Banks' depositors are called "customers". Customers have no ownership interest in the institution. Banks are owned by investors who may or may not be depositors. Banks' board members are paid, and do not necessarily reflect the diversity of their customer base.
Who are banks usually owned by?
Savings and Loans/Savings Banks They can be owned by shareholders ("stock" ownership), or by their depositors and borrowers ("mutual" ownership). These institutions are referred to as "thrifts," because they originally offered only savings accounts, or time deposits.
Who are savings banks owned by?
Mutual savings banks are chartered by local or regional governments and do not offer capital stock, but rather the bank is owned by its members, and any profits are shared among its members.