Concept:
Commercial banks function as financial intermediaries. They collect deposits from the public and lend a portion of those deposits to borrowers.
Step 1: Understand bank deposits.
People deposit money in banks through:
• Savings accounts.
• Current accounts.
• Fixed deposits.
• Recurring deposits.
These deposits become a major source of funds for banks.
Step 2: Loan creation process.
Banks lend part of the deposited funds to:
• Farmers.
• Businessmen.
• Industries.
• Individuals.
Interest earned from loans becomes a major source of income for banks.
Step 3: Analyze other options.
Interest payments and service charges are sources of income but not the primary fund used for lending.
Self-help group accounts represent only a small category of deposits.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Banks mainly provide loans from deposits collected from customers.
Hence, option (A) is correct.