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What? No, the purpose of a bank is to make loans to loan worthy entities, for which they should receive adequate recompense reflecting the risk of default. Inve

What? No, the purpose of a bank is to make loans to loan worthy entities, for which they should receive adequate recompense reflecting the risk of default. Investments don't come into it. It's only in recent years that banks started doing investment, and arguably that's a big part of the problem.

ClumsyPilot 4y ago
Same difference - they are given capital, and they need to find a way to deploy it. Whether they loan, invest, or do something else is their decision. There is something really fucked up about about the idea that society owes you a risk-free place to put your cash. We accept other risks in life - some job are dangerous, my health could be gone any moment, I might be unable to pay for trratment. My house is not safe from a calamity. But as soon as money is not safe, there is a fucking panic.
- hgomersall 4y ago
  That's like saying the purpose of a supermarket is to convert investment into grocery sales. It might be true at some level, but isn't what people describe as the purpose of a supermarket. Banks are entities for making loans. They are heavily regulated in how they do that, and part of that does come with capitalization requirements, but the purpose of a bank is to make loans.
  - ClumsyPilot 4y ago
    How did you square your definition with the fact that some banks make no loans at all? You don't need to be a bank to make a loan, I can lend money. Me and you are regulated more than the banks are, because we are not allowed to do things banks do. Legally the 'bank' means you have a banking licence. That is all. This licence allows you to create money. This is a huge superpower, but there are terms and conditions attached to make sure it doesn't break the whole economy.
    - hgomersall 4y ago
      They also provide payment services in the modern world, and it's not intended to be definitional. You can create money, you just can't pass that around the monetary framework. That's what the license is really about. It doesn't feel we disagree. What you wrote I totally agree with.

ClumsyPilot 4y ago

Same difference - they are given capital, and they need to find a way to deploy it. Whether they loan, invest, or do something else is their decision. There is something really fucked up about about the idea that society owes you a risk-free place to put your cash. We accept other risks in life - some job are dangerous, my health could be gone any moment, I might be unable to pay for trratment. My house is not safe from a calamity. But as soon as money is not safe, there is a fucking panic.

hgomersall 4y ago
That's like saying the purpose of a supermarket is to convert investment into grocery sales. It might be true at some level, but isn't what people describe as the purpose of a supermarket. Banks are entities for making loans. They are heavily regulated in how they do that, and part of that does come with capitalization requirements, but the purpose of a bank is to make loans.
- ClumsyPilot 4y ago
  How did you square your definition with the fact that some banks make no loans at all? You don't need to be a bank to make a loan, I can lend money. Me and you are regulated more than the banks are, because we are not allowed to do things banks do. Legally the 'bank' means you have a banking licence. That is all. This licence allows you to create money. This is a huge superpower, but there are terms and conditions attached to make sure it doesn't break the whole economy.
  - hgomersall 4y ago
    They also provide payment services in the modern world, and it's not intended to be definitional. You can create money, you just can't pass that around the monetary framework. That's what the license is really about. It doesn't feel we disagree. What you wrote I totally agree with.