ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shadow bank

A shadow bank is like a pretend bank. It's not a real bank that you can go to and put your money in, but it still does some of the same things as real banks.

You know how your piggy bank can only hold so much money? Well shadow banks can hold a lot more money than that! They can take money from lots of people and use it to make loans to other people or businesses.

But, because they're not real banks, they don't have to follow the same rules as real banks. This means they can take more risks with your money, which can be scary.

Sometimes, shadow banks can be good for the economy because they can lend money to businesses that need it. But, if they take too many risks and lose money, it can also be bad for the economy.

Overall, shadow banks are like a pretend bank that can do some of the same things as real banks, but they can also be riskier.