Abstract
This paper discusses the banking system and looks at how safe the banking system really is. The paper explores the laws that govern these institutions in order to see if they are stringent enough to protect most consumers who utilize the banking system today. The paper begins with a brief history of the banking sector, from ancient basic banks to the modern day corporate structures which are more common. The paper then examines each of the major banking laws in place supposedly for the protection of the consumers.

From the Paper
"So if banking and finance laws have been passed to protect investors and bank customers, is the banking system safer? Maybe, but because your money is in their vaults, the banks may have a measure of undue influence over you that you're not even aware exists. Undue influence is defined as "the domination of one party by the other in order to influence their judgment." (Granger) With undue influence, there is no specific incident or single threat that occurs. "The common law developed the doctrine of duress to define the limits of legitimate persuasion...equity developed undue influence to extend the reach of the law to other unacceptable means of persuasion.""

Tags:financial, lloyds, investor, investment, loan, commercial

Abstract
This paper examines the media and popular-culture mythology surrounding the Swiss banking industry. The sources of the mythology, and its effects on the Swiss banking sector are also analyzed. Swiss banking law is shown to be little different in essentials from banking law in other Western countries. Nevertheless it is surrounded with a pervasive mythology that strongly influences both public perceptions and the industry's own marketing.

From the Paper
"For decades the Swiss banking system has possessed a special mystique in the popular culture, a mythological status shared by no other national banking system and quite different from the staid image of banking in general. A movie or novel needs only to make reference to a character's Swiss bank account or simply to Swiss banks in order to create an atmosphere of international intrigue and shadowy financial power. The audience does not need a potted explanation a mere reference to..."

Tags:Swiss banking, banking law, banking secrecy, marketing

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine and assess the issues involved in any effort to implement Islamic banking as an alternative system of banking in the United States. The study pursues this purpose through the investigation of the following research questions: 1. Is it probable that Islamic banking and interest-based banking can co-exist within the economic structure of the United States? 2. Is the potential market for Islamic banking in the United States sufficiently large to make Islamic banking feasible in American society? 3. What laws, state and federal, require change to permit Islamic banking to operate in the United States?

Chapter 1
Introduction
Statement of the problem
Purpose of the Study
Key Factors for Investigation
Background on the Problem
Approach to the Investigation
Overview of the Study
Chapter 2
Literature Review
The Crucial Role of Interest
The Development of Banking Systems
Sources & Uses of Funds in Islamic Banking
Chapter 3
Method
References

From the Paper
"Islamic economics has two principal components. The first component is a constant set of principles derived from the Qu`aran, which are the economic principles governing all Islamic activity, and which are unchanging. The second component is a flexible set of principles also derived from the Qu`aran, but which may be adapted to environment, time, or place, while remaining within the boundaries of the unchanging principles (El Araby, 1997). In Islam, any enterprise - economic or otherwise - may be an act of devotion, if entered into with the correct intentions. The welfare of the whole of the human race according to the will of God is the ultimate goal of all Islamic economic activity. The social responsibilities of business organizations are part of the moral obligations of the individuals operating such organizations in an Islamic society (El Araby, 1997). All economic systems are concerned with the relationship between the public and private sectors. In capitalist systems, the emphasis is on the private sector, although the degree of such emphasis varies between countries. One result of this capitalist emphasis is the cyclical recurrence of significant problems - inflation, unemployment, and recession, while a second result is an increasing concentration of productive capacity ownership into a relatively few private hands. Islamic economics assumes that no conflict exists or will develop between the public and private sectors, and that each sector works for the greater good of society. The applications of the principles of any system - capitalist or Islamic - are usually less than perfect. Therefore, conflicts do occur within Islamic economic systems; however, in Islam, the settlement of such conflicts is according to the criterion of the greater societal good, as opposed to settlement on an ideological basis of property ownership, political imperative or agenda, or similar factors that is often true in capitalist economies."

Tags:koran, financial, economic, interest, law

Abstract
This paper explores the views of Islamic law, also known as Sharia, on banking, including the prohibition of interest. The paper studies the banking products offered by a bank called Noriba, and asks whether Noriba's products are in keeping with Sharia. The paper concludes with a discussion of the ramifications of Islamic banking on globalization.

From the Paper
"Commercial banking has been a part of the Western business world for hundreds of years. It is common for Westerners to deposit money into an institution and receive interest on that money. The financial institutions..."

Tags:Islam, banking, sharia, interest, noriba, ubs

Abstract
This paper argues that the nature of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in itself, is not irresolvable. International law clearly provides the means for settling the issue; Israel and Palestine should both recognize the other's right to existence and security, and pre-1967 borders, with no exceptions, should be respected. The paper argues that were we living in an international community in which international relations were determined by the just application of the law, the conflict may have been resolved. However, since we are living in an international community in which international relations are determined by force and power, the conflict is constantly becoming more and more critical because one side to the conflict has been given the power to disregard the law, while the other has been denied the protection of the law. The paper shows that the Arab-Israeli conflict is not, therefore, examined in this research in order to argue a solution, but as a means of exposing, in the author's opinion, the true face of international relations as governed by the law of force and power.

From the Paper
"At the very start of the occupation, that is in 1967, Israel admitted that it was an "occupying force." A few years later, Israel insisted that it had to continue its occupation of Arab Palestinian lands until a final peace treaty was signed. Meanwhile, Israel began to establish Jewish settlements, or what can be defined as small Jewish villages, on the Arab lands. To justify doing so, contrary to international law which prohibited an occupier from establishing settlements on occupied territories, Israel stated that these territories were "of strategic importance to its defense," and therefore, "land would be expropriated for settlements that would serve Israeli security interests." At this point, Israel stated that the status of these occupied lands would be negotiated over in the final peace settlement."

Tags:West, Bank, 1967, United, Nations

Abstract
This paper uses a socio-intellectual style of historical inquiry to examine the change in the perception of banking in the areas of scholastic attitude, law and public image in Renaissance Florence. The positive acceptance of banking from a formerly profane vocation, the author relates, was due to a more advanced understanding of industry and economics, a more relativistic interpretation of theological and juridical sources and an aggressive campaign by the humanists to redefine moral values and to reshape the Florentine culture. The paper reveals the impact of banking on Florentine society and its relationships with ecclesiastical and civic institutions and describes the elite banking families, smaller scale bankers and the Monte di Pieta. The paper includes footnotes.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Scholastic Philosophy And Economic Theory
Law and Religion
Public Image and Humanist Philosophy
Conclusion

From the Paper
"A brief examination of the elite bankers reveals how they navigated the legal quagmire of the usury ban, and managed to place their activities beyond the reach of the ecclesiastic prosecution. By using covert methods that hid their lending from public scrutiny, forming business deals with the Catholic Church that benefited both the bankers and the Church, and by placing their family members in high ranking positions among the church hierarchical structure, the elite banking class was able to neutralize the threat of persecution that prevented other Christians from legally taking part in banking for profit."

Tags:historian, socio-intellectual, scholastics, revision, cosimo

Abstract
The writer explains that the emergence of Islamic banking is an example of how religion has become subservient to economic needs, and more specifically, how Islam has become subservient to capitalism. The paper explains that although advocates claim that Islamic banking is distinctive from interest rate banking, such methods are merely window dressing - a way for the banks to legitimize themselves. The writer explains that in Shariah, Islamic law, people are prohibited from charging and receiving interest. The paper draws parallels between conventional banking systems and the new modes of so-called interest-free banking. The paper states that Islamic banks have been mimicking conventional banks, pushing for short-term, low-risk investments that are similar in quantity and risk to those obtained by other conventional banks. The writer explains that the methods used to evade interest prohibition include mislabeling interest under the false pretense of administrative costs and delegating puppet banks to alleviate responsibility from Islamic institutions. The writer challenges the advocates of this system who claim that it is Shariah-compliant. In summation, the writer states that it is evident that in the current Islamic system, Islamic beliefs have taken a second place to the capitalist system. Table of Contents: Introduction Lack of Sources for Islamic Banking Same Method, Different Name Murabaha is Not Profit Sharing Using Puppet Banks The Ulama Power Vacuum Advocates Conclusion Bibliography

From the Paper
"During the 80s, Muslim countries such as Sudan, Iran and Pakistan underwent the growth of Islamic banking due to an oil boom and the need for Muslim communities to establish a unique economic presence in the new international economic order (Pipes, 1982:45; cf. ICO: 1982). By 1995, 144 public and private banking institutions had been established claiming to practice "Islamic banking" (Shaik, 1997:118). However, this paper will argue that Islamic banking is conventional banking in disguise. Islamists have merely used the former to bypass religious restrictions to meet their capitalistic needs in a manner that is compliant, and sometimes even not compliant, to interpretations of the Shariah. Such assertions can be supported by examining characteristics of the current Islamic banking system. Nazih N. Ayubi has written about religion being subservient to the state. In this particular case, the evolution of Islamic banking has become an example of Islam being subservient to capitalism."

Tags:capitalism, conventional, koran, shariah

Abstract
This paper discusses the relationship between the church in medieval times to medieval banking and the plight of the poor. The paper suggests that the usury law was a strong issue for the church of medieval times because it made separations in society that would not allow opportunities for the poor and placed the bulk of the plight of the impoverished on the church.

Tags:church, usury, society

Abstract
The paper presents a very thorough analysis of the liberalization of the banking industry in China with a specific focus on whether antitrust policy has been successful in the region and how it has impacted other macroeconomic factors in China. The paper explains that antitrust policy or competition policy in economics presents laws regulating business practices that limit free trade, competition, and economic efficiency.

From the Paper
"Economic efficiency is a fundamental issue in many theoretical frameworks. Antitrust policy or competition policy in economics presents laws regulating business practices that limit free trade, competition, and economic efficiency. Liberalization of the banking industry in China is one of the most extensive case studies in economic theory that outlines the theoretical and practical implications of antitrust policy in economics. The paper will analyze competition policy and use the Chinese banking industry as the model to explain the theoretical framework so as to..."

Tags:financial, liberalization, wto

Abstract
The paper discusses the legal, regulatory and ethical dimensions of website operations within the financial services industry. The paper focuses on the protection and use of personal and private data by users and consumers. The paper discusses the various security strategies for website operations and the increasing state, federal and international emphasis on this dimension of website operations.

Outline:
Abstract
Overview
State & Federal Laws
USAA Website Security
ING Website Security
Scottrade Website Security
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The single most important legal, ethical, and regulatory dimension for the banking industry and its expansion into the online environment has been centered on the protection of personal data and information of its customers. The actual execution of data security from an IT perspective within the banking industry, both online as well as general back-office operations involves a series of technologies that together can form an effective barrier from intrusion."

Tags:privacy, protection, intrusion, data, fraud, identity, theft, laws