'anti-banking' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' and the noun 'banking'. 'anti-' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'antí', where 'antí' meant 'against'. 'banking' derives from 'bank', which originates from Italian, specifically the word 'banco', where 'banco' meant 'bench'.

'bank' entered English via Old Italian 'banco' (bench) and late Middle English forms such as 'banke'; over time 'bank' developed the sense of a financial counter and institution, giving rise to the noun 'banking'. The prefix 'anti-' was adopted into English from post-classical and modern uses of Greek 'antí' and Latinized forms, and combined with modern English nouns to form compounds like 'anti-banking'.

Initially, 'banco' meant 'bench' (the table where money changers worked), and this developed into the modern meaning of 'bank' as a financial institution; 'anti-' has consistently meant 'against', so the compound evolved to mean 'against banking' or 'opposed to banks.'