A retail bank is one of two types of deposit bank, along with merchant banks.
Other kinds of bank include investment banks and private banks.
Retail banks are designed for and aimed specifically at individual clients:
- private customers,
- self-employed professionals,
- SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises),
and seek to build lasting relationships with their clients.
This type of bank offers standardised services.
- credit activity
- investment products,
- as well as specialised products such as insurance.
Retail bank structure varies, but they generally operate as a network of agencies.
These banks are either public limited companies (or commercial banks) or mutual firms.
