Banks often act as custodians for physical silver that backs Silver ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds). For example, silver in the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is physically held in secure bank vaults.
Large commercial "bullion banks" (such as JPMorgan Chase and HSBC) are heavily involved in the silver market: do banks buy silver
Central banks are the most prominent institutional buyers of precious metals. While they overwhelmingly favor gold as an official reserve asset, some do hold silver to: Banks often act as custodians for physical silver
The short answer is , but they rarely do so as a retail service for the general public. Instead, their activity is largely institutional, driven by central banks or large commercial bullion desks. 1. Central Banks: Reserve Diversification While they overwhelmingly favor gold as an official
They act as market makers, facilitating massive over-the-counter (OTC) trades for high-net-worth clients and corporations.
Because of silver's critical role in electronics and green energy (like solar panels), some nations view it as a strategic industrial asset. 2. Commercial and Bullion Banks: Market Making