WHAT IS LOAN?
The term loan refers to a type of credit vehicle in which a sum of money is lent to another party in exchange for future repayment of the value or principal amount. In many cases, the lender also adds interest or finance charges to the principal value which the borrower must repay in addition to the principal balance.
Loans may be for a specific, one-time amount, or they may be available as an open-ended line of credit up to a specified limit. Loans come in many different forms including secured, unsecured, commercial, and personal loans.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A loan is when money is given to another party in exchange for repayment of the loan principal amount plus interest.
- Lenders will consider a prospective borrower's income, credit score, and debt levels before deciding to offer them a loan.
- A loan may be secured by collateral such as a mortgage or it may be unsecured such as a credit card.
- Revolving loans or lines can be spent, repaid, and spent again, while term loans are fixed-rate, fixed-payment loans.
- Lenders may charge higher interest rates to risky borrowers.
What Is a Personal Loan?
A personal loan is an amount of money you can borrow to use for a variety of purposes. For instance, you may use a personal loan to consolidate debt, pay for home renovations, or plan a dream wedding. Personal loans can be offered by banks, credit unions, or online lenders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Personal loans are loans that can cover a number of personal expenses.
- You can find personal loans through banks, credit unions, and online lenders.
- Personal loans can be secured, meaning you need collateral to borrow money, or unsecured, with no collateral needed.
- Personal loans can vary greatly when it comes to their interest rates, fees, amounts, and repayment terms.
What Is a Business' Loan?
A business' loan is a debt-based funding arrangement between a business and a financial institution such as a bank. It is typically used to fund major capital expenditures and/or cover operational costs that the company may otherwise be unable to afford. Expensive upfront costs and regulatory hurdles often prevent small businesses from having direct access to bond and equity markets for financing. This means that, not unlike individual consumers, smaller businesses must rely on other lending products, such as lines of credit, unsecured loans or term loans.
While a commercial loan is most often thought of as a short-term source of funds for a business, there are some banks or other financial institutions that offer renewable loans that can extend indefinitely. This allows the business to get the funds it needs to maintain ongoing operations and to repay the first loan within its specified time period.
After this, the loan may be rolled into an additional or "renewed" loan period. A business will often seek a renewable commercial loan when it must obtain the resources it needs to handle large seasonal orders from certain customers while still being able to provide goods to additional clients.