The other banking: Charitable loans in pre-modern era
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | European Journal of Science and Theology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | History |
| Keywords | charitable loans; interest; banking |
| Description | There are two different histories of banking: the first, well known for-profit commercial banking, the second, partially forgotten - charitable banking. This article inquires into the second way of lending money. Loan established itself as a pillar of charity thanks to the interconnection between two processes: the prohibition of interest-bearing credit, whose primary aim was to protect the poor, and the formation of financial funds administering interest-free or low-interest loans to the less fortunate. Historically, the first references to funds created for the provision of non-interest bearing loans date back to ancient Athens. Similar scheme gained further ground in ancient Rome and in medieval Italy again. Since the 15th century we can find so-called montes which laid a firm and lasting foundation for the European banking sector, made retail banking available to all strata of the population, and promoted the rise of solid, sustainable financial enterprises at a larger scale. The idea of employing commercial companies to help the poorest of the poor later took deep roots in the European tradition. |
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