Final answer:
Total assets is the most commonly used base item for a bank's balance sheet. It represents all the assets owned by the bank.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a bank's balance sheet, the most commonly used base item is total assets. Total assets represent the sum of all the assets owned by the bank, which can include cash, loans to customers, and financial instruments like treasury bonds.
The balance sheet is divided into two sides: the asset side on the left and the liabilities side on the right. Assets are what the bank owns, while liabilities are what the bank owes to others. The difference between total assets and total liabilities is known as net worth or bank capital.
For a healthy business, net worth will be positive. On a bank's balance sheet, assets will always equal liabilities plus net worth.