Loans

A loan is a sum of money that one or more individuals or companies borrow from banks or other financial institutions so as to financially manage planned or unplanned events. In doing so, the borrower incurs a debt, which he has to pay back with interest and within a given period of time.

The recipient and the lender must agree on the terms of the loan before any money changes hands. In some cases, the lender requires the borrower to offer an asset up for collateral, which will be outlined in the loan document. A common loan for American households is a mortgage, which is taken for the purchase of a property.

Loans can be given to individuals, corporations, and governments. The main idea behind taking out one is to get funds to grow one’s overall money supply. The interest and fees serve as sources of revenue for the lender.