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How Banks Actually Make Money From Your Deposits

Money Basics • Beginner Investing • 6 min

When you deposit $1,000 into a bank, that money doesn't sit in a vault with your name taped to it — banks keep only a portion of deposits readily available and lend most of the rest out to other customers as mortgages, car loans, business loans, and credit card balances. This is called fractional reserve banking, and it's the foundation of how a traditional bank actually earns money.The core of the business is the…

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