system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: From the POV of the bank, why is a mortgage considered an asset and a client deposit considered a liability?

I'm having a hard time visualizing this, as I thought it was the other way around.

How does this appear on the tax statements?
gpt
An asset is something of value that you have. And the bank have a piece of paper saying you owe them a certain amount of money and detailing how you should pay it back. This piece of paper have a value and it is therefore considered an asset. A liability is when you owe something to someone else. In the case of a client deposit the bank owes you your money and have to pay it back when you ask for it. So it is considered a liability.