An entity which conducts banking activities or other financial activities such as insurance, finance leasing, issuing credit cards, portfolio management, investment advisory, money changing, factoring, forfaiting, custodial and safekeeping services, investment management and other similar activities that are ancillary to the business of banking, whether or not the entity is regulated. For the sake of clarification, special purpose vehicles are included in the definition of financial entity if such SPVs conduct any of the activities outlined above.