影子银行（Shadow Banks）是美国次贷危机爆发之后所出现的一个重要金融学概念。它是通过银行贷款证券化进行信用无限扩张的一种方式。这种方式的核心是把传统的银行信贷关系演变为隐藏在证券化中的信贷关系。这种信贷关系看上去像传统银行但仅是行使传统银行的功能而没有传统银行的组织机构，即类似一个“影子银行”体系存在。

国内的“影子银行”，并非是有多少单独的机构，更多的是阐释一种规避监管的功能。如人人贷，不受监管，资金流向隐蔽，是“影子银行”。几乎受监管最严厉的银行，其不计入信贷业务的银信理财产品，也是“影子银行”。“影子银行”有三种最主要存在形式：银行理财产品、非银行金融机构贷款产品和民间借贷。

中国银监会发布2012年报，首次明确影子银行的业务范围：“银监会所监管的六类非银行金融机构及其业务、商业银行理财等表外业务不属于影子银行。”

为了更好的理解该词，以下是其英文释义：The term refers to the practice of banking like activities performed by non-banking finance companies, which are not subject to strict regulation. However, these institutions function as intermediaries between the investors and the borrowers, providing credit and generating liquidity in the system.

双语例句：

（1）The 2008 financial crisis has shown that shadow banking can be a source of systemic risk to the banking system. The risks can be transmitted directly and through the interconnectedness of partially-regulated entities with the banking system.

2008年的金融危机表明，影子银行可能成为银行体系系统性风险的一个来源。风险可以通过受到部分监管的实体与银行体系的相互关联直接传播。

（2）The Reserve Bank is simply following the trend of global central banks increasing surveillance on shadow banking. Basel III norms require central banks to tighten supervision on shadow banks across the globe through steps such as defining minimum capital. Deputy governor Anand Sinha has expressed the need to tighten shadow banking rules on various forums. RBI’s focus is on regulating the informal lending and borrowing business. Its concern stems from the interconnectedness of financial institutions.

联邦储备银行只是在追随全球央行加强对影子银行监管的趋势。《巴塞尔协议III》要求各国央行通过规定最低资本等步骤，加强对全球影子银行的监管。印尼副行长Anand Sinha在多个论坛上表达了收紧影子银行规则的必要性。印度央行的重点是规范非正规借贷业务。它的担忧源于金融机构之间的相互关联性。