Vocabulary. abundant natural resources Обильные природные ресурсы International Monetary Fund Международный валютный фонд GDP

Questions:

1. What type of economy does the United States have?

2. What is the United States GDP?

3. What are top trading partners of the USA?

4. What is the leading export commodity? What is the leading import commodity?

5. What constitutes the bulk of the economy?

6. Does the United States produce oil or import it?

7. What does the USA produce?

8. The United States is the world's top producer of corn and soybeans, isn’t it?

9. Is the cultivation and sale of marijuana legal in this country?

10. What are the two most recognized US brands in the world?

Тopic 8

Bank

A banker or bank is a financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money.

The first modern bank was founded in Italy in Genoa in 1406, its name was Banco di San Giorgio (Bank of St. George).

Many other financial activities were added over time. For example banks are important players in financial markets and offer financial services such as investment funds.

Banks have influenced economies and politics for centuries. Historically, the primary purpose of a bank was to provide loans to trading companies. Banks provided funds to allow businesses to purchase inventory, and collected those funds back with interest when the goods were sold. For centuries, the banking industry only dealt with businesses, not consumers. Banking services have expanded to include services directed at individuals, and risks in these much smaller transactions are pooled.

Banks act as payment agents by conducting checking or current accounts for customers, paying cheques drawn by customers on the bank, and collecting cheques deposited to customers' current accounts. Banks also enable customer payments via other payment methods such as telegraphic transfer, EFTROS, and ATM.

Banks borrow money by accepting funds deposited on current account, accepting term deposits and by issuing debt securities such as banknotes and bonds. Banks lend money by making advances to customers on current account, by making installment loans, and by investing in marketable debt securities and other forms of money lending.

Banks provide almost all payment services, and a bank account is considered indispensable by most businesses, individuals and governments. Non-banks that provide payment services such as remittance companies are not normally considered an adequate substitute for having a bank account.