'bank' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'banca' (bench), used in the Middle Ages for moneylenders who worked at a bench.

'bank' entered Middle English via Old Italian 'banca' (bench) for the financial sense; other senses (a ridge or mound) are related to Old Norse 'banki' meaning 'ridge, bench', and these senses converged into the modern English 'bank'.

Initially it meant 'bench' (a table or bench used by moneylenders) or 'ridge/heap' for the physical sense; over time the 'bench' sense developed into the modern meaning of a financial institution, while the 'ridge/heap' sense gave rise to meanings like 'river bank' or 'banked' (mounded or sloped).