ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of banking in the United States

Banking in the United States started when people needed a safe place to store their money. In the beginning, the Bank of North America was established in 1781 and became the first bank in the United States. In the early years, banks were mainly focused on providing a secure place to store money and some basic loans.

Over time, as the country expanded and grew, banks began to provide more services like checking accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, investments, and much more. As the number of banks increased, so did the services they offered, allowing people to have more control over their money.

Today, there are thousands of banks in the United States. Banks provide services like checking and savings accounts, loans, investments, mortgages, insurance, and more – all to help people manage their money. They also help the government collect taxes, manage national debt, and promote economic growth.