Term | Definition |
Annual Fee | Any fee that is charged on an annual (yearly) basis. |
Annual Percentage Rate(APR) | is the annual rate charged for borrowing or earned through an investment, and is expressed as a percentage that represents the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan. |
Balance Transfers | is where part or all of a debit balance (or debt) you owe to another lender is transferred from one card to another, usually to save money on interest repayments. |
Bankruptcy | the state of being bankrupt. Completely out of money. |
Cash Advances | is a service provided by most credit card and charge card issuers. The service allows cardholders to withdraw cash, either through an ATM or over the counter at a bank or other financial agency, up to a certain limit. |
Co-Signer | A third party to a loan who provides a guarantee that a loan will be repaid. |
Courtesy Checks | Are linked to a credit card account that can be used for purchases or cash advances, as long as the credit limit on the card is not exceeded. |
Credit Bureau | a company that collects information relating to the credit ratings of individuals and makes it available to credit card companies, financial institutions, etc. |
Credit Card | a small plastic card issued by a bank, business, etc., allowing the holder to purchase goods or services on credit. |
Credit History | is a record of a borrower's responsible repayment of debts |
Credit Limit | refers to the maximum amount of credit a financial institution extends to a client through a line of credit as well as the maximum amount a credit card company allows a borrower to spend on a single card. |
Credit Report | is a detailed report of an individual's credit history. Credit bureaus collect information and create credit reports based on that information, and lenders use the reports along with other details to determine loan applicants' credit worthiness. |
Credit Score | a number assigned to a person that indicates to lenders their capacity to repay a loan. |
Debt | the state of owing money. |
Finance Charge | is any fee representing the cost of credit, or the cost of borrowing. |
Grace Period | a period of time after a payment becomes due, as of a loan or life-insurance premium, before one is subject to penalties or late charges or before the loan or policy is canceled. |
Interest Rate | the proportion of a loan that is charged as interest to the borrower, typically expressed as an annual percentage of the loan outstanding. |
Introductory Rate | is an interest rate charged to a customer during the initial stages of a loan. |
Late Payment Fee | is charged to a borrower who misses paying at least their minimum payment by the payment deadline. |
Lender | an organization or person that lends money. |
Line of Credit | an amount of credit extended to a borrower. |
Over-the-limit Fee | A fee charged by a credit card company if a credit card user exceeds the card's credit limit. |
Pre-approved | at a stage before approval. |
Principle | is most commonly used to refer to the amount borrowed or the amount still owed on a loan, separate from interest. |
Secured Loan | is a loan in which the borrower pledges some asset (e.g. a car or property) as collateral for the loan, which then becomes a secured debt owed to the creditor who gives the loan. |
Term | The period of time during which a fixed-income security, investment, or agreement is in force. |