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WorksheetsFinancial Institutions Worksheet — Extracted Questions
Total questions: 99
Worksheet time: 50mins
What type of nondeposit institution will buy and sell stocks and bonds on behalf of clients?
Insurance companies
Pension and trust services
Finance companies
Pension funds
Securities investment dealers
According to reports, in addition to fraudulent information on loan applications, what can the subprime crisis of 2008 be traced to?
Overly relaxed credit standards
Home foreclosures
Defaults on credit payments
High unemployment levels
Prime mortgage rates
What is the interest rate offered by banks to only their most creditworthy commercial customers?
Fixed
Prime
Variable
Prime plus 1
Below prime
Which of the following allows a bank's customers to conduct account-related activities any time they choose to?
Bank acceptance notes
Letters of credit
Commercial banks
Electronic funds transfers
Automated teller machines
How does an automated teller machine aid in the customer's ability to conduct transactions whenever needed?
By processing payments in real time, electronically
By allowing a customer to have a line of credit until business can be conducted within regular banking hours
By taking deposits and making loans on demand
By allowing electronic account-related activities every day of the week, 24 hours a day
By transferring funds from the Reserve Bank to meet transaction needs
If a U.S. firm wishes to buy products from an overseas supplier, what would the firm use to guarantee payment on a specific future date?
Currency exchange guarantee
Letter of credit
Brokerage service
Banker's acceptance
Security intermediary
Banks offer a variety of services for customers, including banker's acceptances. Which type of service offered by a bank would include a banker's acceptance option?
Pension services
International services
Financial advice
Electronic funds transfer
Automated teller machines
The management of funds offered by a commercial bank on behalf of an individual can be conducted by a bank through
Trust services
Letters of credit
Banker's acceptance notes
Individual retirement accounts
Securities investments deals
In order to save money on transactional costs, the U.S. Treasury is moving to electronic fund transfers for payments rather than issuing checks.
True
False
Savings and loan associations began primarily to loan money to small and medium-sized businesses.
True
False
Individual retirement accounts can be opened only by self-employed people such as doctors, small business owners, and consultants.
True
False
In mutual savings banks, all depositors are considered owners of the bank.
True
False
What is the difference between a public pension fund and a private pension fund?
A public pension fund includes Social Security and state and local government employee programs, while a private pension fund is operated by employers, unions, and other private groups.
Public pension funds are managed to provide retirement income for members, while private pension funds are not intended to provide retirement income.
Public pension funds hold fewer assets than private pension funds and are limited to $13 trillion.
Private pension funds are administered by the Federal Reserve, while public pension funds are run by commercial banks.
It has been discovered that the bank involved has been selling its riskiest mortgage accounts to the insurance company, which in turn has been selling these accounts packaged with other more stable loans at a sharply discounted price to other banks. Gavin asks his aides why this would be a beneficial relationship between the two institutions. What would his aides say?
The commercial bank profits immediately and reduces potential losses by selling risky loans; the insurance company profits by bundling them with stable loans and selling to other banks.
The commercial bank eliminates all risk by giving the loans to the Federal Reserve; the insurance company collects interest from depositors.
The commercial bank gains tax advantages for writing off loans; the insurance company reduces its capital requirements through government subsidies.
The commercial bank increases deposits by raising rates; the insurance company lowers premiums to attract savers.
Why would a consumer utilize trust services offered by commercial banks?
Because trust departments manage funds placed in trust, perform bill payments, manage investment portfolios, and handle estates, benefiting those unable or unwilling to manage finances.
Because trust services guarantee higher interest rates than savings accounts.
Because trust services allow unlimited cash withdrawals without fees.
Because trust services provide federal insurance beyond standard limits.
Which of the following actions can the Federal Deposit Insurance Company take in the event of a failure of one of its insured banks?
The FDIC can seize the assets of the investors and settle the bank's debts.
The FDIC can allow the bank to stay afloat by granting a loan of federal money.
The FDIC can conduct an inquiry into the investors' assets and actions to determine if there was any malfeasance that caused the bank failure.
The FDIC can allow another bank to take responsibility for the failed bank's liabilities through sale of the failed bank.
The FDIC can settle the bank's debts through its insurance deposit fund and regulate the bank's transactions more strictly.
Which of the following statements BEST explains how financial institutions create money?
By opening new checking accounts and giving more people access to readily available cash, financial institutions expand the money supply.
By issuing money through government contracts, financial institutions expand the money supply.
By taking deposits and loaning out these funds, financial institutions expand the money supply.
By paying interest on its accounts and investments, financial institutions expand the money supply.
By giving interest from its accounts to its clients, financial institutions expand the money supply.
Which of the following agencies guarantees the safety of all of its members' bank accounts?
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Federal Reserve Board
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Why does the government take an active role in the regulation of the U.S. financial system?
Commercial banks are essential in paying for international trade.
To generate fees in addition to those paid to the FDIC
To help commercial banks dispose of assets
Commercial banks are essential to the creation of money.
To allow commercial banks to settle debt
What recourse is available to the FDIC when a bank fails?
Funds can be taken from the insurance deposit fund to pay off creditors.
Employee behavior is monitored and analyzed to ensure ethical behavior.
Interest rates can be raised to offset the cost of payouts.
Other banks are purchased to cover the cost of the failure.
Bank assets can be disposed of in order to pay off debt.
When a bank's assets are sold to settle debt during a bank failure, what happens to the resulting gain?
Remaining funds are added to the insurance deposit funds.
Remaining funds are deducted to those paid by the insurance deposit funds.
Remaining funds are used to buy and consolidate smaller banks.
Remaining funds are dispersed to depositors to help offset losses.
Remaining funds are returned to the bank to aid in recovery.
Over the past several years, there has been increased belief that creating ethical behavior is best achieved through
increased social media use.
corporate culture.
increased regulation.
stricter enforcement by the FDIC.
increased stability of the industry.
The unwritten rules that guide employee's behaviors are known as what?
Work rules
Regulation
Culture
Vision
Focus
Through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a deposit in a member bank is currently insured up to $50,000.
True
False
Banks create money through contracts with the government to mint bills and coins.
True
False
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is the government agency that regulates American banks.
True
False
Money deposited into a commercial bank has the potential of increasing the overall money supply.
True
False
The increased activity of the financial market in the past five years has resulted in a severe drop in the required premiums for commercial banks to be members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
True
False
There is discussion of a bill raising insurance premiums on bank deposits. Why would these premiums need to be raised?
A rise in bank failures requires more payouts from the Bank Insurance Fund, leaving fewer contributing banks to replenish it.
Premium increases are needed to expand FDIC coverage beyond the current maximum with no relation to bank failures.
Higher premiums allow banks to lower reserve requirements without affecting safety.
Premiums are raised to encourage consolidation among small banks rather than to fund insurance payouts.
Which explanation correctly describes how current financial institutions can create 342outofadepositof 200?
Through fractional-reserve lending, a bank can lend out up to 90 percent of deposits, and subsequent redeposits and loans expand the money supply.
By printing additional currency equal to the deposit amount, which directly increases the money supply.
By raising interest rates, which multiplies the value of existing deposits.
By selling government bonds to the public, which converts deposits into new money.
What is the need for restricting banks to lending out only 90 percent of their deposit funds?
To prevent unlimited money creation and inflation by maintaining reserves that safeguard depositors' funds.
To maximize bank profits by limiting competition among lenders.
To accumulate surplus reserves for shareholder dividend payments.
To encourage mergers among banks by limiting available credit.
Which of the following terms refers to the percentage of its deposits a bank must hold, in cash or on deposit, with a Federal Reserve Bank?
Discount rate
Key rate
Prime rate
Federal insurance premium
Reserve requirement
Which of the following terms refers to the interest level at which member banks can borrow money from the Federal Reserve System?
Discount rate
Key rate
Prime rate
Federal insurance premium
Reserve requirement
Which of the following terms refers to the interest level at which commercial banks lend reserves to each other, usually overnight?
Discount rate
Key rate
Prime rate
Federal insurance premium
Reserve requirement
Which of the following BEST describes what is called the "open-market operations" of the Federal Reserve System?
The development of new financial opportunities for banks
The minting of new money to disperse into the money market
The control of interest rates among banks
The maintenance of a well-functioning lending system among banks
The buying and selling of securities by the Fed
Which of the following political bodies appoints the members of the board of governors for the Federal Reserve System?
The Senate
The House of Representatives
The President of the United States
The Council of American Governors
The people of the United States
How are the individual Federal Reserve Banks organized?
By size of financial institution members—small, medium, large, etc.
By type of financial institution members—commercial banks, credit unions, etc.
By geographical region—Southeast, Northeast, West, etc.
By financial purpose—buying, lending, interest controlling, etc.
By legislative districts—10th District of Massachusetts, 1st District of Colorado, etc.
Which of the following BEST describes two of the three primary functions of the Federal Reserve System?
Developing new financial markets and aiding banks in conducting their business
Aiding banks in conducting business and managing the U.S. money supply and interest rates
Managing the U.S. money supply and interest rates and monitoring interbank relationships
Monitoring interbank relationships and acting as a bank for the federal government
Acting as a bank for the federal government and developing new financial markets
Which of the following statements BEST describes why U.S. Treasury securities have always been considered risk-free investments?
They are backed by the U.S. government.
They have a guaranteed rate of return.
They are easily sold.
They are readily available for purchase.
They earn a great profit on the international money market.
Which of the following statements BEST describes why a decrease in reserve requirements often results in an increase in the money supply?
A decrease in reserve requirements gives banks more money to better determine their interest rates.
A decrease in reserve requirements gives banks more money to pay off their debts.
A decrease in reserve requirements gives banks more money to lend out.
A decrease in reserve requirements gives banks more money to offset lower interest rates.
A decrease in reserve requirements gives banks more money to reward their employees for meritorious financial ventures.
Which of the following statements BEST describes why an increase in the discount rate often results in a decrease in the money supply?
An increase in the discount rate will lower the overall values of loans from the Federal Reserve Banks to individual banks.
An increase in the discount rate will lower the overall values of loans from individual banks to other financial institutions.
An increase in the discount rate will lower the overall number of banks issuing loans to individuals.
An increase in the discount rate will lower the overall number of loans from the Federal Reserve Banks to individual banks.
An increase in the discount rate will lower the overall number of loans from the Federal Reserve Banks to individuals.
Which of the following is a leading indicator for economic growth?
Inflation
Interest rates
Investments
Quantitative easing
Newly minted currency
Which of the following is the result of printing paper money while at the same time experiencing severe limitations in the supply of goods and services.
Inflation
Interest rates
Investments
Quantitative easing
Hyperinflation
An overly large decrease in the reserve requirement by the Federal Reserve System could result in inflation.
True
False
As the government's bank, the Fed produces the nation's paper currency and lends money to the government.
True
False
Like most of the federal government, the governors of the Federal Reserve System are democratically elected by the citizens of the United States.
True
False
One of the daily responsibilities of the Federal Reserve System is to regulate the current federal funds rate.
True
False
Open-market operations are often a more effective method for the Federal Reserve System to expand the money supply than is minting more dollars and coins.
True
False
The Federal Reserve Bank has the responsibility of ensuring the reasonableness of the interest rates for business and personal loans within the United States.
True
False
How does the Fed's monetary policy influence banks' willingness to loan money?
By managing the money supply and interest rates, influencing banks’ ability and willingness to lend
By directly setting each bank’s loan approval criteria
By printing currency and distributing it to banks for lending quotas
By capping all consumer loan amounts nationwide
What happens to demand and price during times of inflation?
Demand rises and prices rise
Demand falls and prices fall
Demand rises and prices fall
Demand falls and prices rise
A recent report reveals unemployment is high and the economy is sluggish. The discount rate is very close to zero, and the reserve requirement for banks was recently lowered to an all‑time low. What action should the Federal Reserve System take to stimulate the economy?
Buy government bonds through open market operations to inject liquidity
Raise the discount rate to discourage borrowing
Increase reserve requirements to restrict lending
Sell government bonds to absorb cash from the economy
Which goal best explains the government's continued unprecedented infusion of funding for U.S. financial institutions?
Limiting lending
Increasing the availability of the M‑1 supply
Increasing assurances of repayment
Stabilizing the fractured financial system
The elimination of warrants
Which law requires financial institutions to deter funding of crimes by tracking and reporting suspicious transactions?
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act
The USA Patriot Act
The Bank Secrecy Act
The Federal Reserve Act
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
Which federal law made transactions between banks significantly more efficient?
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act
The Bank Secrecy Act
The USA Patriot Act
The Federal Reserve Act
The Economic Emergency Recovery Act
Which statement BEST describes how the Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) maintains its integrity as a processor of electronic payments?
It is an institution within the Federal Bank System and is regulated by strict government standards
It is a for‑profit company regulated by its need to make a profit
It is a financial institution regulated by obligations to its investors
It is a not‑for‑profit association that launched the Accredited ACH Professional program and established operating rules
It is a professional organization to which all financial institutions are obligated to contribute resources and is regulated by the interests of these institutions
Which financial institution was taken over by the Federal Housing Finance Agency when it was on the verge of financial failure?
Lehman Brothers Holdings
JP Morgan Chase
Freddie Mac
Federal Home Loan Banks System
Federal Reserve
Which transaction is NOT included among Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments?
ATM deposits
Business‑to‑business electronic payments
Checks
Internet‑initiated debit card payments
Local tax payments
Which option allows the transfer of money between accounts to enable retail purchases without increasing the funds at an individual's disposal?
Smart cards
Blink cards
Debit cards
E‑commerce cards
Credit cards
Which of the following uses a computer chip that sends a radio‑frequency signal when an individual is making a retail purchase?
Smart cards
Blink cards
Debit cards
E‑commerce cards
Credit cards
Which of the following uses an embedded computer chip programmed with "electronic money" for individual consumer purchases?
Smart cards
Blink cards
Debit cards
E‑commerce cards
Credit cards
Banks are subject to prosecution when they fail to maintain systems for identifying and reporting suspicious activities.
True
False
A point‑of‑sale (POS) terminal at a grocery store makes a payment by transferring funds from your account to the store's account.
True
False
The Federal Reserve System has been instrumental in providing interbank clearing of electronic payments for the nation's financial institutions.
True
False
What is a debit card?
A card that extends credit for purchases and increases the funds available to the user
A card that transfers money between accounts and can be used for retail purchases without increasing funds at the user's disposal
A prepaid card programmed with electronic money for offline purchases
A card used less often than credit cards in U.S. consumer transactions
What is the difference between a credit card and a debit card?
Credit cards allow borrowing and have federally limited fraud liability (typically 50);debitcardstransferfundsfromaccountsandmayexposeuserstohigherlosslimits(upto 500 depending on reporting)
Credit cards only transfer funds between accounts; debit cards allow borrowing and repayment over time
Both cards increase available funds equally; the only difference is the presence of a computer chip
Debit cards offer lower fraud liability than credit cards under federal law
Describe the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21) and its effect on the writing of checks for the future.
It allowed banks to process electronic images of checks for instant presentment, speeding collection and reducing handling and float, leading to widespread adoption of check image processing
It required all checks to be hand‑sorted and increased mailing times, slowing collection
It prohibited banks from using electronic images, preserving paper‑based processing
It primarily established anti‑terrorism reporting requirements unrelated to check processing
Which of the following indicates the relative strength of the currencies of two countries?
Trade rate
Exchange rate
Trade balance
Relative gross national products
International loan rate
Which of the following institutions simplifies financial settlements between buyers and sellers in different countries?
The U.S. State Department
The International Monetary Fund
The World Bank
Commercial banks
The Internet
In which way does the World Bank differ from true international banks?
The World Bank does not charge interest to governments with emerging markets.
The World Bank only provides funds for national improvements in order to increase international trade.
The World Bank is comprised and run by a group of 150 member nations.
The World Bank is designed to promote the stability of exchange rates among member nations.
The World Bank only lends money to those with negative trade balances.
Which of the following describes one of the requirements that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has imposed on certain developing countries?
The government decreases spending in order to bring inflation under control.
Private industries decrease prices in order to bring inflation under control.
The government increases loans in order to create more money in the local markets.
The local banks increase loans in order to create more money in the local markets.
The government and private industries partner in creating more jobs in the region.
Which of the following affects the movement of funds between international buyers and sellers?
Buyer's home country government trade policies
Seller's home country government policies
International government policies
Currency exchange rates
International payment process
Why do exchange rates change daily?
Because exchange rates reflect global supply and demand
Because exchange rates reflect political decisions
Because exchange rates reflect the economic health of the country
Because exchange rates are closely tied to the unemployment rates
Because exchange rates are based on the travel industry
When the value of a currency is strong in the international market, what happens to trade?
Trade increases because the cost of the item is more affordable in the international market.
Trade decreases because the cost of the item is more expensive in the international market.
Trade increases because sales decrease, creating a more competitive market.
Trade decreases because the manufacturers limit production of the item.
Trade increases with a slower revenue growth.
In the United States, who has the greatest influence on the value of the U.S. dollar?
The World Bank
The International Monetary Fund
The Federal Reserve
The European Central Bank
The United Nations (U.N.)
Why does a government lower interest rates to affect the value of the currency?
To strengthen the value of the currency in the world market
To make goods cheaper and more attractive in the world market
To stimulate inflation
To increase the number of foreign imports, thereby increasing trade
To offset the price of must-have commodities, such as oil
What is the role of the International Monetary Fund?
To provide long-term loans to member countries
To provide a system of rules and procedures for member countries who trade with each other
To limit the amount of loans available to member nations who have negative trade balances
To encourage the development of a system for international payments
To determine the value of currency and exchange rates for member nations
In the global economy, how is the value of one currency determined when compared to another?
World Bank rate
International monetary fund
Inflation rate
Exchange rate
Automated Clearing House network
Why do exchange rates matter to companies?
Strong exchange rates could stimulate sales in foreign markets.
Inflation could be caused by an exchange rate that is too strong.
Poor exchange rates can be offset by government contribution.
Exchange rates indicate the strength of the overall economy.
Exchange rates affect the prices of goods and services.
The international payments process that moves money between buyers and sellers on different continents is subject to worldwide policy systems.
True
False
In international payments, equal money inflows and outflows can result in no money being transferred between countries.
True
False
The one area the Federal Reserve System has very little control over is the strength of the U.S. dollar against other currencies.
True
False
Why might nations decline International Monetary Fund funds?
Because they reject required economic changes, such as cutting social programs to control inflation.
Because the IMF never lends to nations with temporary negative trade balances.
Because the IMF only funds private industries rather than governments.
Because IMF aid requires increasing inflation through higher government spending.
What value of a stock is calculated by dividing the firm's owners' equity by the total number of common shares of stock owned by all shareholders?
Par value
Market value
Book value
Dividend value
Total value
What is a stock's market value?
The current price of a share of stock in the stock market
The average price of one share of stock over the past year
The face value of a share of stock, set by the issuing company's board of directors
The price of the stock plus the previous year's dividend
The monthly average of a stock's price over a year
Which of the following is the name for a portion of the ownership of a corporation?
Schedule C
Stock
Partnership
LLC
Dividend
What is a stock's book value?
The current price of a share of stock in the stock market
The average price of one share of stock over the past year
The face value of a share of stock, set by the issuing company's board of directors
The value expressed as total stockholders' equity divided by the total number of shares of stock issued
The value expressed by the number of stock shares issued by the board of directors
The time it takes to double an investment can be estimated by using which of the following?
Book value
The Rule of 72
Blue-chips
Dividends
Market value
While it's invested, money grows by earning interest. What is the cumulative growth from interest paid over given time periods referred to as?
Compound growth
Dividend
Capital gains
Security
Diversity
Which of the following multiplies the earning capacity on an initial investment as interest payments accumulate and earn even more interest?
Compound growth
Rule of 72
Time value of money
Interest
Market value
How is the market value of a stock determined?
Interest rates
The firm's owners' equity
Number of shares available
Profit-seeking potential
How much buyers are willing to pay
Partial ownership of a firm that is considered to be the strongest and financially sound is done through what method?
Buying of mutual funds
Buying of blue-chip stocks
Dividend reinvestment
Funding of aggressive growth opportunities
Buying of load funds
Which of the following is considered to be one of the riskiest of all investments?
Blue-chip stock
Mutual funds
No-load funds
Common stock
Load funds
Because of the uncertainties involved in stock prices, investment professionals believe day-to-day prices to be a generally poor indicator of any stock's real value.
True
False
Dividends payments are optional and variable. The corporation's CEO decides whether and when a dividend will be paid, as well as the amount that is best for the future of the company's employees.
True
False
Which statement best explains the principle of compound growth?
Interest payments are compounded over successive time periods and added to the principal, allowing future interest to be earned on past interest.
Interest is paid only on the original principal, and past interest does not affect future earnings.
Compound growth refers to the average market price of a stock over a year.
Compound growth is the board-determined face value of a stock and does not involve interest.
Which statement best describes the Rule of 72?
A rule that estimates how many years are needed to double an investment by dividing 72 by the annual interest rate (in percent).
A rule that sets the face value of a stock at $72.
A guideline for determining book value by multiplying equity by 72.
A regulation that limits the number of shares an investor can buy to 72.
Which statement correctly differentiates between market value and book value of a stock?
Market value is the current price buyers are willing to pay for a share, while book value equals owners' equity divided by the total number of shares issued.
Market value equals owners' equity divided by the number of shares issued, while book value is whatever buyers are willing to pay.
Market value and book value are identical and both set by the board of directors.
Book value is the average market price over the past year, while market value is the face value set by the board.
Which of the following terms refers to a bundling of stocks, bonds, and other securities?
Blue-chips
Mutual funds
Exchanges
Commodities
Dividends
