In the US, more Monopoly money has been printed than real money. The ridges on the sides of coins are called reeding or milling. At the core of the traditional banking business is the borrowing of money from individuals, firms and occasionally governments. With the money collected, banks make loans, extend credit and invest in securities. The banker profits by borrowing at one rate of interest and lending at a higher rate, and by charging commissions for services rendered.
Banks earn money by offering a range of services.
They collect fees on checking, charge rates of interest on credit cards and offer loans on everything from homes to boats. They also are involved in such services as personal wealth management, estate planning, asset-based lending, and much more. A bank must always have cash balances on hand in order to pay its depositors upon demand or when the amounts credited to them become due. It must also keep a proportion of its assets in forms that can readily be converted into cash. A bank can create credit for use by its customers by issuing additional notes or by making new loans, which in turn become new deposits.