A DAO, or Decentralized Autonomous Organization, is an organization that is run by smart contracts on a blockchain network, such as Ethereum. It's essentially a form of business or organization where decisions are made electronically by a written computer code or through the voting of its members. In essence, it's a system of hard-coded rules that define which actions an organization will take.

The organization is typically governed by a set of programmable rules executed on a blockchain, which remove the need for centralized governance. This allows for transparency, openness, and direct participation in decision-making, which may not be possible in traditional, centralized organizations.

DAOs can be used for a wide variety of purposes, from managing a decentralized currency, to running a crowdfunding campaign, to making collective decisions in an online community. They represent a potentially new way of organizing businesses, non-profits, or any other type of group.

DAOs have the potential to transform the banking industry in a number of ways. While this is a rapidly evolving field and the specifics may change, as of my knowledge cut-off in September 2021, here are some potential areas of impact:

1. Decentralization of Decision-Making: DAOs operate based on consensus mechanisms, allowing all members to have a say in decisions. This could democratize the banking system by giving stakeholders (such as account holders) voting rights on key decisions, such as lending criteria or investment policies.
2. Transparent Operations: All transactions and decisions within a DAO are recorded on the blockchain, providing unprecedented levels of transparency. This could help build trust and accountability, as stakeholders can see exactly how funds are being used.
3. Automation of Operations: Many banking processes can be automated using smart contracts. This could include everything from loan approvals to payment processing. This not only increases efficiency but could also reduce costs and fees.
4. Access to Financial Services: DAOs could make it easier for unbanked or underbanked populations to access financial services. Anyone with an internet connection could potentially become a member of a DAO, opening up opportunities for financial inclusion.
5. Peer-to-Peer Lending and Borrowing: DAOs could facilitate peer-to-peer lending and borrowing platforms, cutting out the traditional intermediaries and potentially offering more favorable terms to borrowers and lenders.
6. Interest Rates: DAOs could offer a more competitive system for determining interest rates, using smart contracts and programmable money to offer variable rates that respond in real time to supply and demand.

It's important to note that these potential benefits come with significant challenges and risks. DAOs are a new and rapidly evolving technology, and their use in banking will need to overcome a number of hurdles, including regulatory acceptance, user adoption, and the resolution of various technical and security issues. Furthermore, the decentralization and automation that DAOs provide also means a loss of centralized control, which can be both a strength and a weakness, depending on the context.