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

Many have long struggled to compete with the deep pockets of national banks and the tech savvy of neo and challenger banks, like Varo and Monzo.

From TechCrunch

In October, SoFi received preliminary approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national bank charter, a move that if finalized would reduce its cost of funds.

From Fortune

Preston recently opened a business account with City National Bank in Los Angeles.

From The Daily Beast

What lawyer of a certain age doesn't remember names such as Bernie Cornfeld, Robert Vesco, Crazy Eddie, Franklin National Bank?

From The Daily Beast

The president, top military commanders, and the head of the National Bank—they were all on the same plane?

From The Daily Beast

Leon Fraser, President of the First National Bank of New York and the Bank of International Settlements.

From The Daily Beast

A national bank must have five directors, not infrequently the board is composed of ten, fifteen, or even more.

From Project Gutenberg

Braceway lingered several minutes on the steps outside the Anderson National Bank.

From Project Gutenberg

The law provides for the publication of sworn reports, from time to time, of the condition of each national bank.

From Project Gutenberg

Among these was the creation of a national bank, at the beginning of 1791.

From Project Gutenberg

The subscriptions to the national bank were filled in a day, and could easily have been doubled.

From Project Gutenberg