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financial institution

financial institution

68 3.6
An organization that keeps people's money, gives loans, and offers other money services
  • noun
  • /faɪˈnænʃəl ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən/
translation icon : institución financiera
  • Many people trust their savings to a financial institution like a bank.
  • international financial institutions
  • banks and financial institutions
  • other financial institutions

Typically, it's a failed speculation that brings down a financial institution.

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Examples

  • However, supervision of all banks and other financial institutions passed to the Financial Services Agency (FSA).

    Academic text (2008)
  • The governments of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg joined forces to take over a major financial institution.

    Academic text (2008)
  • DAVID: I worked for a financial institution in New York.

  • A number of them go and work in the financial institutions.

  • Our financial institutions are strong.

  • On a global scale, close coordination among international financial institutions will be essential.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Sovereign wealth funds are not only investors in large Western financial institutions, but also clients.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The stock market, banking, and other financial institutions cannot be discussed in isolation.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Major financial institutions have teetered on the edge of collapse... and some failed.

  • Over the next year, seven major financial institutions failed, and the crisis only ended after a controversial bailout using taxpayer money.

Synonyms

financial organization
vsfinancial institution
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A business that holds, lends, and invests money, like a bank or investment firm

is the same concept expressed using another common wording

How Big

national bank
  • Specialized
4 3.1
financial institution
68 3.6
credit union
19 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

financial + institution

The meaning 'an organization connected with money and financial services' is directly and compositionally derived from 'financial' (connected with money) + 'institution' (a formal organization). This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common noun + modifier construction, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Financial institution comes from combining financial (about money) and institution (an established place or group). Think of a building with a large safe and staff at counters where people keep money and get loans, so it now means 'organizations' like banks and credit unions.