Bank.' Each deposit leads to loans for new shops, illustrating how banks foster business and growth.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • C-L-E-A-R: Commercial banks - Loans, Economy, Accept deposits, Resources (credit creation).

🎯 Super Acronyms

D-L-C

  • Deposit
  • Loans
  • Credit creation; remember the key roles of commercial banks.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Commercial Banks

    Definition:

    Financial institutions that accept deposits, offer loans, and provide various financial services.

  • Term: Credit Creation

    Definition:

    The process by which banks lend a portion of deposits to create new money within the economy.

  • Term: Deposit

    Definition:

    Money placed into a bank account by an individual or entity.

  • Term: Loans

    Definition:

    Money that is borrowed from a bank with the agreement to pay back later with interest.

  • Term: Liquidity

    Definition:

    The availability of liquid assets to a market or company.