Words constantly lose and acquire new meanings, and when these words describe financial activities, people must correctly understand and use them or suffer the consequences. Many financial transactions occur among professionals, who are fluent in the technical vocabularies of their trades, but when transactions include people of all levels of sophistication, as in the banking industry, the potential for misunderstanding and financial loss demands that everyone describe them accurately and in accessible language. Precise, accessible language should form the basis of the mutually-beneficial relationships to which banks and their customers aspire. A com-mon language of representing and understanding banking terms enables eve-ryone to think clearly and critically about services, offerings, and transac-tions. The greatest appeal of The Banking Companion lies in its straightforward definition and presentation of entries. Its 5,000 entries cover words and phrases that constitute the banking vocabulary - from the academic to the practical, and from the formal to the colloquial. There will also be practical example sentences which further illustrate meanings of the entries. Summary The Banking Companion features simple, clear English with headwords and phrases drawn from international sources. It can serve the reference needs of undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals requiring assistance, and its explanations about searching and cross-referencing can assist readers worldwide. I researched entries extensively in the banking literature while working on this project. Needless to say, I equally tapped my banking research, writing, training and consulting experience spanning over a quarter of a century. Specifically, The Banking Companion can: -illuminate words and phrases describing financial services, transactions, requests, and relationships -clarify usage by citing examples both technical and non-technical -help readers evaluate banking services, offerings, and transactions, espe-cially as some words and phrases have gain or loss implication in partic-ular banking situations -enable readers to understand, assess, and participate in bank-provided financial services. The Banking Companion thereby directly facilitates the mutually-beneficial banking relationships to which banks and their customers aspire. Audience The Banking Companion serves the reference needs of students, researchers, professionals, and everyone who has anything to do with banking, banks, or banking relationships. Selling Points -Explains each headword or phrase in at least two contexts -Indicates the areas of banking to which particular headwords or phrases apply -Illustrates meanings -Contains example sentences for each of the entries -Shows parts of speech to which the headwords and phrases are classified Competing Titles The competing titles somewhat are not strong banking reference texts. This is largely because, in addition to banking, they are also covering insurance, investments, accounting, and other financial subjects. That is the main hole in their coverage. In essence, the competing titles contain a potpourri of financial terms and entries - whereas, in practice, banks are usually isolated from non-bank financial institutions for purposes of industrial classification and regulation. Certainly such titles hardly offer in-depth definitions. Of course, it's unlikely to find an author who has altogether adequate expertise in all of those fields. There are subjects which The Banking Companion covers that the competing titles do not. Mine captures the dynamics of contemporary banking vocabulary and terminologies for every sphere. Readers will find that each headword, phrase and so on is related to particular banking function(s) in which it is predominantly used. Words and phrases have practitioner touch, academic angle and reflect real-life banking insights.