A bank which carries out operations for individuals, companies and public bodies involving collecting deposits which are then redistributed in the form of loans or used to facilitate investment operations. The public’s deposits are backed by State guarantees Guarantees Acts that provide a creditor with security in complement to the debtor’s commitment. A distinction is made between real guarantees (lien, pledge, mortgage, prior charge) and personal guarantees (surety, aval, letter of intent, independent guarantee). . A deposit bank is different from an investment bank, the bulk of whose operations concern the markets.