What is the purpose of a bank reconciliation?

The purpose of a bank reconciliation is to align bank records with company financial records. This process allows a business to ensure that its cash balance, as recorded in its accounting books, matches the amount recorded by the bank. It helps identify any discrepancies, such as outstanding checks, deposits in transit, bank fees, or errors in either the company's books or the bank's records. By performing a bank reconciliation, a company can maintain accurate cash accounts, prevent fraud, and ensure the integrity of its financial reporting.

Other options revolve around different aspects of financial management, such as sales comparison or assessing customer credit, but they do not directly pertain to the specific function of reconciling and matching cash balances between a company's accounts and those of the bank.