TRADITIONAL BANK: The original type of commercial bank that handled customer deposits and made investment loans to businesses. Traditional banks, chartered at the national, state, or local levels, were the only entities legally able to issue checking accounts prior to the 1980s. While still dominant in the banking industry, traditional banks are joined by savings and loan associations, credit unions, and mutual savings banks. See also | bank | fractional-reserve banking | checkable deposits | money supply | savings and loan association | credit union | mutual savings bank |
