Banking Glossary: Essential Banking Terms You Need to Know - NerdWallet (2024)

Understanding basic banking and finance — and the terminology people use to talk about them — can make a big difference in your bank account balance.

Here are 15 banking terms you should know to manage your money better.

Annual percentage rate. In the context of a loan, the APR represents the total cost of borrowing money (i.e., APR includes the loan’s interest rate as well as fees. By comparison, interest alone doesn’t include fees. Skip ahead to see the definition of interest.).

Annual percentage yield. The amount of interest you gain from keeping money in an account in a year, including compound interest. (Want additional details? Read more about why securing a high APY is important for your savings.)

A bank run is what happens when depositors try to withdraw all of their money from a bank because they fear the institution will fail.

A basis point is one-hundredth of a percent; 100 basis points is equivalent to 1%.

An account at a financial institution into which you can deposit money and from which you can write checks for purchases. Most people use checking accounts to receive their wages and pay their bills.

Commonly known as a CD, an account into which you deposit a sum of money and agree to keep it there for a specified length of time. The account typically pays higher interest rates than standard savings accounts.

ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency that collects information about closed consumer checking and savings accounts. A financial institution may review your ChexSystems report to assess your risk when you apply to open a new bank account.

Interest that applies to the original deposit as well as any newly earned interest. For example, if you put $100 in an account that earns compound interest at 5% a year, in the next year you will earn 5% on $105. Noncompounding interest would continue to earn 5% on $100.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. An independent, government-run agency that insures customers’ bank deposits up to $250,000 if the bank fails. The National Credit Union Administration provides the equivalent protection for credit unions. (Read more about how FDIC insurance works.)

Interest is the amount charged for using money that isn’t yours. You can earn interest by keeping your money in a savings account (i.e., earning money for lending the bank your cash), and you may pay interest on loans you take out (i.e., the fee for borrowing money from a lender).

Neobanks are financial technology firms. They’re usually partners with a bank, which allows them to provide federally insured bank accounts.

» Know the pros and cons: Get a complete explanation of what a neobank is

A fee incurred when your checking account doesn’t have enough funds to cover a payment that is requested. The financial institution may pay what your account lacks, after which your account may have a negative balance. (Here's more information on how much banks charge for overdrafts.)

A bounced-check fee charged to the person trying to deposit the check. It can be charged if there are insufficient funds in the check writer’s account or if the account is closed.

A nine-digit number that identifies your financial institution. Larger banks may have multiple routing numbers that are based on the geographic location where the account was opened. (Read more about routing numbers and how to find yours).

Typically, an interest-bearing account used to hold money for short- or long-term goals or emergencies. You can add to this account at any time, but certain types of withdrawals may be limited to six per month.

There is a wide range of interest rates available for savings accounts, and online banks tend to have higher rates than national banks.

Learn more banking terms

Expand your knowledge by learning more about these key banking topics and terms: