Credit is a common term in economics, commerce, and finance. In commerce, it is a fundamental accounting concept, along with debit. Both credit and debit are the bookkeeping entries in commerce, while in economics and finance, credit is the money or wealth which is made available for borrowing. Credit is a type of legal contract or agreement, where one party receives resources or loans from another party with a commitment or obligation to a pay the sum at a future stipulated date, along with the interest rate. To put it in a simplified manner, credit can be an agreement for deferred payment, as well as the terms and conditions associated with such an arrangement. The party which has borrowed money or resources is known as 'debtor' or 'borrower', while the party which makes the resources available for borrowing is called 'creditor' or 'lender'. Understanding Credit Terminology Everyday we come across a lot of financial and credit terms, and the lack of a proper understanding about them can lead to some really big mistakes. This article is an attempt to make you familiar with the basic credit terms that are an integral part of the day-to-day financial transactions, so that some common mistakes can be avoided with the widespread use of credit cards. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Z

A Account: A record or statement of the financial transactions that take place between two economic units. A unique number, known as 'account number', is assigned by the banking institutions or creditors to each account holder for the proper identification of ownership. A fee is also charged by the banks or financial institutions to set up or start your account, which is called "account setup fee'. Account Condition: It refers to the present status of an account, but does not indicate the history of the account, i.e., the previous transactions that led to the current state. Accounts in Good Standing: It means that all the necessary dues have been paid, and the credit items have (current) positive status. This term reflects positive creditworthiness. Account Monitoring: This refers to the regular monitoring of credit reports of the borrowers by the lenders or creditors, in order to manage their financial risk. The credit report of a borrower is scanned on a regular basis to look for the presence of certain risks, as defined by the lenders. Account Reconciliation: This refers to the act of checking whether the balance in the checkbook confirms with the corresponding bank statement. Account Review: It refers to the act of reviewing the credit history of a consumer by a creditor or lender. Activate: On receiving a new credit card, the owner has to make a call to the card issuer. The issuer then activates the card or makes it functional. It is a precautionary step to confirm that the correct person has received the card. This helps prevent fraudulent activities. Active Account: An account characterized by many transactions, with a transaction activity reported in the last 90 days to a Credit Reporting Agency. Acquiring Financial Institution: It refers to the financial institution or bank that acts as a negotiator or intermediary between the credit card issuer and the merchant. The Acquiring Financial Institution processes and settles daily credit card transactions of the merchant, and then settles them with the card issuer. It acquires funds or daily card transaction totals, deposits the same in the merchant's account after settlement, and debits the end-of-month processing fee from the merchant's account. Additional Cardholder / Cardmember: A credit card owner can add another card to his/her account, which can be used by someone else. The person holding the additional card is known as the additional card holder or cardmember. The responsibility of making payment on all charges incurred by both the cardholders lies on the original cardholder and not on the additional cardholder. Adjusted Balance Method: It is a method devised by the credit card issuers to estimate finance charges or the costs of borrowing, like interest charges, commitment fees, etc. Generally, the issuer of the card makes adjustment for all the payments and credit during the billing period, and then calculates the charges. Adjustable Rate Mortgage: A type of mortgage where the interest rate changes during the term of the loan. This change can be influenced by factors, like the rate of interest on treasury securities. Advance-Fee Loan: A type of loan where all the charges as well as the credit expenses are deducted before providing the principal amount to the borrower. Affinity Card: A type of credit card made available by the credit card issuer in association with another non-financial group or organization. The affinity group can be a nonprofit organization, universities, sports franchisee, etc., to which a part of the revenue (generated in the form of finance charges) is donated. The cardholders get special discounts or deals when they use their affinity credit cards. This type of credit cards are generally provided to those who are members or have some affinity for the sponsoring organization. Agreement: An agreement is a formal contract or written document regarding the terms and conditions on which credit is provided. It generally includes the terms that are applicable to credit card, the interest rate and how it is calculated, and the transaction fee. Alternative Methods of Payment: This term refers to methods of payment which do not involve money. Basically, it covers non-cash payment options, like credit and debit card, value access services, and billing extensions. Alternative Mortgage: A term used to signify any home loan except the fixed-rate mortgage. Air Miles: Air miles is a reward scheme related to air travel, where the credit card holders earn points and miles for the purchases they make by using their credit cards. These collected miles can be exchanged for free air travel or discounts, or for other retail goods and gift cards. Amount Due: It is not the total amount you owe to your creditor, instead it is the minimum monthly payment that you have to make. Amount Past Due: It refers to the current amount that has not been paid at the scheduled time. Amortization: It is the process where a loan or debt, along with the interest charged, is paid off by regular installment payments over a stipulated time period. Annual Fee: This is the annual fee that a credit card issuer charges for providing the privilege of owning and using a credit card. However, many credit card issuers provide cards with no annual fee. Annual Percentage Rate (APR): It is the annual rate that depicts the cost of credit in the form of interest rate charged for a whole year. It is basically a charge expressed in terms of an annual rate. This can give an idea of how much the credit or loan is going to cost you, so that you can compare the costs of the different types of loan. Annual Interest Rate: This refers to the amount of interest that you are going to pay in a year. It is generally expressed as a percentage of your balance. Application: It is the document that one has to sign, to apply for a loan or credit. Such documents usually require the person requesting a loan (the 'applicant') to furnish some personal and financial information to the creditor. The fee that is charged for processing a loan or credit application is called 'application fee'. Many credit card companies also charge this type of fee for providing credit cards to people with bad credit. Application Scoring: It is the process of evaluating credit applications and assigning scores to them by using statistical models. This helps estimate their future performance. The application score helps a creditor calculate the risk associated with a loan, and thereby decide whether to accept or refuse the loan. Appraisal: An estimation or assessment of the value of a real estate property or other assets offered as security to get a loan. It is usually carried out by the creditor with the help of an independent professional before approving the loan. The person who does the appraisal is called 'appraiser', and the fee charged by the appraiser for estimating the value of the property is known as the 'appraisal fee'. Appraised Value: It is the value of a property or asset as estimated by a professional appraiser. Asset: Anything possessed by an individual or firm that has cash or monetary value. Examples include, land, houses, vehicles, goods, and savings/investment. Approval: It refers to the formal act of approving a request or application for a loan or credit card by the lender. An authorization statement or response is usually received by a merchant when the transaction requested by him or her gets approved, which is known as the 'approval response'. Arbitrage: Arbitrage is the act of taking advantage of the price difference that exist between two markets, in order to make profits. It can involve taking a loan at a low or minimal interest rate and depositing it in savings account that gives a higher rate of interest. As a result, the amount the person receives as interest payment from his savings account is higher than the amount he or she has to pay for taking the loan. This difference is the profit, and a person who engages in arbitrage is known as the 'arbitrageur'. Arbitration: Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution technique that requires both the parties resolve the dispute out of the court. Here, the judgment is pronounced by one or more person (arbitrator) agreed to by both the parties. The parties involved in a dispute are bound to accept the decision given by the arbitrators or the arbitral tribunal. In the credit card industry, the consumers have to accept a mandatory and binding arbitration to receive a card, which requires both the parties to keep any dispute out of the court. Authentication: Authentication is the act of confirming or establishing authenticity or genuineness of a transaction to make sure that it is initiated by an authorized user, and the information provided by him are valid. Authorization: It is the act of giving sanction or controlling access and rights to resources and services. A code is provided by the issuer of a credit card or account which is required for approving an authorization request. This code helps identify an authorized user, and it is known as the 'authorization code'. For example, a vendor requires an authorization code to process a credit card transaction on behalf of the customer who is paying for the goods or services. Authorization Only: It is a special type of transaction wherein a certain amount of fund is kept reserved against a cardholder's available credit limit for an intended purchase. It ensures that the credit card maintains a limit, so as to allow a future intended transaction. Authorized Account User: A person who is authorized by the credit card holder to use the account and the card. The main card holder would be responsible for all the charges made by the authorized user. So, the authorized user can use the card, but he or she is not legally responsible for the payments. Authorized Transaction: An approved transaction. Automated Teller Machine: A machine that allows debit or ATM cardholders to draw cash from their savings or checking accounts, and make deposits and transfer money from one account to another anytime. To perform all these transactions, a person has to use his magnetically encoded debit or ATM card. Automatic Payment: It is a process that provides the facility to automatically transfer money from the savings or checking account to pay credit card bills. However, a consumer should have an account with the same bank that issues the card, in order to avail this facility. Automated Clearing House: A nationwide fund transfer network that allows the participating businesses or financial institutions to electronically transfer funds among each other within the United States. Available Credit: Available credit is the unused portion of the credit, i.e., the amount that remains after deducting the current balance from the credit limit. Average Daily Balance Method: It is a method of calculating financial charges based on the average daily balance. The average daily balance is obtained by adding the balance amount at the end of each day of the billing cycle, and then dividing the final figure by the number of days in the billing cycle. The number obtained is the average daily balance, which is then multiplied by APR or interest rate to calculate the financial charges of a month or a year. B Bad Credit: It refers to poor credit rating due to a bad credit history. Late payments, exceeding card limit, skipping payments, and declaring bankruptcy are some of the common practices that can have a negative impact on credit rating. Balance: The total amount of money that one owes to a creditor, which includes everything like purchases, fees, interest, and transaction charges. It can also be said as the amount of money in savings or checking account, which is equal to the difference between credits and debits. Balance Transfer: It is the act of transferring a part or all the existing balance from one credit card to another. This is usually done to take advantage of the lower interest charged on another card. Generally, a fee is charged for moving the balance from one card to another, which is called 'balance transfer fee'. Back-End Ratio or Back Ratio: It is the ratio obtained by dividing the total of all monthly debts by total monthly gross income. Total debts can include every type of debt that a person owes, including mortgage, credit card payments, personal loans, etc. Balance-to-Limit Ratio: It is the ratio of the amount of credit being used to the total credit available, and is used to calculate credit scores. A low balance to limit ratio is considered good as it implies low amount of debt and a lot of available credit. Balance to limit ratio is also known as credit utilization ratio. Balloon Mortgage: A type of mortgage that is characterized by small monthly payments for certain period of time, and then one final lump sum payment for the remaining amount. The lump sum payment has to be made at the end of the term. The monthly payments are usually calculated on the basis of 30 year amortization, but the actual term for paying the entire amount is generally five to seven years. The large final payment to be made at the end of the term is called 'balloon payment'. Bank Account: A record of financial transactions that take place between a customer and a banking institution. Bank Credit: The borrowing capacity or credit provided to a customer by the banking system. Bank Identification Number (BIN): It is the account number provided by the credit card issuing institution. Usually, it is a six digit number that helps identify the card issuing institution. Bank Card: A payment card (debit or credit card) that is issued by a bank. Bankruptcy: Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that releases an individual from the obligation of repaying a part or the entire debt. Bankruptcy laws generally contain several chapters, like Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13, which are concerned with different methods of relief. Bankruptcy usually remains for seven to ten years in the credit report, and damages the credit report of the individual or the organization. Bankruptcy Code: The federal laws that govern bankruptcy proceedings and conditions for granting debt relief to individuals and organizations who are unable to pay their debts. Bankruptcy Discharge: 'Bankruptcy discharged' refers to a court order that ends bankruptcy proceedings as old debt, and thus, releases the debtor from the responsibility of repaying certain types of debt. Bankruptcy Dismissed: A court order that dismisses a petition for bankruptcy, which means that the debtor is still liable to repay the debt. Beacon Score: A branded credit score calculated and used by Equifax Credit Bureau to rank creditworthiness of different individuals. Different lending and financial institutions use credit scoring rating under different names. For example, Experian uses the term 'FICO', while TransUnion uses 'Empirica'. Big 3: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the three largest credit reporting companies, and they are generally referred to as 'Big 3'. Bill: A statement that describes the list of charges for the services provided to the person who is responsible for paying their cost. Billing Cycle: It is the time between two bills or statements, i.e., the days between the last bill and the current bill. The billing cycle is generally a period of 28 to 31 days. Billing Period: The number of days that are used for calculating interest on a loan or credit card. Bi-weekly Mortgage: A type of mortgage where one has to make payments every two weeks. Blocks: A block or 'hold' is generally placed on a part of the credit limit or debit balance of a credit or debit card to make provision for the final amount of transaction, especially if it is not known properly. It can limit an account holder's access to his funds. Bounced Check: A check which is not payable due to the lack of sufficient funds in the account on which it was drawn, which a bank returns without honoring. Business Card (Business Credit Card): Business credit cards or simply business cards are a type of credit card that is meant for business purposes. This type of card helps keep business expenses separate from personal expenses and charges. Such cards can also offer business oriented rewards. Buydown: Buydown is the lump sum amount paid by a borrower or by a third party to the creditor in a bid to obtain lower interest rates at least for some years. It is like a mortgage subsidy, but a temporary one. C Card member: An individual who owns a card or who is authorized to use a card. Also called 'cardholder'. Card member agreement: A written agreement between the card issuer and the consumer that provides all the necessary information regarding the terms and conditions of a credit card account. It generally includes the details regarding the interest rate, annual percentage rate, monthly minimum payment, all types of fees and charges, as well as dispute resolution procedures. Carders: It is a term used for criminals that steal, sell, or try to gain illegal access to information related to credit or debit card accounts of other individuals. The activities of a carder is termed as 'carding' in the credit card world, while the websites that exchange information and provide necessary details for technical understanding about this trade is called 'carding forums'. Cash Advance: It is the amount of cash withdrawn on a credit card at a bank office or ATM. This amount is usually deducted from the available credit, and a fee is charged, which is known as 'cash advance fee'. The interest that is charged for using a credit card to obtain cash is higher than that charged for using the card to make purchases. Cash Advance Check: It is a check that is drawn against a credit line/credit limit, and not against a checking account balance. Cash advance checks are also known as 'convenience checks'. A cash advance fee is usually charged for using them. Cash Card: A type of plastic card with a set amount of value, which can be used by the cardholder to draw money from ATMs. Some card issuers also provide the facility of making purchases with a cash card. A cash card is quite different from a check card in the sense that it is not connected to the bank account of the individual. Cashing: Cashing or 'PIN cashing' is a form of carding wherein illegally obtained credit or debit card information is used to draw cash from another individual's credit line or account. Ceiling Rate: The maximum interest rate that can be charged by a lender, which gets automatically imposed in case of a delinquent payment. Certified Check: A check guaranteed for payment by the issuing bank after verifying that sufficient funds exist in the account of the individual, who issued that check. The concerned banking institution usually keeps aside the amount of the check from the account of the person issuing the check, so that the check can be honored. A fee is also charged by the banking institution for certifying a check. Certificate of Deposit: It is also known as 'time deposit'. It is a type of short to medium term debt instrument that requires the customers to deposit a certain amount of money for a fixed period of time. The interest offered in a certificate of deposit is usually higher than most of the other types of investments, but the money deposited cannot be withdrawn before the date of maturity. If you draw out the money before the date of maturity, you have to pay a penalty. Chapter: A section of the bankruptcy code. Bankruptcy code includes four chapters, known as chapter 7 bankruptcy, chapter 11 bankruptcy, chapter 12 bankruptcy, and chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 bankruptcy releases a debtor from the debt liabilities in exchange for the liquidation of some personal properties. Chapter 11 bankruptcy provides protection to the business entities from their creditors during the reorganization phase, while chapter 13 provides the facility to repay the debt according to a plan within a three to five year period. Chapter 12 bankruptcy is about addressing the financial crisis faced by the farming community. Charge Back: It refers to billing back the credit card transactions to the merchant, which is initiated by the issuing bank in the event of a dispute regarding the purchase or the charges on the bills. The number of days from the date of processing the transaction, during which a charge back can be initiated by the issuer is known as 'charge-back period'. Charge Card: A type of credit card where no interest rate is charged, but it requires the cardholders to pay the full amount of the bill each month. However, an annual fee is charged on this type of credit card. Charge Off: A debt or loan that is no longer deemed as collectible by the creditor, and hence, the account is transferred to the category of bad debt or loss. However, the debt is still valid and therefore, the bank may choose to transfer the account to a collecting agency to recover the debt. 'Charge-off rate' is the amount of charge offs divided by the average outstanding credit card balances owed to an issuer. This rate can serve as an economic indicator, as a high charge off rate means a stressful condition for the whole economy and vice versa. A charge off can have a negative impact on a consumer's creditworthiness. Check: A check or cheque is a negotiable instrument that can be drawn from funds deposited in a demand account held in the depositor or check maker's name with a financial institution. Closed Account: An account closed by a creditor or borrower. The particular date on which an account has been closed, either at the request of the creditor or the consumer, is called 'closed date'. Closed by Grantor: A credit account closed on the request of the credit grantor. A 'credit grantor' is a person or business entity that lends money or grants credit transactions to a credit receiver. Closing Date: The last date on which transactions are posted on an account for a particular month. Collateral: Any property that can be offered as security to obtain a loan or credit. In the case of a default or an inability to repay the debt according to the agreement, the property offered as collateral can be seized by the creditor. Collateral is also known as 'security'. Collection: Collection is the attempt made by a collection department or agency to recover past-due credit obligation. An account that has been transferred to a collection agency or department to recover bad debts, is called a 'collection account'. A collection agency is a firm that provides collection services to creditors. The collection agency usually gets paid an amount equal to an agreed percentage of the total amount collected. Co-maker: Co-maker is a person who signs the loan document along with the borrower, and assumes the responsibility to repay the debt, if the borrower defaults. In a situation where the qualification of the person who applies for a loan or credit is marginal or has not been established properly, the creditor may ask for a co-maker or a person with creditworthiness to grant the loan. A co-maker is also known as 'guarantor' or 'co-signer', while the act of signing the loan document along with the borrower is known as co-sign. Commercial cards: This is a generic name used for credit or charge cards issued for business expenses, like travel, procurement, and entertainment. Corporate cards, business cards, entertainment cards, and purchase cards belong to the category of commercial cards. Compound Interest: It is the interest rate that is calculated by adding the accumulated interest of prior periods to the principal amount, so that the previous interest amounts that have been added can also earn interest. Consolidation: Consolidation is the act of combining multiple loans with high interest rate into one single loan with a lower rate of interest. This is basically done for reducing interest rate or the loan payment. Many borrowers also do this to alter the term of the loan, and change a variable-rate loan to a fixed rate one. The loan that is taken for the purpose of consolidating all debts, i.e., combining multiple loans into one single loan is called 'consolidation loan'. Consumer Credit Counseling Service Organization: A non-profit organization that assists consumers in handling their credit problems. It mainly provides counseling service or guidance to customers about budgeting and fund management, which is called 'credit counseling'. Consumer Credit File: A credit bureau report on an individual that generally contains information, like the name of the consumer, address, credit history, inquiries, social security number, collection records, and public records such as bankruptcy filings and tax liens. Consumer Debt: Consumer debt or credit that is mainly incurred to fund consumption and not investment. So, consumer debt is one that is primarily used for purchasing consumer goods, that are not considered as tangible investment. Examples include credit card debt, car loans, family loans, and store-financed consumer purchases. An individual usually incurs consumer debt for personal or household purposes. Cramdown: It refers to the enforcement of a reorganization plan by a bankruptcy court in spite of the objections of some creditors. It involves reduction of the various classes of debt with the approval of the bankruptcy court. Credit Accounts: It is a formal agreement where a customer can avail the facility of buying goods and services on credit, and make payments later. An interest is charged if payment is not made, i.e., the account is not settled within a month. Credit Availability: It is the amount of credit available on your credit account, which can be calculated by subtracting credit balance from the credit limit. Also known as 'credit available' or 'percentage of credit currently available'. Credit Bureau: Credit bureau is also known by the name of 'credit reporting agency', and it keeps and maintains credit ratings, and the history of individuals and business firms. There are three major credit bureaus in the United States, which are known as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Credit Bureau Risk Score: This is a measure of credit risk, that is estimated on the basis of the credit report information available with the major credit bureaus. This number is calculated with the help of statistical models, and it helps the creditors evaluate the risk involved in giving a loan to a particular individual or business firm. Generally, credit bureau risk score is also referred to as 'credit score' or 'score'. Credit scores are generally arranged in different categories or credit score ranges to evaluate credit risks. Credit Card: A type of payment card that can be used repeatedly by the cardholders to borrow money or make purchases on credit. This type of cards are usually issued by banking institutions, credit unions, retail stores, and businesses, and they generally charge specific interest rates on the amount owed. The amount owed on a credit card is known as 'credit balance', and the annual interest rate that has to be paid on outstanding credit card balance is called 'credit card rate'. Credit Company or Issuer: A company or institution that provides a line of credit through a card, called credit card. The institution can be a bank, a credit union, department store, or savings and loan associations. Credit Crunch: A state of affairs characterized by the short supply of credit or loan and high interest rates. It is also known as finance crunch or credit crisis. Credit Freeze: Credit freeze or credit report freeze is a facility which allows the consumers to ask the credit bureaus to stop releasing their credit history information to financial institutions and merchants, and freeze their credit reports. This is usually done when identity theft has occurred or is suspected. It also prevents the opening of new accounts until the consumer makes a request to release the freeze. The credit bureaus usually charge fees for both putting a freeze and withdrawing it, except in cases where identity theft has been established. Credit History: A record that throws light on the past borrowings and repayment history of an individual or business entity. This record can help creditors determine whether to provide credit to a particular customer or business. Credit Limit: It is the maximum amount of credit extended by a lender, or the maximum amount that one can charge on a credit card. However, some credit card issuers may allow the cardholders to spend more than the credit limit by charging a fee. Credit Rating: Credit rating is a measure for estimating the ability of a borrower to repay debts. It is calculated on the basis of the past payment behavior, income, as well as some other factors that can affect the ability of an individual to repay debts. Credit Repair: Credit repair is the process of improving creditworthiness with creditors. The companies or agencies that help legally clean-up bad credit information, in order to give a fresh start to the consumers, are known as credit repair companies/agencies or credit clinics. Credit Report: It can be termed as a record or file that provides information on the past payment habits of a consumer, as reported by his or her creditors. The agency or company that collects this information and sells it to the creditors to help them determine the creditworthiness of prospective borrowers, is known as 'credit reporting agency'. Creditworthiness: An assessment of the credit history or the past credit behavior of a borrower that helps the lenders decide whether to extend credit or loan to that particular individual. D Daily Balance: This is the amount that a borrower owes on a credit card, or other types of open-end credit at the end of the day. Date Opened: The date on which an account or credit agreement is established. Date Closed: The date on which an account or credit agreement is closed. Debit Card: A card that allows the holder to withdraw money or deduct the cost of purchases directly from the bank account of the holder. Debt Consolidation: It is the act of repaying multiple debts with the help of a single loan, known as a 'consolidation loan'. Debt Settlement: It refers to the process of negotiating the amount of debt with the creditor. Here, both the parties, i.e., the debtor and the creditor agree on an amount lesser than the full amount of the debt. It is also known as 'debt arbitration' or 'debt negotiation'. Debt-to-income Ratio: A ratio obtained by dividing the monthly debt payment obligation of a borrower by his or her gross monthly income. This ratio is usually expressed as a percentage, and it shows what percentage of the monthly gross income would go towards debt repayment. Debt-to-limit Ratio: Debt-to-limit ratio is commonly known as 'credit utilization ratio' or simply 'utilization ratio', as it compares the amount of credit that is utilized to the total available credit. This ratio is used to calculate credit scores. Low debt and a large amount of available credit, i.e., a low ratio is considered good for credit scores. Default: A failure or unwillingness to repay a debt is called default. In the case of late payment, the credit card issuer usually charges a high interest rate on the outstanding balance, which is generally known as the 'default rate' or 'penalty rate'. Delinquency: The failure to repay a debt on time or on due date. The fee that is charged for delinquent or late payment is called 'delinquency assessment'. If a card holder fails to make the minimum payment for the credit card account for more than 30 days past the due date, then the account is termed as a delinquent account. Demand Deposit: A type of bank account from where money can be withdrawn on demand without any notice. It is also known as a checking or transactional account. Disclosure: The act of providing a credit report to the consumers as outlined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Dispute or Credit Dispute: Challenging the accuracy of the information on a credit report by requesting an investigation. Double-cycle Billing: Double-cycle billing, or 'two-cycle billing', is a method employed for calculating finance charges. In this method, both current balance and balance of the previous billing period are used to compute financial charges. Down Payment: A partial payment usually made for the purchase of some expensive items, like a house or car. Down payment is usually paid in cash at the time of finalizing the transaction. E Effective Date: The date on which a card is activated, or when new terms come into force. Electronic Funds Transfer: It refers to the transfer of funds through the electronic media. The procedures, as well as the rights and liabilities of the consumers who avail the facility of electronic fund transfer are established by a federal legislation, known as 'The Electronic Funds Transfer Act'. Encryption: Encryption is the process of encoding credit card information. Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA): A federal law that requires creditors and lenders to avoid discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, as well as income received from public assistance program, while providing credit. Equifax and Experian: Two of the three major credit reporting agencies of the United States, the third one being TransUnion. Escrow: A written agreement, property, or money, that is temporarily deposited with a third neutral party, until the conditions of the contract are fulfilled. Expired Card: A card with an encoded or printed expiration date that has passed. Extended Warranty: Extended warranty is a program with which the life of a purchase, or the warranty period can be prolonged. It can be offered by the manufacturer, retailers, or the warranty administrator. F Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA): A federal law of the United States, which is an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This act provides additional protection to the consumers, especially in the context of prevention, as well as remediation of identity theft, and accuracy of credit reports. The law governs how to store, share, and monitor consumer information, and empowers the consumers to request and obtain a free copy of their credit reports once in a year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act: An amendment to the 'Truth in Lending Act', which mainly requires the cost involved in credit card plans to be disclosed. Fair Credit Billing Act: A federal law passed in 1975 to provide protection to the consumers against some billing problems or errors. This act requires the creditors to investigate any type of billing error, as complained by the consumers. The creditors also have to make a written acknowledgment of any billing complaint made by the consumers, and refund or credit the amount of overpayment to their accounts. Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal legislation of the United States that regulates the activities of the credit reporting agencies, in order to maintain accuracy, confidentiality, and the proper use of information available with them. It limits access to credit bureau information, and enables the consumers to get information about themselves that is available with the credit bureaus, so that they can dispute inaccurate information. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): A federal law that prohibits certain methods employed for debt collection. It mainly prohibits abusive, unfair, and deceptive debt collection practices. Fair Isaac Corporation: It is the name of the company that created the famous FICO credit score, that is widely used in measuring creditworthiness, and the risk associated with extending credit. In March 2009, the company renamed itself as FICO, after the name of its credit score. Federal Funds Rate: It is the interest rate that is set by the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board. Federal Reserve: It generally refers to the central bank that monitors the supply of money and credit by various actions, like setting interest rates, maintaining the flow of cash to other banks, and ensuring the security and stability of the entire banking system. Finance Charges: Finance charges typically include interest, service and transaction fees, and other charges, all of which constitute the total cost of providing the loan or credit. Financial Aid: Financial aid usually takes the form of scholarships, loans, and grants, that are mainly given for pursuing higher education. These aid programs are usually financed by the national and state universities, and also by some private sources. Financial Institution: An institution that renders financial services like deposit taking and providing loans, or investment funds and insurance. Financial institutions primarily act as financial intermediaries, and they maintain the flow of money in the economy. They are regulated by government bodies. Fixed APR: Fixed APR, also known as fixed rate refers to an annual percentage rate (or interest) that remains fixed throughout the year or the entire term of the loan. Fixed-Rate Mortgage: It refers to a mortgage loan with fixed interest rate, i.e., the interest rate which remains the same throughout the term of the loan. Flagging an Account: This involves suspending the activity of an account temporarily, until the specific issues which triggered the suspension are resolved. Floor: Floor or interest floor is the minimum annual percentage rate that is set by the card issuer to be charged on variable credit cards. Forbearance: Forbearance is the act of postponing foreclosure, so as to give time to the borrower to pay overdue payments. Foreclosure: Foreclosure takes place in case of a default, i.e., when a debtor fails to meet his repayment obligations. In such a situation, the lender can initiate legal proceedings to take the possession of the property that has been pledged as security to obtain the loan. This is termed as foreclosure. Fraudulent Transaction: It refers to a fallacious or unauthorized transaction by the card holder. Generally, when fraudulent activities are experienced or suspected, the customer or the issuer can place a security alert, known as 'fraud alert', on the credit card account to avoid further malpractices. G Garnishment: A legal process that grants a creditor the judgment to receive full or partial payment, by taking possession of a portion of the debtor's asset. Generation Identifier: An addition to the name of a person, which indicates that there are others in the family who bear the same name. Examples are Jr., Sr., III, IV, etc. Gift Cards: A type of payment card preloaded with a set value, which is issued by either a bank or a retailer. There are two types of gift cards - closed loop and open loop. Closed loop gift cards can be used only in a store chain or in one location, while the open loop cards can be used everywhere. Gold Card: A type of credit card with some added benefits which may not be available with standard credit cards. Go-to Rate: It is the interest rate that is applied to some credit cards, or a specific balance on a particular card, after the expiration of the introductory rate. Grace Period: It is the time period within which if one pays off the balance in full, he or she can avoid finance charges. The grace period is typically 25 to 30 days. Graduated Payment: A loan repayment scheme, where the payment begins with small installments, and then gradually rises at a predetermined rate over time. Guide to Benefits: A document with elaborate information about the benefits and services that are provided to the MasterCard cardholders. Guarantor: The individual responsible for paying a bill. H Hard Inquiry: Sometimes, a potential lender checks the credit report of the individual applying for a loan, in order to assess the risk involved in extending the loan to him or her. It can create a negative impact on the credit score of the consumer. A hard inquiry is also known as 'hard pull'. Home Equity Loan: A loan based on the difference between the equity paid on a house, and the current market value of the house. In this type of loan, the equity paid on a home is used as a collateral. Home Equity Closing Costs: Costs excluding the interest rates that are added to a home equity loan. Such costs can include appraiser fees, points paid, and some other fees. Home Equity Interest Rate (APR): The annual percentage rate or interest rate charged for a home equity loan. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): A mortgage loan, where the borrower can get multiple advances within an agreed period, to an amount equal to a certain percentage of the equity paid on the house. So, this type of loan differs from other conventional loans due to the fact that the entire sum of the loan is not advanced up front. Instead, it offers a line of credit to borrow over a fixed period of time. Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act: It is an amendment to the Truth in Lending Act, and it basically deals with some unfair practices in the area of home equity lending. High Balance: It is the highest amount that has been owed on a particular account to date. High Risk: The customers with a history of delinquencies, bankruptcies, charge-offs, are often categorized as high risk customers, which indicates that they are not responsible or trustworthy debtors. I Identity Confirmation: Verification of the identity of a consumer. Identity Theft or Credit Theft: Stealing some key personal information like social security number, credit card details, etc., of an individual, and using it for acquiring credit or making purchases. Inactive Account: A bank account with very less or no activity. Also known as a 'dormant account'. Index: A rate that is used in calculating variable interest rate after applying a margin to it. Inquiry: A credit report usually contains an inquiry section that records if anyone requested a copy of the credit report of an individual or business. Inquiries are of two types - hard inquiries and soft inquiries. A soft inquiry is one which does not affect an individual, and does not create any negative impact on the credit score of an individual or business. It generally includes personal requests for credit reports, and promotional inquiries made by potential creditors. On the other hand, hard inquiries made at the time of applying for a loan can adversely affect credit scores. Installment Credit or Debt: Credit or debt that has to be repaid in parts or in installments at regular intervals. Insurance Bureau Score: The credit information available with credit bureaus is also used in insurance rating or calculating insurance bureau score. It provides an idea about the insurance risk, which in turn, helps the insurer evaluate both new applications, as well as the applications for the renewal of insurance policies. Interchange Fee: It is the charge paid by the merchants to the credit card processors for accepting credit cards. It is also known as a 'discount rate'. Interest: It is the cost of borrowing or lending, which is expressed as an annual percentage of the principal or the total amount borrowed. Also known as 'interest rate' and 'interest charge', this rate is influenced by several factors, including the value of money, credit risk, and inflation rate. Interest Rate Cap: It is the maximum amount that can be charged as interest, and it is generally imposed by the credit card agreement, or the state and federal laws. Introductory Period: This is the period in which introductory rate is applied on the outstanding balances of an account. The 'introductory rate' or 'teaser rate' is an interest rate that is lower than the standard interest rate that is usually charged by the credit card companies. This rate generally remains applicable only for the initial 6 to 12 months from the date of opening an account. Investigation: If the credit report information is disputed by a consumer, the credit reporting agency or credit bureau has to undertake a verification process by contacting the credit grantor who has supplied the information. It is called an investigation, where the credit grantor is asked to review the information, and report whether it is accurate, or give the correct information to update the report. Investigative Consumer Reports: These are consumer reports containing information about the character, habit, and the mode of living of the individuals. They are required for security clearance and background checks. These reports may also contain credit report information. Involuntary Bankruptcy: Sometimes, a petition for declaring an individual or business as bankrupt is filed by the credit grantors instead of the borrower. If bankruptcy is granted by the court, it is known as involuntary bankruptcy. Issuer Identification Number (IIN): The first six digits of a credit card's number are known as issuer identification number, as they help identify the particular issuer of the card. Item-specific Statement: A term used to refer to the statement or explanation offered by the consumer to a particular public record item or account in his or her credit report. The consumer can add only one item-specific statement per item. It is also known as a 'consumer statement', and is among the important credit report terms. J Joint Account: A bank account shared by two individuals. Both the individuals share the associated rights and liabilities. Joint Credit: A credit shared by two or more individuals, where all the parties involved are responsible for repaying the debt. Generally, such a credit or loan is extended on the basis of the combined income, assets, and credit reports of the individuals involved. Joint Credit Report: A credit report for two individuals. It is normally delivered as two separate reports. Judgment: It refers to a court decision about an action or lawsuit related to money or debts. It can be listed on the credit report of the individual or business involved in the lawsuit. L Last Reported: It refers to the date on which the creditor last reported information about an account on the credit report. Late Payment: Payment not made on due date, i.e., delinquent payment. A fee is usually charged on the payments that are not paid on time, which is known as a 'late payment fee'. Lease: A written document with detailed information about the terms and conditions under which the owner gives the possession and the right to use his real estate or other personal properties to another individual, for a specific period of time for a stated consideration. Liability: Liability means the obligation or responsibility to pay money to another party. It means the legal obligation to settle a debt by repaying the creditor. The amount for which a person is obliged to pay is known as 'liability amount'. LIBOR: It is the acronym for 'London Interbank Offered Rate', which is regarded as a benchmark rate for calculating rates for adjustable rate loans. This rate in turn, is based on the interest rate at which banks carry out borrowing and lending of unsecured funds with other banks in the money market. Lien: It refers to the legal claim on the property (real estate or personal) of another individual as a security for a debt, so that if the borrower fails to fulfill his repayment obligation, the creditor can claim the particular property to satisfy the debt. Line of Credit: Line of credit or credit line can be termed as a type of credit, which is provided to a client for a specific time period by banks or vendors. Linked Transfer Account: An account in which the checking account of a consumer is linked to another account with the same bank. Both savings and credit card accounts can be linked to a checking account, so that whenever overdraft occurs in the checking account, funds can be transferred from the linked account to the checking account. Loan Origination Rate: In addition to interest, lending institutions make some charges to cover the processing or originating cost of a loan. This charge is calculated as a certain percentage of the loan amount, and is known as a 'loan origination rate'. Loan Type: Loans can be of various types, such as home, personal, home equity, and auto loans. The different types of loans vary in fees and interest rates. Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV): It is the ratio obtained by dividing the total amount for the mortgage or loan by the total appraised value of the property. It is a lending risk ratio that enables the lender to evaluate the risk involved in lending. M Major Purchase: A purchase that involves a significant amount of money. Mail/Phone Order Merchant: A merchant who conducts credit card business by mail or phone. Usually, credit card processors charge higher fees from such merchants to process transactions that take place over phone or mail. This is because the credit card is not physically present at the time of transaction, and therefore, the merchant cannot check the card. This type of transaction is known as 'mail or phone order transaction'. Mandatory Binding Arbitration: This is a contract clause which requires the card holder and the card issuer to opt for out of the court settlement of dispute before an arbitrator. This clause eliminates the right of a credit card holder to sue the card issuer. Margin: Margin is the number of percentage points that are added to the index or prime rate, in order to estimate the variable interest rate. Medium-high Risk: The customers with a few instances of delinquencies, charge-offs, and public record items are regarded as medium-high risk consumers. The lenders can charge a higher interest rate for providing credit or loan to them. Medium-low Risk: Medium-low risk consumers are those who have so far shown credibility in debt repayment, with one or two instances of delinquencies. Medium Risk: The consumers with a few delinquencies, and a high outstanding debt are categorized as medium risk consumers. The creditors usually charge a higher interest rate for providing loans to such individuals. Merchant Agreement: This is a formal written agreement between a merchant and a card processing bank. Merchant agreement covers all the terms and conditions, as well as the rights, duties, and warranties related to the acceptance of a bank card and bank card activities. Merchant Bank: A financial institution that provides financial services and advice to businesses. It is a bank that enters into a formal merchant agreement with a merchant to process bank cards and accept deposits generated by the bank card transactions. Merged Credit Report: A credit report made by merging the information obtained from two or more major credit bureaus. Minimum Finance Charge: The minimum charge that has to be paid for using a credit card. Minimum Payment: The minimum sum required to be paid by the borrower to the credit card issuer Monthly Periodic Rate: The monthly interest rate that is calculated by dividing the annual percentage rate by the number of months in a year. Monthly Statement: An account statement that contains a detailed list of transactions that have taken place in a month along with the service charges. It is usually mailed, or sent by electronic mail to the customers every month. Mortgage: A legal claim on the real estate or the personal property given by the borrower to the lender as a security for the debt. Mortgage can be either first mortgage or second mortgage. 'First mortgage' is the mortgage that has priority over all the other mortgages in the sense that the lender has the first claim on the proceeds generated from the sale of the property. A 'second mortgage' on the other hand, is an additional mortgage on the same property, and it is subordinate to the first mortgage. Mortgage Brokers: A broker or intermediary who brings both the lender and the borrower together to originate a mortgage loan. Mortgage Companies: Companies that finance mortgage with their own funds. Mortgage companies generally borrow from a bank to provide funds to the consumers to buy home or real estate properties, and then sell the loans to investors. Mortgage Loan: A mortgage loan is secured by pledging a real estate property as collateral. Also known as mortgage debt. Mortgage Identification Number (MIN): A number generated by the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc., at the time of mortgage registration, which helps identify a mortgage. Mortgage Rate: Mortgage rate is the interest rate charged on a mortgage loan. Most Recent Date: The most recent date on which account information have been updated. N National Issuers: A group of banks that issue credit cards to all the 50 states of the United States. First USA, MBNA America, and Bank of America are the present members of national issuers. Net Home Price: It is the selling price of a home after making all deductions for sale commissions. New Balance: It is the new balance owed by a credit card holder that is calculated by adding the previous unpaid balance, the new purchase balance, and all fees and finance charges. Nondischargeable Debt: A debt that cannot be discharged or cleared through bankruptcy proceedings. Examples of such debts include, debt for child and family support, unpaid taxes, criminal charges, etc. No Pre-set Spending Limit: Consumers with good credit histories are sometimes rewarded with 'no pre-set spending limit cards', where the spending limit is not predetermined. Instead, the limit is set by the card issuer, who takes into account the payment history or pattern of the consumer while setting the limit. Notice of Results: Notice of results is an updated copy of the credit report that is sent to a consumer who has requested an investigation of the information on his or her credit report. It contains any change in the credit report in the form of updates and deletion of information. The result of notice is not sent, if the investigation does not result in any change in the credit report of the particular customer. O Obsolescence: It refers to how long negative information should be present in the credit file before it becomes irrelevant to the decision of credit granting. Presently, obsolescence period is 10 years for bankruptcy, and 7 years for all other instances, as determined by the FCRA. The negative information on the credit report which is considered no longer relevant for granting loan is called 'obsolete information', which is automatically removed from the credit report. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC): This is a government agency with the responsibility of controlling all the national banks that issue credit cards. It is a division of the Treasury Department of the United States. Office of Thrift Supervision: The Office of Thrift Supervision acts as the controller of federal and state savings and associations, as well as companies. Online Banking: Also known as Internet banking, it is a system that allows the consumers to carry out banking or financial transactions via the internet. Online Bill Presentment and Payment: A process through which a consumer can receive and pay bills online by transferring money from the checking account. Open Account: An active account. Opt In and Opt Out: 'Opt out' is a term used to refer to the ability of consumers to ask for the removal of their names from the future lists of credit bureaus, direct marketers, as well as list compilers. On the other hand, 'opt in' refers to the ability of the consumers (who have opted out) to request to add their names to some pre-screened lists for credit and insurance offers, and in direct marketing lists. Origination Fee: The fee charged by a lender to cover the processing cost of a loan, like preparing documents, checking credit reports, etc. Outstanding Balance: The remaining unpaid portion of a debt or a loan. Outstanding Debt: The unpaid portion of a debt. Over Limit: It refers to the act of accessing an amount of money greater than the available line of credit or borrowing limit. A fee is generally charged whenever the balance of a borrower goes over the credit limit, which is known as 'over limit fee' or 'over the limit fee'. Overdraft: Overdraft means that withdrawals from the bank account have exceeded the available credit balance. Overdraft Protection: A service provided by many financial institutions, wherein funds are transferred from one bank account to another, if enough funds are not available in a particular account. The customers have to pay a fee for availing this facility. Overdrawing an Account: Withdrawing an amount of money, which is in excess of the amount available in the account. Overdue: Past dues, i.e., the dues not paid on the due date. P Paid Accounts: Accounts that have been paid satisfactorily, either on due date or after being delinquent. Paid As Agreed: Credit accounts that have been paid satisfactorily as per the terms and conditions of the agreement. Partial Payment: Payment less than the total amount due. In the case of partial payment, the remaining amount due is added to next month's statement along with the interest charged on that amount. Paying the entire balance or amount due is termed as 'full payment'. Passbook: A book that records all financial transactions, like deposits, withdrawals, and interest earned in a savings account. It is issued by the concerned banking or savings institutions with whom the account has been opened. Password: A sequence of characters that allows customers to access a system. 'Personal identification number' or PIN is an example of a password that allows an consumer to access his or her account at an ATM. Past Due: Payments not made on due date. Payment Cards: Payments cards is a term that is used to refer to credit, debit, and charge cards, which allow customers to make purchases without using cash. Payment Options: It refers to the choice given to the customers to pay a part, or the entire monthly balance on their credit cards. Payment Status: It reflects the status of an account, i.e., whether payments have been made on time. It includes delinquent payments, and any unfavorable condition that has occurred in the last seven years, which reflect the previous history of an account. Platinum Card: A type of credit card that offers a higher credit limit and perks, usually provided to people with good credit history and higher incomes. PLUS Score: A type of credit score generated by Experian Credit Bureau to estimate credit risk. This score can range from 330 to 830. A high score is suggestive of low credit risk. Periodic Interest Rate: It is a fraction of the annual interest rate that is used for calculating interest for a period less than one year. Permissible Purposes: These are legally defined permissible purposes for which the credit report of a consumer can be requested and obtained. Permissible purposes mainly include credit transactions, employment purposes, underwriting of an insurance, court orders, lawful business needs, etc. Personal Information: Information like the name, social security number, date of birth, contact number, residence, driver's license number, etc, of a consumer, which are available in the credit report as reported by the consumer or his or her creditors. Personal Line of Credit: It is the maximum amount which can be borrowed by a consumer. It is based on the income level and the credit history of the consumer. Personal Loan: A loan taken for personal use, and extended on the basis of income and credit history of an individual. No collateral or security is required to obtain such a loan, as it is an unsecured loan. Personal Statement: It is the statement that a consumer can add to his or her credit report. Personal statement gives a general explanation about the information available on the credit report, and it usually appears at the beginning of the report. Phishing: A term used for signifying internet fraud, where personal details like user name, password, and other information related to a credit card or bank account are acquired by creating fake web pages or e-mails, that closely resemble the websites of the banking institutions. PIN Cashing: A fraud that involves withdrawal of cash using stolen credit or debit card information. PITI Percent of Annual Income: It is the percent of annual income that is allowed by the financial institutions to use for making "Principal, Interest, Tax, and Insurance" payment for your home. PITI should be ideally 28%, but can vary depending on the lender. Points: Fees or charges paid to a mortgage lender at the beginning of a loan. Typically, one point is equal to one percent of the loan. It is also known as 'discount point'. Potentially Negative Items: Any credit item or public record ha