This course presents the basics of the banking business and the development of the current financial regulatory environment for the United States, the European Union, the UK, and China, as well as the role of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in setting global standards. Payment systems and bank management of financial risks, including credit, market and others, will be covered. The focus will be on the banking and money markets in each of these countries, with limited discussion of futures and equity exchanges, and unregulated financial activities. The course will provide an overview of the various regulatory bodies, which cover financial services in these countries. Further, the delineation of responsibilities and areas of overlap and potential conflict will be discussed. Major legislation in each country will be presented and some discussion of the underlying legal, economic and financial theories that led to these laws will be discussed.