1. A group of investment banks which jointly underwrite and distribute a new security offering, or jointly lend money to a specific borrower. A banking syndicate is not a permanent entity, but forms specifically to handle a deal that might be too difficult or too risky for a single underwriter or borrower to handle. also called underwriting group or purchase group or banking syndicate or investment banking syndicate or distributing syndicate. 2. A group of investors who act together when investing in a company.