The main difference lies in the services they offer and their lending criteria. Banks are deposit-taking financial institutions that provide a wide range of products, including investments, guaranteed deposits, chequing and savings accounts, credit cards, lines of credit, mortgages, self-directed investments and loans. Banks typically have more stringent lending criteria. On the other hand, lenders primarily focus on credit and lending, such as mortgages and loans, and may have more flexible lending criteria.