banking

IPA/ˈbæŋkɪŋ/
KK[bˈæŋkɪŋ]IPA/ˈbæŋkɪŋ/

banking — noun

1. the work banks do when they keep money, lend it, and provide related services

1.nounB2
Definition

the work banks do when they keep money, lend it, and provide related services

Example

Priya has worked in banking since leaving college.

pattern: work in banking

At the station branch, banking slowed after clerks checked every loan twice.

Common collocations
  • retail banking
  • investment banking
  • private banking
  • banking sector
  • work in banking
Synonyms
  • finance

    broader and includes money matters beyond banks

  • financial services

    a formal business label that covers banks and related companies

  • lending

    narrower because it focuses on loans, not the whole bank business

Grammar Patterns

work in banking

go into banking

retail banking

investment banking

Usage Note

Often follows work in or go into, and often appears with modifiers such as retail, private, or investment. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about what customers do with their own accounts.

Common Mistakes

She works in bank business.
She works in banking.
banking is the usual uncountable noun for this field.

2. the things you do with your bank account, such as paying money in, taking money

2.nounA2
Definition

the things you do with your bank account, such as paying money in, taking money out, or checking it

Example

I need to do some banking before the rent comes out.

pattern: do some banking

Nina finished her banking on the app during lunch.

banking on the app

Common collocations
  • do some banking
  • online banking
  • mobile banking
  • banking app
  • banking at the branch
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

do some banking

online banking

mobile banking

banking at the branch

Usage Note

Often appears after do, finish, or spend time, and with online, mobile, or at the branch. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the industry rather than the customer's activity.

Common Mistakes

I need to make a banking this afternoon.
I need to do some banking this afternoon.
this sense is usually uncountable and commonly follows do some.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, banking is the usual word for the work done by banks. Finance is much broader: it also includes investing, insurance, company budgets, and government money. Financial services is a more formal business label and often appears in company names or reports; it can include banks, payment firms, and advisers. Lending is narrower because it only covers giving money as loans, while banking also includes savings, cards, and transfers. Someone may work in finance without working in banking. A payment app may sell financial services without being a bank. A branch manager works in banking, and a loan officer mainly works in lending.

banking ↗finance ↗financial serviceslending ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • online banking
  • mobile banking

Etymology

GermanicItalianFrenchEnglish

Banking is an English formation from bank with the ending -ing. The money sense of bank reached English through French and Italian, from an older word for a bench or counter, because early money changers worked at such tables. Banking first meant the work or business connected with banks.