What is an Investment Bank?

A lot of people don’t understand what an Investment bank is. Investment banks as an industry is really is one of the oldest industries which has ever existed. The reason why it’s been able to survive so long is because it was able to adapt and change its business module over time. The name hasn’t changed, although the business has changed to keep up with the times and the name has not changed, people has the same assumption as what an Investment bank was in the past. So many assumed that you will only find investment bankers. This is not always the case. Investment banking as a division is a very small part of what an Investment bank is.
Investment bank is an institution which advises and helps its client execute financial transactions. Investments banks have three main types of clients: Companies, Government, Individual.

There are some large investment banks and they do far more than just advising and executing financial transactions in behalf of its clients. They also have visions where they buy and sell securities, stocks, shares, bonds and derivatives. There are divisions who are dedicated for just research, other divisions will be for management.
Main Divisions of an Investment Bank:
1. Investment Banking (IBD)
2. Sales and Trading
3. prop Trading
4. Wealth Management
5. Private Banking