Financial Institutions
What are financial institutions?
What is a financial institution? (exact definition)
An establishment that focuses on dealing with financial transactions, such as investments, loans and deposits. Conventionally, financial institutions are composed of organizations such as banks, trust companies, insurance companies and investment dealers. Almost everyone has dealt with a financial institution on a regular basis. Everything from depositing money to taking out loans and exchange currencies must be done through financial institutions
Financial Markets and Financial Institutions
A financial market is a market in which people and entities can trade financial securities, commodities, and other fungible items of value at low transaction costs and at prices that reflect supply and demand.
A financial institution is an establishment that focuses on dealing with financial transactions, such as investments, loans and deposits.
Financial markets (such as those that trade stocks or bonds), instruments (from bank CDs to futures and derivatives), and institutions (from banks to insurance companies to mutual funds and pension funds) provide opportunities for investors to specialize in particular markets or services, diversify risks, or both.
Types of Financial institutions-
- Commercial Banks
- Investment Banks
- Insurance Companies
- Brokerages
- Investment Companies
- Nonbank Financial Institutions (Credit Unions)
Commercial Banks
A financial institution that provides services, such as accepting deposits, giving business loans and auto loans, mortgage lending, and basic investment products like savings accounts and certificates of deposit. The traditional commercial bank is a brick and mortar institution with tellers, safe deposit boxes, vaults and ATMs. However, some commercial banks do not have any physical branches and require consumers to complete all transactions by phone or Internet. In exchange, they generally pay higher interest rates on investments and deposits, and charge lower fees.
Investment Banks
Investment banks specialize in large and complex financial transactions such as underwriting, acting as an intermediary between a securities issuer and the investing public, facilitating mergers and other corporate reorganizations, and acting as a broker and/or financial adviser for institutional clients. Some investment banks specialize in particular industry sectors. Many investment banks also have retail operations that serve small, individual customers.
Brokerages
A business whose main responsibility is to be an intermediary that puts buyers and sellers together in order to facilitate a transaction. Brokerage companies are compensated via commission after the transaction has been successfully completed.
Insurance Companies
A contract (policy) in which an individual or entity receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company. The company pools clients' risks to make payments more affordable for the insured.
Investment Companies
A corporation or trust engaged in the business of investing the pooled capital of investors in financial securities. This is most often done either through a closed-end fund or an open-end fund (also referred to as a mutual fund). In the U.S., most investment companies are registered with and regulated by the Securities & Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Nonbank Financial Institutions
Non-banking financial companies, or NBFCs, are financial institutions that provide banking services, but do not hold a banking license. These institutions are not allowed to take deposits from the public. Nonetheless, all operations of these institutions are still covered under banking regulations.