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Commercial Banks

Financial institutions that operate both in the wholesale banking and retail banking markets. Commercial banks attract customer deposits and offer cheque-clearing facilities and also handle the business of large companies and financial institutions. They are allowed to borrow from their respective central banks when they need short-term funds. Commercial banks contrast with investment or merchant banks which specialize in raising funds for companies rather than concentrating on lending and the transmission of money.

See also: Investment Bank, Money Centre Bank