national bank

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.

national bank

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of national bank¹

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

The National Banking Acts created a uniform national bank system.

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But the Los Angeles Civil Rights Department says the problem has persisted at several national banks with operations in the Los Angeles area.

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Shares of Samsung, Hyundai and national banks fell sharply, as did the South Korean won, but recovered after the finance ministry, central bank and regulatory agencies pledged “unlimited” support to stabilize the foreign exchange market.

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She suggests using local credit unions instead of major national banks.

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“Corrie without Gail is…incomprehensible. Surely this calls for a national bank holiday?” one user asked.

Read more on Los Angeles Times