chartered bank: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal/Business/Financial
Quick answer
What does “chartered bank” mean?
A financial institution incorporated and operating under a government-issued charter (a formal document authorizing its existence and activities).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A financial institution incorporated and operating under a government-issued charter (a formal document authorizing its existence and activities).
This refers specifically to a bank that has been granted a formal charter by a government or regulatory authority, which defines its powers and obligations. In many countries, being 'chartered' signifies it is a licensed, regulated commercial bank, distinct from unregulated financial entities. Historically, it could also refer to banks granted specific charters by royal or legislative authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the term is strongly associated with specific institutions like the 'Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China' (historical) and professional qualifications (e.g., Chartered Banker). In the US, it is a standard regulatory term for nationally or state-chartered banks (e.g., a national bank chartered by the OCC).
Connotations
UK: May carry historical or professional prestige. US: Conveys regulatory compliance and official status.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US financial and regulatory discourse. In the UK, 'clearing bank' or 'high-street bank' is more common in everyday speech, while 'chartered' appears in formal/legal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chartered bank” in a Sentence
[The/This/Our] + chartered bank + [verb e.g., *is regulated*, *operates*, *holds*]A + [nationally/state] + chartered bank + [prepositional phrase e.g., *in New York*]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chartered bank” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The institution was finally chartered as a bank in 1890.
- They sought to charter a new banking entity.
American English
- The company applied to be chartered as a national bank.
- The state recently chartered three new community banks.
adjective
British English
- She is a qualified Chartered Banker.
- The report focused on chartered bank liabilities.
American English
- All chartered banks must report to the FDIC.
- He works for a state-chartered bank in Texas.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The merger requires approval from all chartered banks involved in the financing.
Academic
The study compared the risk profiles of state-chartered versus nationally chartered banks.
Everyday
I prefer to keep my savings with a well-known chartered bank for security. (Less common; 'high-street bank' more typical in UK everyday speech)
Technical
The OCC supervises all federally chartered banks and federal savings associations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chartered bank”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chartered bank”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chartered bank”
- Using 'chartered' to mean 'hired' or 'rented' in this context (e.g., 'We chartered a bank' is wrong).
- Capitalising it unnecessarily unless part of an official name (e.g., 'Standard Chartered Bank' vs 'a chartered bank').
- Confusing it with 'investment bank,' which may or may not have the same type of charter.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In most regulated economies, a bank must be chartered to operate legally, but there are unregulated or differently regulated financial entities (e.g., certain trust companies, crypto exchanges) that are not chartered banks.
A national bank is a specific type of chartered bank in the United States, receiving its charter from the federal government (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency). A bank can also be state-chartered.
Yes, in the UK and Commonwealth countries, 'Chartered Banker' is a professional designation akin to Chartered Accountant, signifying a qualified banking professional.
Yes, it's part of its proper name, originating from its historical charters. The term in its name reflects the same concept of operating under formal authorization.
A financial institution incorporated and operating under a government-issued charter (a formal document authorizing its existence and activities).
Chartered bank is usually formal/business/financial in register.
Chartered bank: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɑːtəd bæŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɑːrtərd bæŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; related: 'have a charter to print money' (colloquial for a very profitable enterprise).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHARTER as a royal or official TICKET to operate. A CHARTERED BANK has the government's official 'ticket' to do banking.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BANK IS A SHIP. The charter is the official document that authorizes the ship (bank) to sail (operate) in regulated waters (the financial system).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of a bank being 'chartered'?