据说英文银行一词“bank”最初的意思就是兑换货币的“桌子”或“板凳”。无巧不成书,中国古代也有一种金融机构名叫钱桌。它发端于宋代。照理,凡是有二种或二种以上货币同时行用时,就应该有从事货币兑换的人或机构。据说西欧的银行就是由货币兑换发展起来的。这也很好理解,中世纪西欧政权林立,各政权之下各用不同货币,西欧的商业又比较发达,对货币兑换的需求就特别大,早期银行就此产生。 It is said that the term “bank” in English is the original meaning of “currency” or “bench”. Coincidentally, there is also a financial institution in ancient China called the money table. It originated in the Song Dynasty. Reason, any two or more currencies at the same time, there should be engaged in currency exchange of people or institutions. Western banks are said to have been developed by currency exchange. It is also well understood that in the Middle Ages, there were many regimes in Western Europe, various currencies under various regimes, and more developed commercial systems in Western Europe. The demand for currency exchange was particularly large, resulting in the early banks.