A portmanteau of "banker" and "gangster", popularized by (among others) the economist Murray N. Rothbard, used by him to attack what he held to be the inherently fraudulent nature of Fractional-Reserve banking (as opposed to 100% gold reserve banking, which he defended as the only honest form of banking). Frequently used in reference to The Fed.

In more recent popular usage, often refers in a vague way to the forces of "Wall Street", or to those persons in the financial services industry who grow rich despite the continued impoverishment of those who depend on their services, and despite their apparent inability to succeed in business without constant government assistance.
"The Fed is an organized cartel of banksters, who are creating inflation, ripping off the public, destroying the savings of the average American."

"The banksters crashed the economy, but thanks to generous federal bailouts, they won't have to sacrifice their fat bonuses."
by Dano2 February 16, 2010
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A word derived from combining “banker” and “gangster”.

- A private bank that engages in illegal, deceitful, or unethical practices for profit at the expense of their customers or associates.
1. The banksters at Goldman Sachs promoted and sold shady mortgage back securities to their clients which resulted in huge losses.

2. I really hate banksters because they only care about making profits for their shareholders and receiving those huge bonuses.

3. Our banksters are gambling with depositors’ money by buying very risky derivatives.
by AgeOfJefferson September 20, 2014
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A portmanteau of the words "banker" and "gangster." These are intergral to the capitalist system. While the nightly news might have you believe that young black and latino men with 9mm's are the biggest threat to your life, banksters are far more dangerous. While a gangster might steal your posessions with a knife or a gun, a bankster will steal your possesiions with a pen, paper and "legal" (read "unjust") mumbo-jumbo snakeoil bullshit.
Bankster: Any member of the financial services industry; primarilly interested with the welfare of the capitalist class and their lackeys.
by muigikalash March 23, 2009
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(n.) A parasite that consumes its own kind for binary code with a total disregard for the moral, ethical,physical or spiritual survival of its species as a whole or the habitat that supports it.
An anomaly of nature.
Banksters are running the government... Fines by the Department of Justice against banksters are a Tax Write off -- so they rip off the nation collapsing the economy by betting on and orchestrating its collapse, get bailed out at the cost of taxpayer money (16 trillion plus) and hundreds of thousands foreclosures (Land Grab), Get found out and are fined Billions for stealing Trillions and then get to write off the settlement fines against their US taxes.
by Shimyaza November 11, 2014
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A portmanteau of "Banksy" and "gangster" meaning a person who engages in graffiti for artistic or personal reasons rather that gang related motives. Banksters usually use stencils rather than ordinary bombing. The Bankster is a subcategory of the vandal.
"Did you see the stencil that got put up on Dickson?"

"Yea it was straight up Bankster!"
by Longinus Fortunus July 11, 2008
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Noun

A portmanteau or blend word derived from combining "banker" and "gangster." Usually referred to in the plural form "banksters" to refer to a predatory element within the financial services industry, such as those offering "too good to be true" adjustable mortgage rates for home buyers
"The banksters just foreclosed on my mom's Mcmansion, and now she's living in her SUV."
by Neil Ogism March 6, 2008
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all the the CEOs of banks like goldman-sachs, AIG,who lined their own pockets first, when the economy was starting to crumble, then foreclosed on small town america
we can't get a line of credit from the bank anymore, the banksters are keeping it for themselves.
by mona1969 April 29, 2010
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