This book provides a comparative analysis of the several types of banking structure and the ways in which banks undertake their business. It surveys central banking arrangements in a number of countries. Against an historical background, it describes banking systems ranging from the so-called ‘unit banking’ of the USA to the branch banking arrangements that derive from British experience, as well as many systems in between. The business of banking is analysed comparatively within the framework of a simplified bank balance sheet, special attention being given to industrial banking and to assets and liabilities management. It explores how money markets function and, within this framework, how central banks operate and attempt to implement monetary and credit policy. The book includes the results of extensive new research, part of which involved interviewing many key figures throughout the banking industry.

Contents

Preface. Introduction. 1. The Evolution of Deposit Banking 2. Financial Concentration and the Extension of Branch Banking 3. Unit Banking: The Experience of the USA 4. Hybrid Banking Systems 5. The Nordic Countries: Banking Structures 6. The Business of Banking 7. Industrial Banking 8. Assets and Liabilities Management 9. The Role of a Money Market 10. The Principles of Central Banking 11. The Techniques of Credit Control 12. Conclusion. Index.