[quietbritishjim]

Nothing prevents banks (or anyone else) from using a compiler where "float" means binary floating point while some other native or user-defined type supports decimal floating point. In fact, that's probably for the best, since they'll probably have exacting requirements for that type so it makes sense for the application developer to write that type themselves.

[seoulbigchris]

I was referring to banks using decimal libraries because they work in base 10 numbers, and I recall a big announcement many years ago when the stock market officially switched from fractional stock pricing to cents "for the benefit of computers and rounding", or some such excuse. It always struck me as strange, since binary fixed and floating point represent those particular quantities exactly, without rounding error. Now with normal dollars and cents calculations, I can see why a decimal library might be preferred.