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A commercial bank is a financial intermediary which collects credit from lenders in the form of deposits and lends in the form of loans. A commercial bank holds deposits for individuals and businesses in the form of checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit of varying maturities while a commercial bank issues loans in the form of personal and business loans as well as mortgages. The term commercial bank came about as a way to distinguish it from an "investment bank." The primary difference between a commercial bank and its counterpart is that a commercial bank earns revenue by issuing primary loans from its pool of deposits while an investment bank brings debt and equity offerings to market for a fee. Among its assets, including loans, a commercial bank holds a portfolio of other securities to generate proprietary income. |
