What is the term for the minimum reserves that commercial banks must hold relative to customer deposits?

The minimum reserves that commercial banks must hold relative to customer deposits is known as the reserve requirement. This reserve is a regulatory measure set by the central bank to ensure that financial institutions maintain a certain level of cash on hand to meet their withdrawal demands and other obligations. By mandating a reserve requirement, regulators seek to promote stability within the banking system, reducing the risk of bank runs when customers rush to withdraw their deposits simultaneously.

Understanding reserve requirements is essential as they directly influence a bank's capacity to lend money, impacting overall economic activity. The concept helps balance the availability of credit and the liquidity necessary for day-to-day operations within banks. Other terms mentioned, such as liquidity ratio, capital adequacy, and equity requirement, pertain to different aspects of banking regulations, but they do not specifically refer to the minimum reserves relative to deposits.