Payday Loan Glossary

Amortize: To pay off in regular installments over a loan term.

Appreciation: The value that an asset gains over a period of time, as opposed to depreciation.

APR (annual percentage rate), Interest Rate: The yearly rate charged to a consumer to borrow the finance company's money. APR is usually expressed as a percentage. If your interest rate is 7.5%, you will pay $75 per $1000 borrowed.

Asset: The items of value that you own.

Basis Point: One hundredth of one percent in the yield of an investment.

Blank Check®: A check that is given to loan recipients to purchase a new or used vehicle. The check is blank, which gives the loan recipient flexibility and convenience when shopping for a vehicle. The check is valid up to an agreed upon amount and there's no obligation to use the check.

Collateral: Assets that a borrower is obliged to turn over to a lender if unable to repay a loan. Usually, the property itself is the collateral for a property loan.

Default: Failure to meet a financial obligation. Depreciation: The value an asset loses due to wear and tear or time.

Equity: The value of the property minus the loan amount.

Interest: The amount charged by the finance company to borrow money.

Liabilities: The money you owe. Lien: A legal claim on a piece of property until the debt or obligation is satisfied.

Liened Property: A liened property is a property that has an outstanding loan obligation. The Certificate of Title for the property lists the individual(s) as the registered owner with the lender listed as the lien holder.

Lien-Free: A lien-free property is owned outright by an individual(s), listing that individual(s) on the title as the registered owner. There is no outstanding loan obligation on a lien-free property.

Loan-to-Value Ratio: The relationship between the amount of the loan and the appraised value of the property, expressed as a percentage.
Monthly Payment: The principal and interest paid on a monthly basis over the life of the loan.

Negative Equity: When the amount you owe on a property is larger than what the property is worth.

Net Worth: Your assets minus your liabilities.

Principal: The amount borrowed.

Simple Interest: A method of allocating monthly payday loan payments between interest and principal. The amount of your payment allocated to interest is calculated based on your unpaid principal balance, the interest rate on your cash advance loan, and the number of days since your last payment.