In Australia ,the banking system is controlled by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which acts as the central bank.  The main commercial banks, usually known as trading banks in Australia, include the Westpac Banking Corporation, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the National Australia Bank, and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ).  There are several savings banks.  The largest savings bank is the Commonwealth Savings Bank.  It is owned by the government.  Several other banks, also set up by the government, provide loans in specific areas.  In the mid-1980's, the Australian government made operating conditions for the banks much easier and many foreign banks were offered licences.  At the same time, several building societies converted to banks.  

In India, the Reserve Bank of India is the central bank.  It is banker to the government, the commercial banks, and some of the financial institutions.  All India's largest banks were nationalized by 1980.  There are four types of commercial banks.  First is the State Bank of India, with its subsidiaries, which is the biggest commercial bank in the country.  The State Bank also carries out some of the functions of the Reserve Bank of India.  Second are the other nationalized banks.  Third are the foreign banks, and fourth are the non nationalized Indian banks.  There are no merchant banks in India, but some of the largest banks offer merchant banking services. 

In the Republic of Ireland, the Central Bank of Ireland is responsible for licensing and supervising the commercial banks, which are classified as associated or no associated.  The three main associated banks are the Allied and Ulster Banks, the Bank of Ireland, and Ulster Bank.  They provide all the normal banking services to individuals and companies.  The no associated banks include the merchant banks, which tend to operate much larger deposit and loan accounts.  No associated banks also include foreign banks. 

In Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia is the central bank.  It supervises the banking system and issues the Malaysian currency.  There are about 40 commercial banks and more than 10 merchant banks.  Since 1983, when the Islamic Banking Act was passed, interest-free banking has been established by the Bank Islam Malaysia, which was the first real Islamic bank to be established in the region.  Malaysia is primarily a Muslim country, and under Islamic law interest cannot be charged.  Instead, Bank Islam Malaysia makes special contracts with its clients which often involves it in taking equity, or becoming a sort of partner in the client's business.  

In New Zealand, the four trading banks are the ANZ Banking Group, the National Bank of New Zealand, the Westpac Banking Corporation, and the Bank of New Zealand.  New Zealand's largest savings bank is the Post Office Savings Bank. 

In the Philippines, the Central Bank of the Philippines supervises the financial system.  The banks include commercial banks, rural banks, specialized government banks, savings and mortgage banks, savings and loan associations, and private development banks.  The major commercial bank is the state-owned Philippines National Bank.  There are about 1,000 rural banks. 

Singapore is the third most important financial centre in Asia after Hong Kong and Tokyo, with a well-developed banking sector.  The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) carries out the normal functions of a central bank, but does not issue currency.  There are about 150 banks in Singapore, most of which are foreign.  Commercial banks are classed according to the licence under which they operate.  Some banks have full licences, others are restricted, and the remainder are offshore licences.  Most of the foreign banks operate offshore.  There are many merchant banks and a Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) which is the national savings bank.  The POSB has many branches and cash dispensers. 

In South Africa, the Reserve Bank acts as the country's central bank.  Although it is not controlled by the government, it works closely with it.  There are five large commercial banks: the Standard Bank of South Africa, First National Bank, Volkskas, The Trust Bank, and Nedbank.  Merchant banking is carried out by some independent institutions.  Building societies compete with the banks, and provide most of the funds loaned for private home ownership. 

In the United Kingdom, banks enjoy considerable freedom.  Many foreign banks and other financial institutions are based in the City of London.  The UK's central bank is the Bank of England.  It is owned by the nation, but is managed separately from government departments.  The commercial banks that make up the British banking system include an important group known as the clearing banks.  They handle most of the country's cheque and credit clearings.  The main clearing banks are the Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Lloyds, Midland, National Westminster, Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Chartered Bank, and the TSB Group.  Another group of commercial banks is the merchant and investment banks, many of which date back to the 1800's.  Although much of their work is providing finance for international trade, they also provide other services including investment management, company finance, and foreign exchange.  They are also involved in insurance, hire purchase, shipping, and property management.  The UK is an important location for foreign banks and about 450 were established there by 1990.  Japan and the United States each have more than 50 banks in the UK.

Other UK banks include the National Savings Bank (NSB), the largest savings bank in the world, with over 20 million active accounts.  Because money deposited with the NSB helps to finance government spending, savers with the bank are offered special tax benefits. 

The National Girobank was established in 1968 as part of the Post Office Corporation, to simplify the transfer of money through the postal system.  The building societies in the UK are not part of the banking system but compete with the banks.  By 1990, one building society, the Abbey National, had converted to a bank and others were expected to follow. 

In the United States, there are four main types of banking institutions--commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions.  The activities of many of these institutions come under the supervision of the Federal Reserve System (FRS).  The FRS (nicknamed the Fed) is the central banking system of the United States.  It was set up under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.  It controls the nation's supply of money and credit.  The FRS also provides banking services to the national government of the United States and to commercial banks throughout the country.  There are 12 Federal Reserve Banks controlling 12 Federal Reserve Districts and 25 Federal Reserve Branches throughout the country.  Most commercial banks are members of the FRS. The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee makes the main decisions on monetary policy.