Banking is becoming a highly competitive industry with the growing demand and use of several financial products. A range of financial products and services are offered by the banks to suit various consumer preferences. Today, almost every individual has credit cards, investments, insurance, and loans. Banks are the major funding systems that play a vital role in the streaming of money into the nation’s economy for its smooth functioning and market stability.
Banking’s new technology implementation system has transformed the way people considered banks to be. Earlier the bank was considered a loan and other financial benefits firm and their benefits range was private firms or companies. Now you can see every individual has a bank account. Also, you can view transactions, send money to other banks and many more from home with bank apps or online access.
Nowadays, the majority of the banks are profit-making or private enterprises. Basically, the banks are divided into profit-making and non-profit organizations. Profit-making banks are managed by private enterprises and non-profit banks are owned by the government. Both have their own pros and cons. However, depending on the products and services provided by the banks, they can be broadly categorized into four types which include retail banking, business banking, private banking, and investment banking.
In retail banking, the focus is on the individual consumers and small businesses and here, all the dealings are direct. Commercial banks and smaller community banks are the major players providing a wide range of personal banking services such as savings accounts, credit or debit cards, and other services. Business banking is a service provider geared basically towards mid and large business entities and other major financial institutions. In private banking, the banks provide Financial Products and banking services primarily to wealthier individuals and families. And, Investment banking includes the services such as issuing new securities, facilitating mergers, selling or buying issued securities, and so on. If you decide to open a securities portfolio account with a bank, it is advisable that you not only blindly trust the recommendations of your bank, but also do your own research – for example, by reading investment news.
In the past two decades, sophisticated and advanced technology has made Online Banking far more safe and secure. It has entailed people to enjoy the transaction benefits in a faster and easier way, comparatively. Now, banks are considered to be the major providers of financial products and other services such as loans, accounts, drafts, credit cards, investment plans, and online account updates. Some of the leading banks in the UK are Bank of America, Bank of England, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland, Natwest Bank, Cooperative Bank, and Barclays Bank. As the Banking industry has become immensely competitive, it is your right to get the best services and profitable financial products. Here, in the coming sections, you can get to know in detail about the financial health of the top-notch banks and choose the best ones to save your quality time and money.