Financial services encompass a broad range of business functions that are directly related to money. It includes everything from mortgage loans to insurance policies. It also includes the providers of critical financial utilities that support these processes.
The financial services sector is a vital driver of economic growth and prosperity. It promotes production, investment, and saving while providing an array of financial products to consumers.
A strong financial services sector helps consumers feel more confident about their finances and make better decisions for their futures. It can even improve their health and well-being.
It can also help companies thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy by making it easier for them to access credit, invest and save for the future. In turn, it can boost their productivity and profitability.
Banks, insurance companies and investment banks all offer a variety of different types of financial services. These include lending, investments, risk management, and advisory services.
They earn their revenues through fees, commissions, and other revenue streams like the spread on interest rates between deposits and loans. They may be large commercial banks or smaller regional and community banks.
The industry continues to evolve, creating opportunities for innovative transactions between traditional banking entities and emerging fintech companies. Tech-driven innovation can be disruptive in the industry, but it can also lead to creative partnerships that can help financial services meet consumer needs.