We read in the New Testament of money-changers who had tables in the temple of Jerusalem. It is probable they attended for the purpose of giving Jewish money in exchange for those various coins which persons coming from the neighboring countries might have brought with them.

Whether the business of money-changing was carried on as a separate employment, or united with the general business of a merchant, we are not informed; but it is stated that the exchangers allowed interest for money lodged in their hands. "Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou oughtest to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury." (Matthew XXV, 27.) From the circumstance of their allowing interest on money, we may infer that they also lent money on interest; otherwise they would have had no use for the money they borrowed. This scanty information forms the whole of our knowledge respecting the mode of banking practised by the ancient Babylonian, Egyptian and Jewish nations.