Quick Definitions
We help you cut through financial jargon with simple, straightforward language.
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An ACH (Automated Clearing House) transaction is a transaction processed through an automated clearing house network that facilitates many electronic interbank funds transfers. An automated clearing house is operated for the benefit of a number of banks in order to efficiently process the transfer of funds electronically.
This process allows you to make automatic payments and not miss a due date. You provide your lender with written permission to withdraw a specific dollar amount on specific dates directly from your account.
This legal document makes a loan official. The agreement formalizes the terms of the credit between you and the lender. When you sign a loan agreement or credit agreement, you enter into a contract that holds you responsible for paying back the money borrowed and any additional interest and fees.
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the interest payable on the amount borrowed plus other fees expressed as an annualized rate.
If you've missed one or more loan installments or payments, then you're in arrears. Payment overdue? You're in arrears. People in arrears can have trouble qualifying for future credit, so talk to your creditors before your situation deteriorates further. Seek alternatives for making payments if you fall behind.
Assets are anything you own that has financial value. Your cash, property, stocks and bonds, even your home electronics are considered assets.
A balance can be the amount of money in your bank account. It can also indicate how much you owe a lender to pay off your loan.
An alternative to a quick, easy and convenient loan from Echo Credit, bank loans can involve a meeting with your bank manager and are subject to approval.
A check "bounces" when your bank account doesn't have enough funds to cover payment. (See NSF below.) The bank returns the check to the payee unpaid. Now, in addition to still owing money to the intended recipient, the bank and the payee will most likely charge you a substantial fee.
Preparing and keeping a simple budget is one of the best things you can do to stay on top of your finances. A budget tracks your cash inflows (paycheck, interest and other income) vs. outflows (rent, groceries, gas, utilities and other expenses), so you can see what, if anything, is left.
A cash advance is money provided against a prearranged line of credit such as a credit card or a credit agreement.
Financial institutions provide various services, and customers pay for the convenience and resources made available. Fees include interest charges and cash advance charges. Additionally, if their services are misused or terms are broken, many institutions assess penalties, including overdraft charges, bounced check fees and late payment fees.
Checks and electronic payments go through this process when paid into your account. The clearing cycle time can vary based upon the type of credit.
A credit bureau, or credit reporting agency, collects data from numerous sources and provides information on individual consumers. Lenders use this information, sometimes in the form of a credit rating, to help them assess the creditworthiness and the likely ability of someone to pay back a loan. Examples of credit bureaus in the United States are TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.
Your credit limit is the maximum amount of money that you can borrow. The lender typically determines this amount based on a number of factors.
Credit ratings (or credit scores) are typically used by financial institutions to help them assess the creditworthiness of an individual, corporation, or even a country. They are usually derived from a number of factors including financial history and current assets and liabilities. Typically, a credit rating indicates the probability a subject will be able to pay back a loan.
This document summarizes your credit history, including information from credit bureaus, banks, retailers and collection agencies. It can also include details of your borrowing, applications for credit, court judgments and bill payment behavior. You can request a free copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus.
Debt is money owed to a person or company.
Paying back a loan before the arranged due date. Some banks charge fees for doing this. Not at Echo Credit — you can pay your loan off in installments or all at once, at any time, without penalties.
This process allows you to make automatic payments and not miss a due date. You provide written permission for your lender to withdraw specified dollar amounts on specified dates directly from your checking account.
A fixed rate remains the same throughout the entire loan term.
The larger of the two income numbers on your paycheck. Your gross income is the amount your employer pays you before taxes, insurance, retirement contributions and other withholdings are deducted.
You can look at this in two ways. Interest can be the amount you earn on your savings and investments. Interest is also the amount you pay on money you borrow. Commonly expressed as a percentage, interest is often included in the total cost of a loan. (See APR.)
A line of credit offers consumers a more flexible borrowing solution and, generally, is more suitable for those who have borrowing needs that vary. Once approved, the borrower can access any portion of that credit line, up to the maximum amount approved, at any time (provided the account is in good standing). Lines of credit are intended to be borrowed from multiple times without having to reapply. Interest and/or fees are assessed only on the amount borrowed/outstanding. Any available, but unused, credit does not incur any interest or fees.
A loan is money borrowed on condition that it's paid back per an agreement. There are several types of loans, including a quick and convenient installment loan from Jora.
The loan period is simply the length of time you borrow money. It can last any number of days, up to years, depending upon the terms of the agreement. In most cases, interest continues to accrue throughout this repayment period.
The smaller of the two income numbers on your paycheck. This is your "take-home pay," or the amount remaining after all deductions, such as taxes, insurance, and retirement contributions have been subtracted from your gross income.
This stands for Non-Sufficient Funds and means you didn't have enough money in your account to cover your payment. Unfortunately, your financial institution will most likely assess you with additional fees or penalty charges
Online banking (e-banking or Internet banking) refers to banking services available via the web. These programs typically allow you to check your balance, order checks, pay bills, make a cash transfer and perform other services.
This is the amount that remains to be paid back on a loan. For example, when you make regular on-time payments, on an Echo Credit Line of Credit, your outstanding balance goes down with each installment.
This is another term to describe a payday loan.
A payday loan, or payday advance, is a short-term loan that's intended to cover expenses until you get paid. The lender typically charges a fixed fee based on the amount borrowed, and you have until your next payday to pay it off — regardless of when you apply. Payday loans often help people who can't get credit elsewhere. An Echo Credit Line of Credit is typically a less costly and more flexible emergency cash alternative.
These fees are typically assessed after you have broken the terms of your agreement for things like bounced checks or Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF).
This is the date that you say you will repay your loan or make a payment on your loan.
Rate refers to the level of interest charged by a lender, and is usually expressed as an Annual Percentage Rate (APR).
Basically, it's the movement of money. When you withdraw cash from your account, that's a transaction. Make a loan payment? Transaction.
A loan payment that is less than the amount you're expected to pay on a specific date.