'bankman' originates from English, a compound of 'bank' (ultimately from Old Italian 'banca', meaning 'bench' or 'money-changing table') and 'man' (from Old English 'mann', meaning 'person').

'bank' entered English via Old French/Medieval Italian terms such as 'banca'/'banque' referring to a bench or table used by money-changers; 'man' comes from Old English 'mann'; the compound 'bankman' developed in English to denote a person associated with a bank or bench and later specifically a bank employee.

Initially it was linked to someone associated with the bench or table used for money-changing; over time it evolved to mean 'a person who works at or for a bank' and also came to be used as a surname.