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How do banks make money?
Banks pay you a little interest on deposits and lend that money out at a higher rate; the gap is their biggest source of income. Together, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs took in $438 billion in their latest years and kept $126 billion in profit, $28.81 of every $100.
From each company's latest Form 10-K. Page updated November 8, 2026.
Banks pay you a little interest on deposits and lend that money out at a higher rate; the gap is their biggest source of income. On top of that they charge fees for cards, accounts, trading, advice and managing money.
| Company | Revenue | Net profit | Kept per $100 | Biggest line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase | $182B | $57.0B | $31.27 | Commercial and investment bank |
| Bank of America | $113B | $30.5B | $26.98 | — |
| Wells Fargo | $83.7B | $21.3B | $25.49 | Consumer banking and lending |
| Goldman Sachs | $58.3B | $17.2B | $29.47 | Banking and markets |
Where each company's money comes from.
JPMorgan Chase
How JPMorgan Chase makes money
Wells Fargo
Goldman SachsSources: JPMorgan Chase Form 10-K, Bank of America Form 10-K, Wells Fargo Form 10-K, Goldman Sachs Form 10-K on SEC EDGAR.