It is not common knowledge that the history of banking has deep roots. The first banks have been traced back to the Middle Ages, and the practice of loaning currency goes all the way back to eighteenth century B.C. The services that banks offer go hand-in-hand with the use of money. Readers will learn about the different kinds of banks, including investment banks, private banks, cooperative banks, the Federal Reserve, and the World Bank. They’ll read how banks yield profits for shareholders and how account holders earn interest. They’ll learn the pivotal role of banks in the global financial crisis of 2008 and what is being done to minimize the risks of such a disaster happening again. Throughout the text, fact boxes explain important financial concepts that are so frequently referenced in the news today.