How did banking begin? - I

Imagine for a moment that you are a merchant in ancient Greece or Phoenicia. You make your living by sailing to distant ports with boatloads of olive oil and spices. If all goes well, you will be paid for your cargo when you reach your destination, but before you set sail you need money to outfit your ship. And you find it by seeking out people who have extra money sitting idle. 

They agree to put up the money for your voyage in exchange for a share of your profits when you return . . . if you return. The people with the extra money are among the world’s first lenders, and you are among the world’s first borrowers. You complain that they’re demanding too large a share of the profits. 

They reply that your voyage is perilous, and they run a risk of losing their entire investment. Lenders and borrowers have carried on this debate ever since. Today, people usually borrow from banks rather than wealthy individuals. But one thing hasn’t changed: Lenders don’t let you have their money for nothing. 

Lenders have no guarantee that they will get their money back. So why do they take the risk? Because lending presents an opportunity to make even more money. For example, if a bank lends $50,000 to a borrower, it is not satisfied just to get its $50,000 back. In order to make a profit, the bank charges interest on the loan. Interest is the price borrowers pay for using someone else’s money. If a loan seems risky, the lender will charge more interest to offset the risk. (If you take a bigger chance, you want a bigger pay-off.)