ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bankoff circle

Bankoff Circle is a term used to describe a situation where banks borrow money from each other. Let's pretend you and your friends are playing a game of tag, but you're all getting tired and need a break. So, one of your friends suggests that you take turns giving piggyback rides to each other.

This is kind of like what happens with Bankoff Circle. When one bank needs a little extra money, they can borrow it from another bank. But then, that bank might need money too, so they borrow some from another bank. And it keeps going in a big circle, with all the banks taking turns borrowing and lending money to each other.

This is helpful because it means that the banks can help each other out when they need it. But it can also be risky, because if one bank fails to pay back the money they borrowed, it could cause a ripple effect and cause problems for all the other banks in the circle.

So, just like with piggyback rides, the Bankoff Circle can be a fun game to play, but you have to be careful not to fall off!