An Investment Banker is a person or financial institution that deals with raising capital and aids companies in acquiring funds. Investment banks profit from companies and governments by raising money through issuing and selling securities in the capital markets and insuring bonds, as well as providing advice on transactions such as mergers and acquisitions.

An Investment banking institution generates funds in two different ways. They may draw on public funds through the capital market by selling stock in their company, and they may also seek out venture capital or private equity in exchange for a stake in their company.

To perform services as an investment banker in the United States, an adviser must be a licensed broker-dealer, and is subject to SEC regulation.

In the United States, it was illegal for a bank to have both commercial and investment banking until 1999, when the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act legalized it.

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