Born in Munich, Germany, to a German father and American mother, Banks moved to Britain at the age of four, and then to the Los Angeles suburb of Simi Valley in California, United States when she was seven years old. Her father still lives in Germany. She moved out of her mother's house when she was 16 years old, taking her 14 year old sister with her. She got custody of her sister when she turned 18. She modeled as a teenager, including a cover of Teen Magazine.She held various other jobs before entering the adult industry; making pizza, clerk at an arts and crafts store, file clerk, and secretary.

Banks claims to have the longest legs in the business (36"/91cm inseam), and is known for having large breasts on a thin body. Briana Banks is listed as one of the Top 25 Hottest Blonde Pornstars according to adult site Gamelink. She has a ribbon tattoo on her lower back. For several years, her regular boyfriend was pornographic actor Bobby Vitale, but they broke up by 2006.

Birthdate: May 21, 1978 (1978-05-21)
Birth location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Birth name: Briana Bany
Measurements: 34DD-27-30 in (86DD-69-76 cm)
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 114 lb (52 kg/8.1 st)
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Blonde
Natural bust: No
Orientation: Bisexual
Ethnicity: German