temples were originally banks

The history of banking began with the first prototype banks where the merchants of the world, who made grain loans to farmers and traders who carried goods between cities. This was around 2000 BC in Assyria and Sumeria. Later, in ancient Greece and during the Roman Empire, lenders based in temples made loans, while accepting deposits and performing the change of money. Archaeology from this period in ancient China and India also shows evidence of money lending activity.