The financial services sector includes many kinds of companies involved in the daily management of money and performs an essential part in the overall economy of the country. These kinds of financial institutions provide savings and checking accounts, accept certain payments, loan money, issue loans, perform commodity exchanges, and provide other basic financial services to businesses and individuals. In fact, there are so many financial services that one could name. However, most people only think about the big three: banking, insurance, and commerce.
Banks handle financial services for businesses and individuals. They manage money by insuring deposits and conducting financial transactions. Deposits refer to payment from customers made to the bank to meet their financial obligation, for example for opening a checking account or making a loan. Financial services banks offer include lending money to businesses, buying goods and selling them, collecting payments for the business and depositing the proceeds in its own bank account. In addition, banks also issue checks and perform other monetary obligations. With these activities, banks contribute to the creation of economic activity.
Insurance protects small businesses from unexpected events like accidents, acts of nature, strikes or cuts of trade, and similar disasters. It also helps businesses deal with these unexpected situations by providing cover for the owners and employees. Financial services provided by insurance include life, health, disability, and homeowner’s insurance. Small businesses can choose to purchase life insurance either on their own or through the business itself. On the other hand, disability and homeowner’s insurance are purchased by small businesses independently.
Payroll services cover all financial obligations of the organization, including salaries and employee compensation. This includes processing payroll, delivering tax and social security deductions, deductibles, taxes, garnishments, etc. In addition, payroll services provide accounting services like coding, tracking employee information and processing government forms.
Debit cards for financial services allow businesses to avoid dealing with cash or check handling. Debit cards are like credit cards, but they are issued with pre-minimal values. When a business uses debit cards instead of cash, it reduces the transaction costs because the value of the card is pre-negotiated.
The banking and financial services sector provides monetary assistance and investment options for individuals and businesses that cannot meet their own investment requirements. Most banks offer commercial loans and commercial mortgages. These loans can help businesses meet short-term cash needs. Meanwhile, banks provide mortgage refinancing and home equity loans to businesses. Banks are major players in the financial goods sector due to the following reasons:
Commercial banks participate in various joint venture deals with financial services companies. Joint venture deals allow companies to purchase products from financial services companies at reduced prices. Some of the financial services companies that partner with commercial banks include investment banks, money management companies, and lending institutions. Investment banks typically lend more money than traditional banks because they usually require larger down payments and more collateral for the loans they provide. Money management companies work with business owners to ensure that business goals are achieved by using financial services tools and investment options available to businesses.
Many commercial banks have online banking capabilities. Online banking is beneficial for companies that require various financial services such as access to the Internet and to receive banking updates. Businesses typically have the option of receiving direct deposit, which allows them to withdraw cash from their bank account electronically. Businesses also have the option of making payments through online banking or through their credit card system.
Most banks offer various financial products that businesses can choose from. The financial products offered by banks are tailored to meet the specific needs of a business. One type of financial product that most banks offer is commercial mortgage financing. Commercial mortgage financing helps business owners purchase commercial real estate property that is owned by the business. The bank works with the commercial real estate lender to secure the loan through a series of financial services that help businesses obtain the loan they need.
Another function of the commercial banks is to provide payroll services to employees. Payroll is a necessity for most businesses and this function is often handled by the payroll department of the bank. By providing a reliable payroll service, commercial banks can increase the number of customers they have while at the same time reducing the amount of paperwork processed. Business owners who use payroll services from the bank will find it easier to complete employee checks, provide accurate and up-to-date information to their employees, and track all payments and expenses.
Finally, many banks provide financial services to help people obtain savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts. Individuals can open savings accounts with the bank by making a series of deposits into a special savings account. Popular savings accounts are CD’s, which are known for being interest-bearing accounts; the bank uses these accounts to provide individuals with a high level of financial security.