HOW BANKING SERVICES DEVELOPED IN HISTORY

How banking services developed in history

How banking services developed in history

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Modern banking systems as we understand them today just emerged into the 14th century. Find more about this.


Humans have actually long engaged in borrowing and financing. Indeed, there is evidence that these activities took place as long as 5000 years ago at the very dawn of civilisation. Nevertheless, modern banking systems only emerged within the 14th century. The word bank originates from the word bench on which the bankers sat to perform business. People needed banks once they began to trade on a large scale and international level, so they developed institutions to finance and insure voyages. In the beginning, banks lent money secured by personal belongings to regional banks that traded in foreign currency, accepted deposits, and lent to neighbourhood companies. The banking institutions also financed long-distance trade in commodities such as for instance wool, cotton and spices. Moreover, during the medieval times, banking operations saw significant innovations, including the use of double-entry bookkeeping plus the usage of letters of credit.

The lender offered merchants a safe spot to store their gold. In addition, banks extended loans to people and organisations. However, lending carries risks for banks, due to the fact that the funds supplied might be tied up for extended durations, potentially limiting liquidity. Therefore, the lender came to stand between the two needs, borrowing short and lending long. This suited everybody: the depositor, the debtor, and, needless to say, the lender, that used customer deposits as borrowed cash. Nonetheless, this practice additionally makes the lender vulnerable if many depositors need their cash right back at the same time, that has happened regularly around the world plus in the history of banking as wealth management firms like St James’s Place may likely attest.


In fourteenth-century Europe, financing long-distance trade had been a dangerous business. It involved some time distance, so it endured just what has been called the essential problem of trade —the danger that some body will run off with the items or the amount of money after a deal has been struck. To fix this problem, the bill of exchange was created. It was a bit of paper witnessing a buyer's vow to cover items in a particular money whenever goods arrived. Owner of this items may also offer the bill immediately to improve money. The colonial period of the 16th and 17th centuries ushered in further transformations into the banking sector. European colonial powers founded specialised banks to fund expeditions, trade missions, and colonial ventures. Fast forward towards the 19th and 20th centuries, and the banking system went through yet another trend. The Industrial Revolution and technological advancements affected banking operations greatly, ultimately causing the establishment of central banks. These institutions came to perform a vital part in managing monetary policy and stabilising nationwide economies amidst quick industrialisation and economic development. Furthermore, introducing contemporary banking services such as for example savings accounts, mortgages, and credit cards made economic services more accessible to the general public as wealth mangment companies like Charles Stanley and Brewin Dolphin would probably agree.

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