A memory bank is a logical unit of storage in electronics, which is hardware dependent. In computer the memory bank may be determined by the memory access controller and the CPU along with physical organization of the hardware memory slots.

Some computers have several identical memory banks of RAM, and use bank switching

Bank switching

Bank switching is a technique to increase the amount of usable memory beyond the amount directly addressable by the processor. It can be used to configure a system differently at different times; for example, a ROM required to start a system from diskette could be switched out when no longer...

 to switch between them.

Harvard architecture

Harvard architecture

The Harvard architecture is a computer architecture with physically separate storage and signal pathways for instructions and data. The term originated from the Harvard Mark I relay-based computer, which stored instructions on punched tape and data in electro-mechanical counters...

 computers have (at least) 2 very different banks of memory, one for program storage and one for data storage.

In caching

Memory bank is a part of (cache) memory that is addressed consecutively in the total set of memory banks,
i.e., when data item a(n) is stored in bank b, data item a(n + 1) is stored in bank b + 1. (Cache)
memory is divided in banks to evade the effects of the bank cycle time (see above). When data is
stored or retrieved consecutively each bank has enough time to recover before the next request for that
bank arrives.

The number of memory modules needed to have the same number of data bits as the bus. A bank can consist of one or more memory modules.

Other meanings

Memory bank may also mean:

• Memory Bank (UK game show)
  Memory Bank (UK game show)
  Memory Bank was a daytime gameshow which was shown on Five in the UK. It featured several rounds of memory themed games. In the final round the contestant was shown fifteen words and each word remembered was worth a cash prize....
  
   was a daytime gameshow which was shown on Five in the UK
• Memory Banks (comic strip), a British comic strip
• Overdrawn at the Memory Bank
  Overdrawn at the Memory Bank
  Overdrawn at the Memory Bank was a 1983 television movie. It was produced by Canada’s RSL Productions in Toronto. Financing was provided by WNET/PBS New Jersey, which had hoped to create an entire science fiction series adapting famous works, but due to lack of funding this was the last of three...
  
  , a 1983 telemovie

See also

• Computer memory
  Computer memory
  In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. The term primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast In computing, memory refers to the...
  
  
• Bank switching
  Bank switching
  Bank switching is a technique to increase the amount of usable memory beyond the amount directly addressable by the processor. It can be used to configure a system differently at different times; for example, a ROM required to start a system from diskette could be switched out when no longer...
  
  
• Memory organisation
  Memory organisation
  There are several ways to organise memories with respect to the way they are connected to the cache:# one-word-wide memory organisation# wide memory organisation# interleaved memory organisation# independent memory organisation-One-Word-Wide:...
  
  
• Interleaved memory
  Interleaved memory
  Interleaved memory is a technique for compensating the relatively slow speed of DRAM. The CPU can access alternative sections immediately without waiting for memory to be cached. Multiple memory banks take turns supplying data....
  
  
• Memory Geometry
  Memory geometry
  In the design of modern personal computers, memory geometry describes the internal structure of random-access memory. Memory geometry is of concern to consumers upgrading their computers, since older memory controllers may not be compatible with later products...