national bank

American  

noun

1. a bank chartered by the U.S. government and formerly authorized to issue notes that served as money.

2. a bank owned and administered by the government, as in some European countries.

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national bank British  

noun

1. (in the US) a commercial bank incorporated under a Federal charter and legally required to be a member of the Federal Reserve System Compare state bank

2. a bank owned and operated by a government

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Etymology

Origin of national bank

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

national bank

British digital bank Revolut announced Thursday it has won conditional approval for a US banking licence, bringing it a major step closer to launching as a national bank in the United States.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Revolut secured a U.K. banking license in March after a yearslong wait and also filed an application for a national bank charter in the U.S., in an effort to compete with traditional financial institutions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

Wise Group shares fell as much as 11% on Friday as the U.K.-headquartered, U.S.-listed fintech had its application for a national bank charter denied.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

But Alexander Hamilton, among others, recognized that a national bank, in harnessing private wealth to create public credit, was as vital to independence as a military victory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

His model was England, with its national bank, regulated commerce, and powerful finance ministers.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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