'bank-friendly' originates from English, formed by combining the noun 'bank' (from Old Italian 'banca', where 'banca' meant 'bench') and the adjective 'friendly' (from Old English 'freondlic', where 'freond' meant 'friend').

'bank' passed into Middle English from Old Italian 'banca' (bench), later taking on the meaning of a financial 'bank'; 'friendly' developed from Old English 'freondlic' to modern 'friendly'; the compound 'bank-friendly' is a modern English formation combining these elements to describe policies or practices favorable to banks.

Initially, the parts referred to a 'bench' (bank) and 'friendly/relating to a friend' (friendly); over time 'bank' shifted to mean a financial institution and the compound came to mean 'favorable to banks' in modern usage.