national bank
Americannoun
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a bank chartered by the U.S. government and formerly authorized to issue notes that served as money.
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a bank owned and administered by the government, as in some European countries.
noun
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(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
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a bank owned and operated by a government
Etymology
Origin of national bank
An Americanism dating back to 1780–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
It’s planning to submit a new application for a national bank trust charter, this time under the Genius Act that makes stablecoins more visible alongside existing payment rails.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Actually, legal-tender greenbacks were hatched in 1862; legislation the following year gave rise to a second currency, national bank notes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
The first big thing the young republic needed, according to Alexander Hamilton, was a national bank.
From Barron's ● Jun. 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
