Banking Sector 3
respective states or countries monetary supply is managed through active duties, for example,
setting the reserve obligation, interest rate management, and finally acting as a last resort for
commercial banks or any other financial institution undergoing financial crisis and even
insolvency. The banks are also mandated with supervisory powers with a deep intend of ensuring
that all the other financial institutions do not conduct any fraudulent activities as well as reckless
behaviors. The various functions and objectives of the central banks are clarified below.
According to Ahuja (2012, pp.112), the primary function of the central bank is to issue
note. The central bank is solemnly mandated with the monopoly of issuing notes in almost every
country. These printed currency notes, therefore, become unlimited legal tender that can be used
throughout the respective countries, however in countries such as India, the central bank issues
one rupee while the other notes are issued by the Reserve Bank of India. In a country such as
Zambia, the Bank of Zambia carries out this mandate.
Another primary function carried out by the central banks are those of agent, bankers, and
advisors to the government. As a banker to their respective governments, the central banks
perform the same functions as those any commercial bank would to their customers. Therefore,
the central bank maintains the states or countries accounts for the government; it receives
deposits from either the state or country government as well as make temporary advances to the
government. As a banker, it also collects draft and cheques deposited in the account that belongs
to the state and provides the foreign exchange resources. The resources are there to help the state
pay external debt and purchasing foreign goods. As an agent, the central bank collects payments
as well as taxes on behalf of the state. The bank also raises loans from the public and therefore
manages the public debt. It acts as the representative of the state of the various international
financial conferences and institution. On the other hand, as a financial adviser, the central
advises the government on the monetary, financial, economic and fiscal matter such as
devaluation, deficit financing, trade policy, and foreign exchange policy. In conclusion, for the
central banking to meet its functions, it requires an object that makes it focus more on its various
services, therefore the aim of the central bank is to ensure that all its functions especially the
main ones meet the states or countries economic interest which is consistency with the
government’s economic policies.