Money Market and Capital Market in India — Economics STD 12 Commerce / Arts — Question

(A) Meaning A bank is a dealer in credit. Any institution that accepts deposits from public who have more cash than it needs immediately and gives loans to those who are need is called as a bank. Commercial bank performs all these functions for earning profit. Commercial banks play an important role in mobilizing savings and allocating ) them to various sectors of the economy. It includes both scheduled commercial banks l and non scheduled commercial banks.

(B) Definition of Commercial Bank :
Banking Regulation Act 1949 “”Banking means the accepting for the purpose of lending or investment of deposits of money from public repayable on demand or otherwise and withdrawable by cheque, demand draft, order or otherwise.
The above definition clearly indicates the essential function of a bank is mainly dealing in money and credit.

(C) Functions of a Commercial Bank :
Commercial Bank performs a variety of functions to satisfy the needs of the various S sectors of the economy.

The functions of Commercial Banks are as follows:

(I) Accepting Deposits:
The most significant and traditional function of commercial bank is accepting ? deposits from public. A commercial bank acts as the custodian of public deposits. This l function is very important because it helps in the mobilisation of funds from households to businessman for production purposes, Commercial banks act as intermediary by accepting deposits and paying interest on them and giving loans and charging interest) from borrowers at a high rate. The difference j between the two is the profit of the bank. Commercial bank accepts the following types of deposits :

(A) Demand Deposits
(B) Time Deposits

(A) Demand Deposits : The deposits which ; are withdrawable on demand, are known as demand deposits. They are of two types (1) Current Account Deposits (2) Saving) Account Deposits

(1) Current Account Deposits : Current j account deposits are usually held by businessmen, industrial enterprises, public bodies for business transactions. Money deposited in current account can be withdrawn in part or full at any time and any number of times by the depositors without any prior notice. Overdraft facilities and agency service are provided by the bank to the current account holders. Very low or no interest is paid on these accounts as the banks cannot utilise these short term deposits. Banks may charge certain amount of service charges on account holders.

(2) Saving Account Deposits : Saving account deposits are opened by salaried class or people with fixed income for holding their short term savings. Money deposited in these accounts retain high degree of liquidity. At the same time it earns nominal interest. It is a kind of demand deposits which is generally kept by people for sake of safety.

(B) Time Deposits : These are deposits, which are repayable after a certain period of time. They are of two types – (1) Recurring Deposits (2) Fixed Deposits

(1) Recurring Deposits : These are deposits under which people deposit a fixed amount at regular interval for specified period of time. These deposits encourage savings and carry high rate of interest.
(2) Fixed Deposits : Fixed deposits are time deposits or term deposits, which attract fund for a specific period. It is a time bound deposit as the amount deposited cannot be withdrawn before the maturity of the period. However, loans can be taken from the bank against the security of this deposit, within that period. These deposits earn a higher rate of interest.

(II) Advancing / Granting Loans :
The second major function of a commercial bank is to make loans and advances out of the money, which comes to it from the public by way of deposits. Direct loans and advances are given to all types of persons particularly to businessmen and investors against personal security, gold, silver and other assets. The profit earning capacity of commercial banks depends on this function of lending. Generally banks grant loans and advances to the borrowers in the following forms :
(1) Loans (2) Cash Credit (3) Overdraft facility (4) Discounting of bills.

(III) Ancillary Functions :
Commercial Banks also provide variety of ancillary services like – transfer of funds, j collection of money, making periodical ( payments on behalf of the customer, merchant banking, foreign exchange, safe deposit lockers, D-mat facility, internet banking, mobile banking, ATM facility, purchase and sale of securities, etc.

(IV) Credit Creation :
It is an important function of commercial banks. Commercial banks are the creators of credit.
Commercial Bank collects deposits from public which is called as primary deposits. After deducting required reserves, bank lends money to the borrower which is called j as secondary deposits or derivative deposits. This procedure is followed by entire banking [ system in a country leading to creation of credit.
Thus, every loan creates deposits and every deposits creates loans.