What are a bank's assets? What are its liabilities?

Assets are resources owned by an organization, which hold a probable future economic benefit. In a banking context, assets are financial instruments and holdings that can be monetized or used to generate revenue. Assets can be classified into current and non-current assets.

Banks possess various types of assets, including: - Cash and cash equivalents: Currency held by the bank, in its vaults or deposited with the central bank. - Loans: Money lent to individuals, corporations, and other financial institutions, along with the interest charged on them. - Investment securities: Bonds, stocks, or other financial instruments that the bank holds to generate profit from interest, dividends, or capital gains. - Property and Equipment: Buildings, land, and other physical items that the bank owns and uses in its operations. These assets are often referred to as fixed assets.

Liabilities are obligations or debts that a company is required to settle in the future. For banks, liabilities represent the money they owe to their customers, other banks, or investors. Liabilities can be classified into current and non-current liabilities.

Banks have several types of liabilities, such as: - Deposits: Money that customers have deposited in the bank, including checking, savings, and term deposit accounts. - Borrowings: Loans or debt taken by the bank from other financial institutions, such as the central bank, or money obtained through issuing debt securities, like bonds. - Subordinated liabilities: Debts that rank lower in priority than other debt in the event of liquidation. For example, if a bank defaults on its debt, subordinated liabilities will only be paid after more senior obligations have been settled. - Other liabilities: Other financial obligations the bank may have, such as taxes payable, employee salaries, or operational expenses. Understanding the assets and liabilities of a bank is essential to evaluate its financial health, as the difference between the two determines its overall net worth.