Commercial bank is a financial institution which deals in money i.e. borrowing and lending of money. It performs the functions of accepting deposits from the general public and giving loans for investing to them with the aim of earning profit. The three methods adopted by commercial banks to mobolise funds from the public are as under:

1. Cash Credit: In cash credit, the bank advances a ‘cash loan’ upto a specified limit to the customer against a bond or other security. A borrower is required to open a current account and bank allows the borrowers to withdraw upto the full amount of the loan. The interest is charged only on the amount actually utilized by the borrower and not on the loan sanctioned. 

2. Loans: A loan is granted against some kind of security of assets or personal security of the borrower and the interest is charged on the full amount sanctioned as loan, irrespective of the fact whether full amount or part of it has been used. In case of loans, the borrower is provided with the facility to repay the loan in installment or as a lump sum. 

3. Overdraft: The overdraft facility is allowed to the depositor maintaining a current account with the bank. According to this facility, a borrower is allowed to withdraw more amount than what he has deposited. The excess amount so withdrawn has to be repaid to the bank in a short period and that too with interest. The rate of interest is usually charged more than that charged in case of loans. However, the overdraft facility is given only against security of some assets or on personal security of the customer.